The Washington herald., 1910-07-17

HILE style does not
M amount to q pinch OF
SNUFF in making a base
ball player any the more
valuable as performer. it does not do
him any harm, and II gives a distinc-
ton TO his play that goes well with
patrons OF the game. says an authority
on the game.
II is an ornamental rather than a
useful attribute. an intangible sort OF
quality. but none the less in evidence.
There are players in the big league
ranks whose bearing, whose manner
isms. so TO speak, attract attention and
make them prominent and ofttimes
popular in a degree secondary only to
their ability TO play the game.
Four players stand out above all the
others in the possession of this quail
ity OF style. They are Napoleon Laioie
of the CleveIands. Hal Chase of the
New York Americans, Ty Cobb of the
Detroits and John (Honus) Wagner Of
the Pittsburgs.
Wagner is somewhat different from
the other three. He is not the grace
ful player they are-indeed. grace is
not his strong point-but his move
ments and methods on the field are
none the less pronounced
The brawny, active Pittsburg short
stop possesses a rough-one is tempt
ed TO say uncouth-dash and energy
that are good 10 look upon. He is the
,personifcation OF power and agility
and skill not from the smoothness of
his movements when in action, but for
his ability 10 swoop hither and thither
in pursuit Of batted balls and TO deal
mighty blows to the ball with his bat
In spite Of vast Of smoothness of
movement
His is the activity and strength OF
the gorilla-quickness rapidity in get
ting over ground at seeming variance
with his bulk, masked when in repose
by an appearance of primitive clumsi-
ness
Chase is a type Of an altogether diff
ferent sort He is the other extreme.
Like Wagner he is fast, but, unlike
Wagner. his every motion and posi-
ton betoken speed He is as quick as
a. fash and, though inclined 10 be rest
less and ldgety on the field, never
makes a false move. There is no
quicker thinker in baseball than he so
that his mind is In keeping with his
body. Whether he is smothering a fly
ball. sliding 10 a base, flelding a bunt
or standing at the plate ready TO hit
he Is the embodiment Of unconscious
buoyancY and grace.
He is as natural as child, care free
but vigilaht-never tense or set There
is q peculiar adjustment Of the hands
when catching a fly that is one OF his
most marked mannerisms, an attitude
as natural as for = squirrel to climb a
tree, and when he is getting under q
fly ball he Is the poetry Of motion
Now, as to Latoie. there Is not the
dash or tho nerve IN his playing that
accompany the work OF Chase and
Wagner. Larry Is graceful, however
Also he is tall. straight and a fine
figure OF man. He probably has 4
larger individual following than ans
other player in the country.
The great charm Of LaSoie's work Il
SIS ease. Nothing looks difficult fol
him: he seems to make all plasa look
easy. He slips along the ground after
q grass cutter with as little exertior
as an adept skater. and his manner OF
taking a bail on tho bound is inimita-
BILE.
He has not the impetuosity Of Chase
OF Wagner or OF Roger Bresnahan-the
latter the fiery type OF player-yet the
ginger. though concealed, is there. In
fact. there is an air of lazy indiffersncs
about Larry, He never seems 20 be
exsrting himseif, always seems e
haxa a0methaRR IN EesaryA but nature