Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1910-07-14
FiELDERs OF PRESENT DAY
NOT UP TO OLD STARS.
More Speed Boys on the lnfieId, But
Outer Gardens Suffer by Campari-

1T is Sam Cranes opinion that the
helders of the present day are not the
equals of the old time diamond stars,
and esT e.,ialiN 81 in the outfield. In
the infield. he says. the present Cay
style is faster. for they have more
speed boys now than formerly. and
also the great advantage that goes witt
the Gelders' glove. But the best in
dividual infe'Iers of today are no bet
ter if as good as those Of quarter OF
a century ago.
Ed. WilIiamsons. Jerry Dennys, Jack
Glasscocks, Fred Pfeffers. Danny Rich
ardsons, Club Sullivans, Charley Com
lskeys. Arlie Lathanns and other crack
infelders of - wears ago were posi-
bly, superior in many ways to the stars
of TO-DAY in the same positions. Ed.
Williamson has never been surpassed
in the all around ability that goes to
make a cracllerjack shoastop. and
neither has Jack Glasscock, "Pebbly
Jack" who. although he wore a NUM-
Der cap, being there when il was up
TO him to play baseball.
Jerry Denny was the best third
bsseman of his day. He was a two
handed player, and mind you never
wore glove when hew at his best.
Either TO the right or left he was just
q sood and his over hand scoops" of
hard lift grounders We're famous.
There was Tommy Burns, too. who
was just as good a third baseman as
there is playing ball today
Johnny Evers or Eddie Collins never
had anything on Fred Prefer or Dam
ny Richardson or Fred Dunlap in field
ing the second base position. ON in
head work, either and Evers is con-
sidered one of the brainiest players
today. and he is.
come off to Hal Chase of the New
York Americans. He has never ben
even approa ched in playing the Initial
bag. But there were great first base
men in Charley Comiskey. who first
made first base fielding position.
Long John Reilly. Al McKinnon and
Club Sullivan. Dan Brouthers, Rog-
er Conner and Capt. Arson were first
basement, but not great fielders. But
my. how they could wallop the ball.
One does not see many batsfnen OF
their caliber now adays, and the pitch
er's box in the days when that big trio
Of hitters We're in their prime was on
ly As feet away from the home plate.
Now 1t is So.
But il was in the outfield that the
old timers showed the greatest sups-
rierity over the present guardians of
the outer pastime. There are TY
Cotbs now and Criss Speakers and
Jacq Curt Wheats. but in the days of
% years ago there were the Fred Nc
AIeers, the WeIches. the Charley Fer
gusons, the Joe Hornungs, the Tommy
McCarthys, the Hughey Duffs. the
Sam Thempsons. the Ned Henlons, the
George Woods and others, who II they
didn't throw out one or two runners at
the home plate in every game ddn
think they we're earning their salaries.
and they were getting just as big sti-'
Ponds in those days as players are to-
day Who ever hears nowadays of
outfielders,. pulling off such shrew
tricks as those heavenly twins" Tom
Mccarthy and Hugh Duney used To
do right along. saw Mccarthy
trap two r. balls in one game and
The games are faster at present ths n
a quarter of century ago perhaps.
because there are more fast player,
but all around ball players in bat
ting fielding and running the stars of
the old days had a shade on the flash
lest of today.