Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-03
UTILITY MANS LOT
SA VERY HARD ONE
inactive Most of the Time, He
Must Be Equal to the 0cca-
sion When It Comes.

In a way the position of substitute on
base ball team is the hardest of all.
The substitute gets his chance only once
in a while, and he Is expected to do as
well when that chance comes as the reg
ular whose position he is called upon to
take. He doesn't get the seasoning. the
benefit of every day competition as does
the regular; but it is up to him to fill
the latter's shoes as we'll the regular
when the occasional moment arrives.
Whether as a pinch hitter or in the field
no less is expected from his exercise of
mental and physical faculties. as If he
were getting the training of every day
battling, and ability to adapt oneself to
situations as they arise.
In a way, too, the substitute must be
an all-around man, capable Of filling any
position in the infield or outf1eld. and
sometimes both. In modern times the
ablest substitute who has come before
the public is Artie Hoffman. the Chicago
Cubs star, now regular because his ex-
ceptional ability finally brought him the
berth. The wonder Of his case is that
he ever was substitute. Barring eX-
perience. he was as good player when
he was an underStudy as he is now. Yet
for several seasons he filled the utility
role, and there were men ahead Of him
who weren't his equals in point OF value
to the team. Any team in the country
even then would have been glad to have
taken Hoffman off of Chances hands and
made a regular of him. Chance knew the
mans value. however, and kept him.
A base ball expert, former manager.
recently put it this way anent Hoffman: :
"He can play any position in the infield
or outtield and play it better than the
regular in that position That may be
putting it strongly. but put Holman any
where you like outside OF battery place
and the team won't be weakened any.
Keeping on edge by sitting on the bench
is the hard lot of the substitute. and one
of the most interesting phases of the
game is that he generally does it. Some
teams have men who can fill in either IN
the outfield or infield. There's Roach OF
the Highlanders. for instance, regular
in the early part of the season. an in
outfield McGraw is more Of specialist
as to utility men. He has in Fletcher and
Schaefer two utility intie!ders and In
Becker a utility outfielder.
McInnes of the Athletics. substitute in
fielder is better man right now than
several regular big league shortstOps. and
you'd never know il wasn't Barry playing
II you didn't know the two men by sight.
Jennings has in Lathers and Simmons a
couple of extra infelders whose work
when pitched into games had all the
finish of veterans. Walsh of the Phillies
has played in the outfield and infield both
right up to the handle when called upon.
In one contest when Knabe was hurt
Walsh was switched from center field to
second base and covered the latter posi-
ton as If to the manner born.
Look at the way Hack Engle of the
Boston Red SOX has made good. He went
to third base to understudy one of the
best third basemen in the business. and
day after day PLAYED clever ball there.
Then when Harry Lord was traded for a
regular third baseman. Purtell, Engle was
shifted over to second base suddenly to
take the place of Gardner, who was hurt.
1t didn't make any difference. however.
Engle made himself at home at once
spicuously good game at the second bag.
Wild Conroy Of the Washinstons is a
cross between a regular and a substitute
He Is a f1rst-elass third haseman, first
class shortstop and first-class outffelder
he is a good base runner and is
ant to do his hitting at opportune times.
Hyatt Of the Pittsburgs made a name for
himself last season as a pinch hitter.
That's about all he was used for. to bat
I'm emergencies. 1t is hard to ina CINE a
more trying position than that of pinch
hitter. one whose batting practice is con-
fined chiefly to morning and preliminary
practice. but whose eye and Judgment
must be keen when he is called upon.
There are numerous others, and their
berths are anything but pretty soft
Being in the game every day Is an outlet
for the feelings which the substitute
doesn't have. hut none the less is his re-
sronsibility when he Is called into action
He also serves who only stands and
waits.