Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27
CATCHER AND FIRST BASEMAN
Stars in These Positions Are the
Scaroest.
NOVEL SITUATION IN THE GAME
PrOfeAsionsI Base Bali Has Developed
Fewer Of Them Than Players of
Same Relative Decree of
skin for other Places.

NEW YORK, June 2G-1t is a recognized
fact that star catchsrs in professional
base ball. catchers OF the same relative
degree of skill as third basemen, short
stops and other positions OF the diamond
are fewer proportionately than the stars
OF other positions. With the number OF
catchers who are developed-each club car
rying two at the least Il doesn't seem that
this ought to be so. No team carries two
third basemen, two first basemen, OF two
players for any other position except
pitcher. Yet catchers OF the really first
rank have been and are the hardest to
find.
The requirements Of the position doubt
less nave something TO do with IT. OF
good mechanical catchers there is no lack,
out I'm those matters Of generalship, head
work-whatever the subtle something Is
that the catcher must have In addition
TO the good arm and the watchful eye for
base runners-the national game is none
too we'll provided in Its packstops. We all
know what an asset such a catcher is to
a team with his knowledge OF batters, his
ability to direct his pitcher, his ability to
oversee the defensive play and adjust 1t
to suit the attack-points of play which
are all important. though quietly done and
not In the limelight
Top-Notch First sacker.
The best first sacker in the country to-
day is Hal Chase. BY some he is con-
sidered the best tina ever played the bag
It is true that his ability as a base runner,
as an inside player, his speed and quick
grasp Of points add 70 his reputation; but
as a first baseman pure and simple he
also excels. He doesn't make any less
errors than his contemporaries-he may
make more-but a majority Of these are
due to his superior agility in getting TO a
ball and planning and making the play
before his companions are ready for 1t.
OF the present day first basemen in the
big leagues when you name Jiggs Donohue,
Chance and Tenney you have named all.
Now as to what the position has pro-
duced in the past. Comiskey was a star
in his day-a great first baseman. The
bold and rugged figure OF Arson always
will stand out, but IL was more because
he was a great batsman and successful
manager. McKinnon was considered the
best fielding first baseman of his time,
but he wasn't the versatile man at the bag
that Chase is. Start, Morrill, and Long
John Reilly were good ones in the bygone
days but never acquired the preeminence
OF the Chases and chances
Tom Tucker In his day was so much
above the general run of first basemon
as TO be a conspicuous figure, while there
never was a better man on thrown balls
than Carey, but he did not excel in other
respects. B~routhers, Orr and O'Connor
were hard hitting first basemen who did
not shine especially as fielders. Harry
Davis is a hard hitter and not far from
the top rank as a fielder. Beckley and
Tebeau were versatile, Camel an accom-
plished receiver for thrown balls and Nc
Gam ungainly but reliable when in his
prime. Hugh Jennings was q fine first
baseman the short time he played the bag,
All had good points, but the work Of only
a few-five or six-has made first base
play stand out clear cut and conspicuous.
Second base has produced men who are
more nearly matched In skill-McPhee,
Pfeffer, Gerhardt, Dunlap, Burdock, Danny
Richardson, Quest, Cupid Childs, LajoiS.
Wise. Lowe. Reitz, Ritchey. Williams. Gill
bert, Evers. Tom DAILY and Schaefer 1t
has some newcomers. too, who are holding
up their own in attachments at the middle
pillow, namely. Miller of Pittsburg, Knabe
Of Philadelphia. Collins Of the Athletics
and Mcconnell OF the Boston Red Sox.
FamOus Third Baseman.
Take third base, where the drives come
hotter off the bat than TO any other in
field stand. and the list Of first class men
who have turned out is long and notable.
There was the old timer Charley Smith,
and later Billy Nash, the wonderful
thrower; Jerry Denny. who scorned the
glove; Lave Cross. he OF the huge glove
and knee stop; McGraw, Tom Burns, Ross
Barnes OF the '70s; Jimmy Collins, the best
OF them all. and Bill Coughlin, players no
longer In the big leagues; also Jimmy Will
Hams. now a second baseman. And pres
ont day big Lacquer at the bag are Brad
ley, Deviin, steinfeldt, ElberfeId, Leach.
though covering center field this season.
Lennox and Ferris. These men are all