Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21
SPEAKER A STAR
SECOND TO COBB
New Boston 0utfieIder Prom.
Uses to Become the Equal of
the Dashing Tiger.
By w. A. Phelon.

Looking over the outfielders of the
American League. and studying the work
they did during 1909. it il impossible to
ngufe things out on any different theory
than this: That Tyrus Cobb was the
kingpin of them all, and that iris Speak
er of the Boston Reds ranked next to Ty.
In another year, in the Judgment OF
many critics. Speaker will surely be the
equal of the dashing Georgian He al
ready has 1t on Tyrus when it comes to
accurate gauging OF flies way. down the
field, and also in. clean return to the
bases, while his batting and baserunning
look as if they would improve to point
neck and neck with that OF the light
ming Tiger. At present however, Tyrus
reignS supreme. and there is no one to
dispute his laurels.
The outfield work in the American
League was about equal to that OF 1903,
the sensational playing of Speaker be-
ing pretty much Offset by the retirement
of Fielder Jones. There was nothing
really superior to the great playing of
long ago, standard that Will in all
probability never be surpassed - but
there was some splendid work In the
gardens just the same. work that kept
the crowds along the circuit yelping with
delight.
Connie Mack's outfield cannot be called
the strongest part of his Athletic team
far from it,. Little Hartsel showed signs
of aging. and was in only half the games.
RUDE Oldring fielded well enoush. but
did not hit up to his mark. Heitmuller. a
big youngster from California, showed
much promise, but was not up to cham
pionship class in his first season. and
Bob Ganley, purchased from Washing
TN foil 10 ia he Of ok
The real strength of the outfield lay. in
Danny Murphy. whose all round work
was of a most satisfactory order.
Speakers Skill.
iris Speaker was certainly a whale
for the Bostons. He hit grandly. stole
a raft of bases, and was all over the
outfield. During the season he caught
321 flies and had no less. than thtrty-stx
assists--a record which was not even
approached, either In putouts or assists,
by any other gardener in the league
Harry Niles played a very fair game
in the suburbs. and hit in neat and timely
fashion Gessler. up to the time he was
traded to Washington, was hitting over
800 and fielding neatly. bit fell or con-
siderably after Boston turned him down
Just why man who was smuggling like
Gessler should be given to another team
is a mystery. but II is supposed that there
was a quarrel somewhere. =,
Hooper, the young Californian, hit hard
and fielded well enough. but showed
marked signs of crudeness, which will
wear off in another season. One of the
faste:t and c;everest of a!: the Boston
f1elders, Bullet Thoney, was crippled prac-
tically all season, and got into only four
teen games.
COmiskey's outfield was in bad way.
The departure of Jones not only took on:
the best of the field players, but also
removed the prop that had held I'D the
other two gardeners, Hahn and Dougher-
ty. Hahn fielded strongly, but in a me-
chanical way, and had no one to guide him
or set him for the hostile sbatters, While
his batting fell away to nothing. Dough-
erty was also handicapped by the lack of
Jones directions, but had fine year at
on to fill Jones place, proved a fiat fail
ure. So did Mike welday, and, both got
the hook Doc White and Parent filled
in for quite. a lot of games. both doing
very fair work. Toward the last Commy
tried out Cole and Messenger, two strong
minor leaguers. Neither made good Mes
senger. though fielding neatly, being very
weak at the bat, while Cole was nervous
In the field, though batting tolerably. well.
Cleveland's Woes.
Cleveland likewise had tfoubIous out
field season. Flick. the standby of the
past. was ill. playing only two-fifths of
the campaign. Lord. getting his second
trial in fast company. started strongly
and then fell down with the stick Goode,
imported as slugger, failed to slug