The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1909-03-22

Have Also Made Numerous Changes.
Since the Pittsburg club made
present of Kitty Bransfield to the re-
organized Philadelphia club, Barney
Dreyfuss has practically been without
a first-class first sacker, although he
has tried out eight men in that posi-
ton, and it is more than probable that
it was the presence of either weak
sticker or fielder on the initial sack
that caused the Pirates to lose out in
the grueling race for the National
League pennant and the right to play
the Detroit Tigers for the worlds
series last season.
When Pittsburg first disposed of
Bransfield, who had been a member
of the Pirate championship organiza-
ton, Clancy, Howard and Hillebrand
were tried out at first Howard, who
took part in 80 games and who is now
star utility man on the Cubs, did the
best work, but in comparison with
Bransfield his best was not considered
good enough In Nealon, the Califor-
nian, who was secured the following
season, it was thought that the va
cancy had been well filled. Nealon
looked like a world beaten for a time
and lasted throughout the season of
1906. He fell off in his playing in
1907, though, and Swancina and
Storke were given a chance to show
what they could do.
Then Nealon became homesick for
the Golden Gate and remained in the
west That left Il to Swancina to fill
the bill last season. but he proved un-
equal to the task. In fact. he was
! not good enough for Louisville, to
whom he was sold. After Swancina
was disposed of. Storke Kane and Gill
were utilized at the first sack That
none of the trio did his work in man
ner to suit Dreyfuss is shown by the
fact that Abstein. the Providence first
baseman, is slated for the job for
this year. Gill had perfect fielding
average, but batted only .224.
Thus in four seasons the Pirates
have experimental with more first
basemen than any of the American
league clubs has in six years. seven
being the American league record for
first basemen since the league has
been composed as at present
Cleveland and Washington are the
.eaders, each having had seven men
on the initial sack exclusive of men
who have been shifted to tlat position
for few games as the result of acct
! dents which necessitated a shift
Cleveland had Hickman Schwartz
Carr and Stovall in 1904, Stovall and
Rossman in 1906, StovalI and Lister in
| 1907 and Stovall, Hickman and
Hinchman in 1908, the last two only
being sent to first on account of in
| juries to Stovall.
Washington started off with Bill
Clarke and Carey in 1903, while Jake
Stahl and Clarke turned the trick in
1904. Since then, Hickman. Altizer,
Anderson, Blankenship and Freeman
have worked on the first cushion for
the Nationals.
Camel, Anderson, Chase, Moriarity
and Stahl have been the New York
first base guardians, while Detroit has
been forced to call on Carr. Hickman,
Beville, Crawford, Lindsay and Ross
man, Isbell, Dolan, Donohue and An
derson have been the only ones that
Chicago has been called upon to use,
while ST. Louis has been conttnt with
Anderson, Tom Jones, Sugden and
Nordyke.
Harry Davis is practically the only.
regular first baseman the Athletics
have had since they entered the
league. Seybold subbed for 16 games
in 1903, while Mullin played &c games
there in 1904. Shrek and Powers
have also subbed there a little, but
Davis has been the only regular.
Five first basemen have been found
necessary for Boston. La Chance
served there in 1903 and 1904, while
Grimshaw and Buck Freeman were
the regulars during the next two
years. Unglaub and Grimshaw turned
the trick in 1907, while Stahl and ing
laub looked after the first cushion for
the Red Sox during the season of
1908.
In point of service the American
league first basemen rank this way:
Davis, Jones, Stovall, Donohue, Stahl,
Chase, Rossman and Freeman.