Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-28
ELEGANT CATCHING
ON CHICAGO CLUBS
Windy City Fans Have Had
Swell Backstopping More
Than Thirty Seasons.
BV w. A. Phelon.

appreciate break. two of the towns upon
the big circuits have been favored with
strangely uniform good fortune i'll the
protection of difficult position Dur
ing all this long stretch of time the fans;
of Chicago have been entertained by the
finest most artistic and most glorious OF
catching, and during the same period
third base has been PLAYED in Boston
after d fashion that was almost unparal-
leied.
So persistent has been the good luck
of these cities in these particular places
that Chicago bugs would not know what
to say if they saw catching poorly done
by the members OF the home squad. while
the Bean Consumers Union has been so
accustomed to the Very best on third
that weak fielding at tho far corner
would seem almost like q crime. Other
cities lave had terrible times trying to
get catchers who could Till the bill up
to big league demands Never has this
happened in Chicago. Other cities have
been UP against it good and proper for
third basemen who could play the bag
as it should be played. Never has this;
been the case in Boston. No matter how
weak the rest of the teams might be.
Chicago and grand third baSeman in
the Goldfish city.
Great Backstops.
Back thirty years ago Silver Flint was
the Chicago clubs chief backstop, and
he was a marvel. AS the years passed
Mike Kelly became Flints alternate, and
the dash and headwork of Kelly, coupled
with the reliability and iron strength of
Flint, fortified the team tremendously.
When Kelly went and Flint began to
fade Tom DAILY joined the team. and
DAILY in his youth was whirlW ind
catcher. Then came Charlie Farrell, and
the Duke was wonder when he was
young and slim, even as in the days
when he was fat and sage.
In 1890 the brotherhood took Farrell,
and Jack Boyle was also brought into
play by Comiskey's all-star team.
Against these great catchers, who de-
lighted the South Side fans, good old
Arson introduced Malachi 1<ittredge, and
Kilt became head catcher when the
teams consolidated.
kittredge reigned for years, sharing the
honors, toward the last, with Tim DON
ahue, fine catcher and most 'lovable
comedian. As this powerful pair began
to fade Frank Chance arrived. The
burly Chance more than made up for
the falling strength of Kit and Tim,
but, III turn, gave way when john king
came on the scene Frank went to first
and King became head catcher, a posi-
ton he held undisputed for years, until
his own rebellion took him from the
aggregation.
The sub catcher of the Cubs, Pat
Moran, himself of quality about equal to
the best on the other team. was showing
good form as Kings successor, when
the brilliant Archer was added to the
staff, and at once became sensational
star. Down on the South Side. mean
While. through the reign of King, Comis-
key was depending on Billy Sullivan, and
the hardy Turk made good, ranking in
the front fight season after season.
What other city can show the series
Of great catchers paraded at Chicago
through generations changeful time?
Boston Luck.
Meanwhile, Boston was having the
same delightful fortune in regard to It's
third basemen. First, there was Uncle
Ezra Sutton, and the oldtimers still re-
call how prettily Uncle played the bag,
how we'll he gathered grounders how
rifle-like he threw.
Sutton was fading, but not vet q dead
one. when Billy Nash came to the club
Nash was a wizard at the bag, and his
skill was a glorious feature of Boston's
play year in. year out In 1890. when
Boston had two teams, the standard of
third-base work was not lowered, for
McGaT, in opposition to Nash put up
magnificent ball.
Nash was getting toward the sere and
yellow leaf, though still an impressive
performer, when the wonderful Jimmy
Collins came into the big circuit For
the next few seasons the third basins
Of Collins was the despair of the enemy,
the richest joy of Boston fans. But the
day came when Collins grew too fat and
slow He passed. and Boston bugs
thought, at last, that their long record
of swell third-base play was over Not
yet. Harry Lord took up the mantle o.
Collins, and so splendidly did he field and
bat the past summer that many critics
pick him as the best third baseman in the
game.
Thus it CHANGED that Boston was never
oppressed by bad third basing. even as
1t CHANGED that Chicago has always had
great catcher Odd fortune, and in
tensely interesting.