Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-21
MAY MAKE
ST. LOUIS BROWNS
Ranks With the Backstop
Luminaries, Sullivan, Bres-
nahan and King.

first essentials to the reorganization OF
their forces which will start In pursuit
Of the 1909 American League pennant and
dedicate President Hedges new grand
stand in the shape OF a first-class catcher.
II will be brought into memory that this
is the foremost requisite for a champion
team.
There are but four catchers that have
stood out prominently in the annals OF
latter-day base ball. and these four have
never been supplanted in the minds OF the
public. even though younger material has
constantly been brought into the league.
Two of the quartet are from each league.
and Bresnahan and King are prominent
in the backstopping of the National
League, while Sullivan and Criger have
borne all the laurels In the younger or
Sanization.
In all respects Criger has been consid-
cred one of the stars OF the profession,
and his brain, along with his experience,
makes him valuable man.
He should be doubly valuable to tha
Browns. and If any one man can make
Dineen the old sef-same star that he
originally was 1t is Criger. Another thing
that should be taken into consideration il
the help that the lanky one should be tn
the erratic Reuben, and no more will the
cry go up Of not having a catcher to help
Waddell. Criger's brain should materially
strengthen Waddell in effectiveness
He should be able to coach the younger
pitchers. which he did ably in Boston,
especially the left-handers-a point that
Jack O'Connor was lacking in. In break
ing up the hit-and-run play and stopping
double steals In conjunction with the
Browns infield he should be one of the
sensations of the American League.
n+n1,A hyns. LII int ffGa
spotlight, and Mig Clarke is one of the
classiest backstoppers in the league. No
receiver can peg any stronger or get the
ball away quicker than Clarke, but King
is far more accurate. The Clevelander has
more passed balls than do some of the
other stars. AS for Harry Bemis, he is
above the average as catcher, a thrower
and a sticker Both the Cleveland catch
ers are strong in blocking runner at the
plate and in getting the ball on him.
Clarke being the superior Of the two. In
Grover Land the Maps have man who Is
liable to prove a worthy successor to
Bemis when the latter decides to quit the
game.
Others Above Average.
Outside of the first mentioned the best
catchers in the American League ara
Street of Washington, Kleinow Of New
York, Schmidt Of Detroit, Stephens and
Smith of ST. Louis. Stephens is one OF
the youngest men in the league, but he
has a wise old head on those young
shoulders, and McAleer regards him as a
valuable catcher. Spencer was very err
ratio last year, and st. Louis lost many
a game as the result of his Indifferent
work. AS for Smith, he Is q newcomer
and Should improve. as he has all the
native ability of a first-class receiver.
In Street Washington has one OF the
very best-a man who comes close to
ranking with Bresnahan, Sullivan, Criger
and King. He caught 134 games last
year and seldom had a bad day. He
gets the ball away like a shot and Is
very accurate tilrower. He is not a won
derful batter, but is fairly good hitter
at that BY all odds he and Smith are
the best catchers that broke into either
of tie big leagues last year. II was
Streets second trial, however, as Clncln-
natl had him in 1906.
Kleinow of the Yankees has gone back
a little At that he did better work than
he did in 1907. when he was not in the
best of condition the best part OF the
year. When he is on edge there are few
better men behind the bat than he. Blair
of New York looks like a conner, for he
Is fair sticker and excellent throWer.
Sweeney, the big boy from Atlanta, is a
conner. but lacks experience. He is only
boy as Yet, however. and may be heard
from in the future if he does not take
on too much weight.
Mike Powers of the Athletics is prob
ably as wise a catcher there is in the
league His arm lacks power and is not
to be compared with the whips possessed
by Clarke, Sullivan. Street, Criger ana
stephens. He is an accurate thrower,
however and gets his man rather reSu-
larly al that. Where he shines. though
is in his ability to tell whether or not a
pitcher is right. Many a catcher. and
good ones at that, will warm up pitcher.
and, although the latter is not getting his
curve ball working right, the receiver
1t 1,l
and take his medicine. That is not Pow
ers' style at all. If pitcher is not right
in every way Powers tells Connie Mack
so. and another finger is selected 10
pitch.
Mack Has Youngsters.
Mack picked up two youngsters this fall
in Lapp from the Atlantic League and
Egan of the New York State.
Outside of Billy Sullivan. Chicago has
Shaw. Weaver. Payne and Hart Shaw
is poor thrower. Payne is only ordinary.
Weaver lacks class and Hart is not TO
be depended upon.
Detroit finished the season with two
ackstops-Charley Schmidt and Ira
Thomas. Thomas IS by far the better
batter and thrower. but is weak on foil
flies. Schmidt has looked good ever since
series. where he persists in playing like
an amateur If the worlds series could
be thrown out, Schmidt would rank wei
up among the catchers of the two leagues.
At that. he can not be so very bad, or De
troit would not have won two pennantS
with Schmidt doing most Of the catching.
For next season Jennings will have the
same pair with Stanage of Newark and
Beckendorf of Scranton. Both are said
to be star youngsters. and Connie Mack
thinks so well Of Beckendorf that he has
made Detroit an offer for his release.
Boston has two fairly good catchers in
Carrigan and Donohue the latter being a
brother of ''JiGgs' Donohue of the White
SoX Pat has many of his older brothers
WAYS on the diamond and is really "A fast
man. He puts the ball on the runner
well at the plate and looks as If he were
due 10 remain in the league Carrigan Is
d hard working Dackstop. and can be de
pended upon for good work but ii is
question if he will be good after his oper-
alton.
Columbia'S Lacrosse Team