The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-01
old OUTFIELDERS
ARE UNSURPASSED
Flogarty, McAleer and Others
Supreme in Eighties
THE STARS ARE PASSING
Thomas and Keller Are GOne-Fact Is
Recalled That Present Day Cracks
Are no Better Thnn Former
Big Leagucrs
THE STARS ARE PASSING


ment, Though not forgotten by old
timers, as they have been released un-
| colditionally by the Highlanders and Bos-
ton Nationals, respectively.
Keller LED the right fielders in per-
ce1tage in 1896, 1897. 1901 and 1902, while
Thomas stood at the head of the center
helders in 1900 1901, 1904 1885, 1906 and
lJ17. The passing of these famous fly
ball odichers recalls the fact that the
best outtielders in harness today are con-
sidered no better than many stars of
Gays gone by.
The National league boasts of Fred
Clarke and Tommy Leach of the cham
pion rates, Schultz of the Cubs, also
Sheekard, Titus and Magee of the Phila-
delphias; Mitchell and Pasl1ert of the
Reds; Hummel and Burch of the Brook
lyns 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
'eteran fans will tell you that these
players are by no means extraordinary.
Going hack to 1871 when fielding rec
ords began to mean something, you'H find
TIE names of such famous outfielders as
Ed Cu!htert of Philadelphia Lip Pike of
Troy and Dave Eggler of the Mutuals.
Veteran ball fans still insist these men
could get under long drives as well as
the modern stars, while long distance
throwing Was their strongest point.
Al Gedney, who played with both the
Mutuals 9Ed the Athletics; Andy Leonard,
who was g fixture as Boston's left fielder
for nearly 10 years, and had no equal:
Paul Hines of Chicago and Providence;
jim C'Rourke, who made big reputa-
ton in Boston; Jack Manning of the same
team; Orator Shaffer of Louisville and
Indianapolis; Tom York. Paul Radford
and Cliff Carroll of Providence; Jake
Evans of Troy and Joe Hornung of Bos-
ton were among the leading outfielders up
Z, 1853 AMI 1884.
Hioinuny 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
ieldcrs in 1880, 1881, 1882, 1888 and 1884, and
also created numerous sensations by
throwing out at first base batsmen who
dtstt dpPtscHtiy S4lS MUS.
IornuDg, as fast as whrlwind In get
ting under fly balls, had such a reputation
rs a long distance thrower that base run
1ers en- third seldom made break for
he home plate after one of his catches
Hines, who led the center feeders in 1883
md 1884, was not only sure catch, but
lie could throw with the best of them
md was also great batsman.
jim o'Rourke, who was with Boston
IN 1Sl3 did OIgif he on
last season, was the leading center fielder
IL 1915, and again In 1885, when a MEM
her of the Giants. O'Rourke, always a
big hitter, wa kept on the New York
team fer han dozen years more. but
he became SO slow in left field that when
he ietlred to Bridgeport he became a
catcher. He could always play behind the
bat. for that matter, SO this experience
Was nothing new.
Star Cuff .lds
Anscn had some star outfelders when
ChireSo won pornants about this time
Abi.er Eairmyple, George Gole Billy Sun
day, Hugh Nicol Hugh Duffy and Martin
Sullivan. Every one of these men could
cover ground. throw and hit in a way
hat made them stand prominently in the
records.
Boston uncovered a phenomenal CEN
ter fielder in Dickey Johnston in 1888.
lie was picked up in Richmond and
he hadn't played half dozen games
in the Hub before he had the fans bv
the ears. Some of his running catches
We're miraculous. a memorable one be-
Ing the capture of a terrific drive from
the big bat of mighty Dan Brouthers.
Radhourne was pitching for Boston
In that game, and he sent up a slow
one waist high.
Brouthers, the heaviest hitter in the
league, landed squarely with his stick
and the ball sailed so high and far
that the crowd expected to see It clear
the center field fence The moment
the ball met the bat Johnston turned
his back and dug for the fence. When
be was within 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 ball
lodged in his glove just as he ed
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 hab
it's
Curt WEIGH, of the st. Louis Browns
and Pop Corkhill. of the Cincinnati
Reds, were playing in the American
ASSOCIATION about this time, and pa r
| tisan critics insisted that they vera
superior to the Boston crack, which
may have been true, but the fact re-
mains that Boston veterans say even
today that the Hub has never had a
better center fielder than tho bow who
came from Richmond, unknown and m
sung.
| Jimmy McAleer, now manager of the
Washington team, was another superb
outfelder when he wore the uniform
OF the Cleveland club. His wonderful
catches were the talk of balloon near
| ~ 20 years ago, and whenever he
played his performances were starred
But he was comparatively weak hit
ter, which was, of course, a serious
handicap
| The Phillies had wonder in Jim
| my Fogarty, now dead. He was tho
leagues star left fielder in 1884 and
1885, and also led the center fielders in
| 1899. -
| Fogarty was a natural player, a star
base runner, batter and fielder. and
those who remember him say the onIv
player who has ever shown similar
class is Ty Cobb.
Bug Holiday, who passed away re-
Gently, was another crack center field
| er. AS member of the Cincinn n
team, he had the best percentages FOR
this position in 1890
| But there were other good outflelder,
in those days. notably Ed Hanlon with
the Detroits, Walter Wllmot with the
senators. Pete Gillespie with the New
Yorks. Sam Thompson and Hardie Rich :
ardson OF the Detroits, and Mike Tier
nan, who played right field for the
Giants for many years. Thompson and
Richardson were not so fast as the
| others. but they made up for 1t with
tfeir terrible batting, which l.e'pcd De.
| of,a