Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-07
BEST PLAYER To
LEAD BATTING LIST
Matty Mcintyre Had Best,
Record for First Men to
Toe the Plate.

A man who tops a batting list and can
work the opposing pitcher for pass Of
some kind. either base on balls or have
his ribs tickled with the horsehide. once
in each game on an average would be OF
inestimable value He would be jus: about
worth his weight in gold. Such men III the
minors would be gobbled up by the
major league scouts in jiffy.
There ara no such men in the American
League. "Topsy' Hartsel, the cotton-top
outfieider of the Athletics. comes closer
to the mark than any other A. l.. player.
Josh Clarke runs him 4 close Iace.
Naturally most fans will jump at the
conclusion that these two are the most
valuable men to top batting list, as o
result of getting TO first most times with
out the aid of a hit or mispiay Of soma
kind. Matty Mcintyre of the pennant-
winning Detroit Tigers looms up as the
best man that heads an A. l.. batting list.
! for he follows Josh Clarke. and. coupled
with his efficiency to work the pitcher for
some sort of pass, Mcintyre also clouted
the pill Cor a .2G5 average the past sea-
son. Hartsei. OIL the other hand, batted
only .24S. and josh Clarke .242.
This fellow Hartsel led Off in l26 game 8
and worked the opposing pitchers for just
TWO shy OF the 100 mark III passes. This
gives him an average of .O1S gifts 10 each
game. He was exceptionally strong
against the New York and ST. Louis pitch
ers, working the former for tHenty-one
and the latter for twenty free rides to
first Cleveland twi-lers coughed up
seventeen gifts to 'Topsy." Detroit and
| Chicago fingers each eleven. and Boston
and Washington pitchers nine.
Josh Clarke was close behind the Ath-
! letic left fielder, securing ninety-two gifts
| in 131 games. an average Of 900. Strange
| ly enough. Clarke worked Hartsefs team
mate pitchers fo- the largest number OF
! passes. they sending him to first twenty
two times on four balls or by hitting him
! with g pitched ball. New York twirlers
| let loose with sixteen, Washington and
| Boston each thirteen. st. Louis eleven,
| Detroit ten and Chicago seven.
! Mcintyre followed with an average OF
.059, walking eighty-six times in 14j
| games. Matty walked eighteen times when
facing New York pitchers and fourteen
| against the Cleveland and Boston twirlers.
| He drew twelve against Chicago. eleven
against Philadelphia. ten against St
Louis and seven against Washington.
f! Pickering (WashinRton). Hahn tChica-
go>. Dougherty (Chicagol. Mcconnell
tst onsI folIoweS IN order named 't the
| two first named being close behind Nc
Intyre in point OF gifts received.
| Against Detroit pitchers Hartsel and
Hahn were the most successful. each re-
| and Milan followed with ten. Mcconnell
| managed to work the Tiger twirlers for
eight, but the other batting list toppers
! were not so fortunate.
Maps Are Generous to Hartsel.
| Hartsel found the Cleveland twirlers
very generous. Topsy walked seventeen
times Mcintyre got fourteen big four
passes. while Niles and Stone were con-
tent with nine each.
Mcintyre worried the White Sox pitch.
ers most and trotted to first twenty
three times. Hartsel hiked eleven times
| at the expense Of Ed Walsh Co. Nc
Cornell and Milan made the trip to 1sbell-
| Vile and Donahuevlle nine times with.
! out the aid of either a hit or an error
| and Josh Clarke seven times.
| The St. Louis twirlers were duck soup
for Hartsel. he securing twenty passes
! Josh Clarke landed seven and Mcintyre
ten Next In line were Mcconnell and
| Milan, each with seven.
| The Boston fingers were somewhat
stingy, but Mcintyre managed to work
| them for fourteen. and Josh Clarke for
one less gift. Hartsel trotted eight and
Hahn six times.
Josh Clarke was the kingpn In work.
ing passes from the Philadelphia twirl-
lowed with half that number. Mcconnell
and Niles each got seven.
| The real misers were Tom Hughes
Walter Johnson and other Washington
twirlers. They refused to part with a.
many gifts 20 the men heading the bat.
club Josh Clarke. a Nap. and one mar
| whom the Washington pitchers like te
NOW down, had the satisfaction OF lead
ing all the others, securing thirteen gifts
Hahn worked them for eleven and Hartse
for nine passes.
generous OF heart and allowed Hartsel tc
hoof ii tWenty-one times. Mcintyre eight
cen. Stone seventeen. Josh Clarke siXtscr
and Hahn and Milan each nine.