The Washington herald., 1910-04-03

Fron the Philadelphia North American.
William Keller and Roy Thomas, two
OF the best outfelders who ever played
IN major league company, will probably
be missed on the big circuits this year.
They have seen their best days, like
many other great players now In retire
ment. though not forgotten by old
timers. as they have been released I'M
conditionally oy the Highlanders and
Boston Nationals, respectively.
Keller led the right flelders in per-
centage in 1896. 1897. 1901, and 1902,
while Thomas stood at the head of the
center felders in 1900 1901. 1884, 1905.
1906. and 1907, The passing of these IA
nous fly ball eatchers recalls the fact
that the best outhelders IN harness to-
day ara considered no better than many
stars Of days gone by.
The National League boasts of Fred
Clarke and Tommy Leach Of the cham
pion Pirates; Schultz. OF the Cubs also
Sheckard; Titus and Magee, OF the Phila-
delphias; Mitchell and Paskert. of the
Reds; Hummel and Burch, of the
Brooklyns. and Murray, of the Giants
The American League has the noted
Ty Cobb. of Detroits; Iris Speaker. of
the Boston Red Sox; Dan Murphy,
Crawford, Mcintyre, Niles, Engle, and
others. yet veteran fans will tell you
that these players are by no means ex-
traordinary.
Going back 10 1871, when fielding
records began TO mean something.
you'll find the names of such famous
outfielders as Ed Cuthbert, Of Phila-
delphia; Lip Pike, Of Troy. and Dave
Eggler. of the Mutuals.
Veteran ball fans still insist these men
could get under long drives as we'll as
the modern stars, while long distance
throwing was their strongest point
Great Throwers In Those Days.
Al Gedney. who played with both the
Mutuals and the Athletics; Andy Leonard.
who was a fixture as Boston's left fielder
for nearly ten years and had no equal;
Paul Hines, OF Chicago and Providence:
Jim O'Rourke. who made big reputa-
ton in Boston; Jack Manning. Of the
and Indianapolis; Tom York, Paul Rad
ford and Clin Carroll. Of Providence;
Jake Evans, Of Troy and Joe Hornung. Of
Boston, were among the leading outheld-
ers up to 1883 and 1884
HornuRg and Evans were superb throw
ers; in fact, none OF their predecessors
had anything on them in this respect.
Evans, who later played with Worcester
and Cleveland, was the best Of the right
fieldeTs in 1850. 1881, 1SS2, 1883. and 1884, and
also created numerous sensations by
throwing out at first base bstsmen who
had made apparently safe hits.
Hornung, as fast as whirlwind in get
ting under fly balls. had such a reputation
as long distance thrower that base run
ners on third seldom made break for
the home plate after one of his catches.
Hines, who led the center ielders in 1888
and 1884, was not only a sure catch. but
he could throw with the best of them
and was also great batsman.
Jim O'ROuTke, who was with Boston
IN 1873 and did not quit the game until
last season. was the leading center fielder
IN 1873, and again In 1885, when a mem
Der of the Giants. O'Rourke, always
big hitter. was kept on the New York
team for half a dozen years more, but
he became SO slow in left field tina. when
he retired TO Bridgeport he became a
catcher. He could always play behind the
bat for that matter so this experience
was nothing new
Arson had some star outielders when
Chicago won pennants about this time
AbneT DalTymple. George Gore, Billy Sun
day, Hugh Nicol Hugh Duffy. and Martin
Sullivan. Every one Of these men could
cover ground, throw and hit IN a way
that made them stand prominently in the
records
Boston uncovered a phenomenal center
fielder in Dickey Johnston in 1855. He
was picked up in Richmond and he
hadn't played half a dozen games in the
Hub before he had the fans by the ears.
Some Of his running catches were mirac-
lous, a memorable one being the capture
OF q terrific drive from the big bat of
mighty Dan Brouthers.
Radbourne was pitching for Boston in
that game, and he sent up slow one
waist high
Brouthers. the heaviest slugger in the
league landed squareIy with his stick
and the ball sailed 50 high and far that
the crowd expected TO see it clear the
center field fence. The moment the bali
met the bat Johnston turned his back and
dug for the fence When he was within
a few feet of the boards he turned and
leaped into the air At the same time
he threw up his left hand in the nick Of
time, for the bali lodged in his glove just
as ne crashed into the fence.
That catch made Dickey Johnston. and
he was quickly called the leagues star
center fielder, but he soon fell by the
wayside because of his habits.
McAIeer Was a star.
Curt Weleh, of the St. Louis Browns,
and Pop Corkhill, Of the Cincinnati Reds.
were playing in the American Assoeia-
ton about this time. and partisan critics
insisted that they were superior to the
Boston crack. which may have been true
but the fact remains that Boston veterans
say even to-day that the Hub has never
had a better center fielder than the boy
who came from Richmond. unknown and
ungung.
Jimmy McAleer. now manager of the
Washington team, was another superb
outhelder when he wore the uniform OF
the Cleveland club. His wonderful catches
were the talk of balloon nearly twenty
wears ago, and whenever he played his
performances were starred But he was
a comparatively weak hitter. which was,
of course, a serious handicap.
The Phillies had wonder in Jimmy
Fogarty. now dead. lie was the leagues
star left fielder in 1884 ana 1856, and also