Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-17
fAVOR|TE STARS
OF THE OUTF|ELD

Jesse Burkett is the most valuable out
fielder that ever played in major league
base ball. said Jimmy McAleer, the other
night "Burkett couldn't catch fly ball
when he joined the Cleveland club in 1882.
but he knew how to clout the leather and
was willing and anxious to learn the field
ing game.
"He worked alongside OF me, and no
youngster ever practiced more conscien-
tiously. He finally polished up and became
a fairly good outfielder. but, Of course, his
hitting. base-running and run-getting abil
ity were his chief assets. Burkett could be
relied upon to get to first on an average of
three times per game. He was always on
the bags when We needed run, and you
know that counts for much.
when Jess was In his prime he was the
best bunter that ever stepped up to the
plate. He could lay EN- down beautifully,
and was as fast a deer getting down to
first / never saw his equal In this depart
ment of base ball. All things considered.
think my estimation Of Burkett none too
high
McAleer's remarks recall the fact that
some of the greatest outfielders that ever
played base ball have worn a st. Louis
uniform at one stage or other OF their base
ball careers. Curt WEIGH. the great out
fielder of twenty years ago. played center
field for Comiskey's champion St. Louis
Browns. WEIGH was a wonderful fly chaser
but weak with the willow. He practically
played the whole Outheid for Comiskey
Tip" O'Neill the left fielder Of the club.
was carried for his hitting. "Commy'' used
Foutz and Caruthers. his heavy-hitting
pitchers in right field. Besides taking care
Of center field. WEIGH would go to right and
left for hard line shots and long hits to the
outfield that had to be f1elded home to
catch runners. WEIGH had an arm Of steel
and could throw like rifle shot He was
a daring base runner and would stop
pitched ball with some portion OF his
anatomy. II necessary to get to first base
in crisis.
Tommy Mccarthy Star.
WEIGH played the whole st. Louis out
field for Comiskey Until Tommy Mccarthy
made his appearance in the game. Nc
Carthy developed into one of the most bril-
liant outfielders of his day. He played
right field for St. Louis. and finished up his
base ball career with the champion Boston
National League team; Mccarthy was
faster man than WEIGH. and became the
best base runner Of his time
"Dckey' Johnston Of Boston. Jim Fo-
garty of Philadelphia, George Gore Of Chi
cago and New York and Ned Hanlon of
Detroit were the other star outheiders of
twenty years ago. George Gore was proba
bly, the best hitter of the bunch, and john
ston was the best outflelder. although many
considered Fogarty without a peer as
fielder.
Bill Lange Of the Chicago team was one
of the best hitting outfelders of ten or
twelve years ago. Hugh Duffy was in his
prime then, and had few equals as an out
fielder or hitter. He was probably a better
man than Lange.
Ed Delehanty and Burkett broke into fast
company together. Delehanty was the
greatest hitter of his time, but, like Bur-
kett he was never much of an outfielder
McAleer says the first time he saw Larry
Lajoie play the big Frenchman was COW
erinE center field for the Philadelphia Ma
tional League club.
"Cuppy was pitching for US at the time"
said Jimmy. and the whole Cleveland
team gave George q terrific roasting for
letting Lajoie get two three-basgers of his
delivery. Lajoie could line 'em out then
as well as he can now, but we all thought
ne was q morning glory and would soon
shoot HIS bolt About two weeks later
Cuppy called my attention to the fact that
LaJoie had been rapping out two or three
hits per game ever since we played against
him In Philadelphia. with the same reSu-
farity that q clock ticks. Cuppy chuckled
when he mentioned the matter. and. Of
course, he was subjected to no more JOSH
ing for allowing the green youngster. La
jole, to sting him for two triples in one
game.
stones Great Work.
George Stone u the third st. Louis left