Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-17
MAPS ON THE BEST
FIELDING TEAM
Lajoie and Turner Take
Highest Mark for Their
Positions.

Fielding in base ball generally is con-
sidered quite unimportant compared with
hitting. If a man can field even reason
ably we'll he will often be retained be-
cause he can swat the ball far and hard.
Charles Hickman, for instance. stuck in
the major leagues for years after his days
gone, yet he remained because he could
hit.
Jake Stahl is no wonder as a first
baser. yet he is still in the majors because
he can hit. John Anderson of the White
Sox cannot cover great deal Of ground
and there is no telling II he will catch a
fly ball OF drop it. John can whang the
ball when hits are needed. so he draws a
fat salary for being utility man. Crisis of
st. Louis is worse than useless as an all
around ball player being an impeachment
upon the bases and slower than dray
wagon I'm the field. He gets good money
from st. Louis because he is one of the
greatest pinch hitters that ever happened.
Good Team Possible.
However, quite considerable ball CLUB.
everything considered, could be recruited
from the ranks Of men who have been
at the top in modern times with fancy
fielding averages. Such a team wouldn't
probably come close to winning pennant
in either major league, yet 1t would not
be so far down as the New York Ameri-
cans were in 190s-not by whole lot.
! The classiest fielding team of modern
base ball would have Harry Howell, who
made perfect record with New York in
1908 as a pitcher. Other fingers and
their places Of perfect fielding record are:
B. Briggs. Chicago. 1904: Sparks. Phila-
Tnek
delphia Nationals, 1908; Dorner. Boston
Nationals. 1907: Mordecai Brown. Chi
cago Nationals. 1908. That pitching staff
would be pretty fair. Only one catcher.
Frank Bowerman. New York, 1907, with
fielding average of 800. would be of
much use. Joe Sugden had 800 in ST.
Louis In 1904 and Jack O'COnnor caught
the same with the ST. Louis Browns in
1906
Although Dan Mccain is approaching
we'll at first base. In 1906 he fielded 1896
at first base for the New York Nationals.
Larry Tops Second sackers.
Nap Lajoie would be second baseman
by virtue of his average Of .991 made in
Cleveland in 1905. Nap didn't have such
good mark this year. but he took SO
many more chances than any other Sec
ond baseman in the major leagues that
he looked in class by himself.
Terry Turner would get the shortstop
job He fielded .96O-a remarkable record
for Cleveland in 1905. Turner's arm is
growing strong again and he expects to
do just about as well this year.
Harry Steinfeldt. third baseman for the
Cubs, had a67 in 1907. but fell below that
mark this year. However. he is a mighty
classy ball player and could hold up his
end of it.
There would he the choice of Pat
Dougherty of the White SoX and Fred
Clarke of Pittsburs for left field. In
1906 Dougherty went through the season
and averaged 1857. Clarke did likewise
the next year. Harry Bay holds the
center field record. made in 1904. with
800. Schultz of the Cubs amassed an
average of 800 in last seasons games for
the Cubs.
Although batting is supposed TO he
supreme in judging the worth Of a ball
player. it so happens that the all-star
fielding team can hit a few. First base
on the infield could be strengthened on
the best fielding team. and the battery
needs at least another good catcher and
one more pitcher. but aside from that the
men who hold the recent fielding rec
ords could go into either major league and
do a good job