Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-26

a bulwsrk in defense. It is pretty close
between him and Doolan, the latter being
the type Of player who keeps his mates
keyed up and a general as well.
We're Bresnahan playing regularly for
the st. Louis Cardinals he would be the
one whose place would be hardest TO I'LL.
As q Is, he 10 a rare hand AZ getting work
out Of men and inspiring them to put forth
their best efforts; but he has been out Of
he game with a lame arm a great deal this
season and must be considered as a man
ager rather than a player. with him out,
Konetchy. the first baseman. is the most
prominent factor day in and day out. He
is in the game always, knows It perhaps
better than any Of the others, is a good
man TO bat in runs, puts life into his work,
never lets his interest flag and is steady.
In Rucker Brooklyn has a strong and
willing young pitcher and a skillful one as
wen. Perhaps more than any of his asso-
ciates has he put heart into his fellow
players by his ability to go into the box
against opponents, strong as well as weak,
win his game and stop the teams losing
streak. He looms up as a formidable
power over a weak team and is the sort
OF pitcher whose work begets confidence
in the other players. AS an inside man
Burch is active, but not of the dominating
quality of Bucker. Judging by recent
work here Shean just now is in the game
and plays more than any other member
Of the Boston Nationals. He is young,
clever and improving every day with
regular playing. Not only does he handle
his position well, but plays as IL his heart
was in his work quite as much as IL he
were on a championship aggregation.
In the American League ranks beginning
with the New Yorks, opinion would be
unanimous that Hal Chase is the most ac-
Complished player. Certainly he would
bring the highest price in the market. He
Is the best first baseman in the country
and doubtless the most valuable single
player of the Highland clan. His worth
does not consist alone of his exceptional
ability as a first base guardian. The
team plays better ball with him in tina
out, feels his presence. He is a good hitter
and a timely one, and one OF the best
men in the business at the bat to work
in with the base runner. He is clear
headed and has a wonderfully quick grasp
of opportunities.
He can sense plays, as II were, has the
lntuitive faculty and rarely fails to make
the most Of the smallest opening on the
bases. He is as quick as a cat, is without
an equal in fielding hunts to third base
for a force and thus spiking opposing in
side maneuvers, a dashing, buoyant chap,
who, while he would be still more valu-
able were he more seriously aggressive,
yet imparts his verve and go to others.
A young player, one, but all unknown
a season ago, is the handspring in the
offense and defense of the Athletics of
Philadelphia. Eddie Collins, slight and frail
looking, but a bundle Of energy and nerves
is the man. His prowess with the stick
has brought him up to second place among
the American league battsmen. He tears
off long hits as we'll as short ones, is a
daring and w~ideawake base runner, a hard
man to fool at the bat and lines up
against any pitcher with cool and defiant
confidence. He is fast in the field, fits to
a nicely in the inner Gordon and as guards
man of the keystone bag gives solidity to
the infield. Where would c. Mack have
been without him this Year,
Ty Cobb of the Detroits is as useful as
he is sensational. He and Sam Crawford
are the biggest part of the Tiger band,
Cobb being as substantial as Crawford in
bringing in the runs that win games and
a better pitcher and base runner. He is
the boldest and keenest base runner in the
game and Individually is likely more than
any other player to put his team in the
game. There isn't any doubt that the
champions could spare him less than any
man in their ranks. He is a whirlwind at
the bat, on the paths, in the field. He is
a fine thrower, cuts off many an opposing
base runner and tries for everything.
Being a slippery slider, his base running
ability is enhanced. He is tireless and
ndnnnffah1a n1axrg fhn -an,n 90 49,. I..t
ounce of his strength, gets on bases often
not only as a hard hitter and fast runner
but as a waiter. He is in fact as versatile
as he is brilliant, a winning element tenn
PERMANENTLY and physically. Around him
the Detroit offense ~centers, the king tiger
of the Tigers.
The Boston Red Sox principal ingredi-
ent in maneuvering for runs is Speaker,
the young and efficient center fielder. He
too is a first class batter and base runner
and a resolute, heady player. He is a good
man for an attack to rally around, to start
a rally or help 1t along. He also shines
brightly in the outfield-very brightly. lie
cuts off not a few runs by his speed In
getting after and fielding in long hits, be-
ing a powerful thrower. He is a rare Judge
of a fly ball, the best out fielder in that
respect in the big leagues, now that Fielder
Jones is no longer playing.
The old warhorse, Isbell, would be missed
just now from the White Sox's battle line
more than any other player, . excepting
possibly Frank Smith, this, seasons main
stay in the box. Isbell is a veteran and a
lighter, more valuable on account of af-
fording the leaven of steadiness than as a
player, pure and simple. The much bat
tered Cleveland team has in Lajoie a dan
gerous hitter and great fielder, and Adrian
Joss, its best pitcher, its most sustaining
influences. A hitter of the consistent