Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-07
P|TTSBURG WEAK
At THE FIRST SACK
"Kitty" BransfieId Greatly
Missed by Pirates in Last
Four Years.

Since the PittSburg club made
present OF Kitty Bransfield to the re-
organized Philadelphia club. Barney
Dreyfuss has practically been without
/ nrst-class first sacker. although he has
| tried out eight men in that position. and
, it il more than probable that it was
| the presence Of either weak sticker
! O. fielder on the initial sack that caused
the Pirates to lose out in the grue!ing
! race for tie National League pennant
and the right to play the Detroit Tigers
! for the worlds series.
! When Pittsburg first disposed. OF Brsns-
! field. who had been a member OF the
! Pirate championship organization. Clancy,
! Howard and Hillebrandt were tried out
at first Howard. who. took part in ninety
games and who is now Il 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 Californian, who was Sc
cured the following season. it was Thought
that the vacancy had been we'll filled.
/ Nealon looked like world beaten for q
| Of 1905. He fell of in his playing In
1907. though. and Swacina and Storhs
I were given a chance to show what they
| could do.
! men NSdiOu pSCdilc I4OilleS!Ch ioI
| Golden Gate and remained in the west
! That left il to Swacina to I'LL the bill
| last season. but he proved unequal to the
task. In fact he was not good enough
for Louisville. to whom he was sold
| After Swacina was disposed Of. Storke
| Kane and Gill We're utilized at the first
. sack That none of the trio did lis
! work in manner to suit Dreyfllss and
! Fred Clarke is shown by the fact that
| Austen the Providence first baseman
! &c c1a tod the inh this Gill
| had perfect fielding average. but batteo
/ only ri
| In the meantime. Bransfield has done
! splendid work for the Phillies. but Is
/ now considered about ready TO quit fast
company.
Beats American League Record.
Thus in four seasons the Pirates have
| experimental with more first basemer
than any Of the American League clubs
has in six years. seven being the Ameri
can League record for first basemen since
the league has been composed as a.
present.
Cleveland and Washington are the lead
ers, each having had seven men on the
initial sack exclusive of men who have
been shifted to that position for a few
games as the result Of accidents which
pecess!tated a shift. Cleveland had Hick
man Schwartz. Carr and Stovall in 1904
Stovan and Carr the following season
Stovail and Rossman I'm 1906, 8; OVAL and
| Lister in 1907 and Stovall. Hickman and
Hinchman in 1908. the last two only be-
ing sent to first on account Of injuries &c
Stovall.
washington started off with Bill Clarke
and Scoops Carey in 1903, while Jak.
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
guardians. while Detroit has been forced
to call on Carr. Hickman. Beville. Craw
ford Lindsay ard Rossman. Isbeli Dolan
Donohue and Anderson have been thu
only ones that Chicago has been called
upon to use, while st. Louis has beer
den and Nordyke.
Davis Supreme at Philadelphia.
Harry Davis is practically the only reg
ular first baseman that Philadelphia. has
mad since the Athletics entered the league
Seybold subbed for sixteen games in 1909
while Mulin played twenty-six game:
there in 1904. Shreck and Powers have
also subbed there little, but Davis hal
been the only regular.
Five frs. basemen have been fourt
necessary for Boston. La Chance served
there in 1903 and 1901. while Grimsilav
and Buck Freeman were the regular:
during the next two years. Unglaub and
Grimshaw turned the trek in 1907. whil
Stahl and Ungaub looked after the frs
cushion for the Red Sox during the sea
son of 1903.
i In point of service the American League
first basemen rank this way: Davis
Jones Stoval. Donohue, Stahl, Chase
Rossmau and Freeman.