The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-22
STAR BALL PLAYERS
ARE IN WESTERN CLUB OF AMER
 ICAN LEAGUE.
Eastern Clubs Show to DiSndvantage- St. Louis Browns Possess Five While Detroit and Chicago
 are Close Seconds.

"A St. Louis writer has 1t figured out that the Browns have five real shiping stars of the diamond in Wad- dell, Criger, Wallace. Ferris and Stone, and goes on to say that the St. Louis Club has more players of champion ship material than any other club in the league. He may be right at that. To tell the truth. he might add Pitcher Bill Dinneen to his list and no one would question his statement, for last season Dinneen almost showed the form that won worlds championship for Boston a few years ago." says a Cleveland writer.
 "There is no question of most of the stars of the American League being in the Western section. The writer has allotted six to St. Louis and Jimmy Williams almost proved himself a star through the season of 1908. Detroit and Cleveland have also a number of players who are considered as stars by the fans at large throughout the coun- try. Detroit for instance, has an all- star outf1eId In Mcintyre. Crawford and Cobb, while Donovan Is a sure-enough luminary, with Summers and Willett showing class that indicates that the day may not be far off when they, too, viii be known as famous players. Then there Is "Germany" Schaefer. If Fer ris is a star at St. Louis Schaefer cer- tainly shows sufficient qualifications to he reckoned In the same class.
 Cleveland has few men who have been rank ed among the stars. Perhaps have been is the correct way to state 1t. Flick was as much of star as Cobb in 1907, but was out of the game last year. Turner was the best short stop in the league In 1907, but played only twelve games at his regular po- sition last season. m ,dned In those twelXe hrI llantly than ever before and was of considerably more value to the club than in previous seasons, for he started off like a whlrlwind at the hat and on (, Aa ha1 Np odhiffnn fn Dla Vinp of an inside game than previously. The hit-and-run was almost an un- known art with Turner until last spring when he suddenly showed that he was as good as any one when it came to turning that trick. in every way he showed promise of having his best year on the diamond when his career as shortstop was suddenly in- corrupted. Whether or not he will again be seen at short remains to be demonstrated. If he Is himself once more, Cleveland win have an all-star infeld. for stovan was by all odds the best aIl-round first baseman in the league last year. while Lajoie has no equal at second and Bradley was the ting. with his bad leg In good shape he should be there with the bells on
 "Birming gham must be considered a star fielding outhelder although not reckoned Tn that class when It comes to batting and base running. Joss Is conceded place on all-star teams, of course. and some pick Mig Clarke as possessin gclass for such team When he Is right there Is no doubt of his being a star. but outside'H' 1906 he has never had an entire seF Fon when he went at a championship gait.
 Not counting Fielder Jones' who may not play this year. Chicago has only four men who are eonsidered stars They are Catcher Billy sul: livan, Pitchers Walsh and White and Infielder Isbell The first two. how ever, are almost a whole team in them selves, and with thenf going good Momiskey does not need a background of baseball premiers.
 stars among the eastern clubs are mighty scarce, but this season may de- | velop a few. Outside of Chase, New York has none in that class, as Keeler | and Chesbro are on the road to medi- ocrity and E1berfeld Is an in-and- outer.