The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-21
HARD PROBLEMS
 SOLVED BY FANS
American League Followers
 Hold Flaming Bee
PICK THE BEST PLAYERS
"Wild BilP' Donovan, Joe Wood, Larry Lajoie, Sam Crawford and Our Hero, cy Young, Come in
 For Baseball Honors.

From the St. Louis Globe Democrat. If fan asked you what pitcher in the American league had the most speed what would your answer be? Well, that question was propounded tc bunch of American league ball players who were flaming.
 Joe Wood of the Red Sox,'' was the answer of one.
 Yep"
 You're right" came from the bunch.
 They had in mind other pitchers who have a fast ball that is a wonder to be- hold. Wild Bill'' Donovan. for instance Any time that man has more speed than this fellow does on the days that he Is right the ball must look like a marble But the men who gave the verdict were men who have batted against both and all the other pitchers in the league, and Joe Wood was the choice
 Well, if Joe Wood is the speediesi pitcher, who is the hardest hitter?"
 Good Hitters in Game.
 Now here was @ poser. For there are several men in the American league who can sting the ball with sufficient force to drive it through the infield like a rifle shot.
  Any time the big Frenchman hits the bail he hits It hard. The inhielders will tell you that.
 But Lajoe was not the choice of the bunch. Not at all. They selected Sam Crawford of the tribe of Tigers. They agreed that when Sam leaned against the ball and met it square that 1t travelled just a bit faster than when any other ball player In the league smote it. It also H--x e. as one of the unlucklest batters in the or ganization.
 The players agreed that the fielders spoiled more fine drives for Sam than they did for anyvother slugger in the league.
 Well, if Sam is the hardest hitter in the league, who is the finest bunter?'' was the next question fired at the ball players.
 That was easy. There wasn't min ute's hesitation.
 Willie Keeler," was the answer.
 Since bunter should be a fast man. the next question pertained to speed.
 What man in the American league gets to first in the shortest space of time?'' was asked.
 Here was 0 sumner. You wouldn think so. Probably you would mention the name of Tyrus Cobb right off the reel. But it wasn't unanimous by any means. There were some who said that Harry Niles and Davy Jones, the former Cub were just as fast in negotiating the distance between the home plate and first. That question was passed But Cobb won out in one department all right. It was agreed unanimously that when it came to getting from first to second and the re- mainder of the distance to the plate that the Georgia peach was without an equal In the junior organization.
 Since the art of running bases was brought into the argument it was only right that some one would spring this question:
 ''Who Is the greatest baseman when 1t comes to touching runner?'
 Umpire Billy Evans up and answered this argument. He said that Bobby Wal lace of the St. Louis Browns was with out an equal.
 But, of course, the flaming could not long remain away from the subject of pitching And some one pitched in with this query:
 Who has the best curve ball?"
 Now here was an opportunity for a grand bit of argument. As all the world knows, Wild Bill" Donovan has a curve ball that is a wonder to behold. But Donovan did not win the honors. They went to one you would never think of. Walter Manning of the Yankees was named as the boy with the greatest de- ceiver.
 The argument was not made that his curve was the hardest to hit. Far from It. The batters claimed that if the man with the war club would cultivate pa- tience and wait until Walter put 1t over the plate that it was an easy ball to hit. The medal was awarded to him because he had the biggest curve. It is of the roundhouse variety.
 The argument having returned to the pitching department again, there was an- other question than some one wanted settled.
 Who has the best spit ball?' was the query.
 And here is where the Sox began to shine. Ed Walsh was named right off the reel. But he had an opponent in Jimmy Dygert of the Athletics. The argument waxed hot. But finally 1t was agreed that while Dygert had a more deceptive spit ball than Walsh. the big Chicagoan had much better control, one of the reuuisitess for the pitcher of the saliva sphere.
 Still being on the pitchers. the query came, Well, who has the best control?' Here also was an argument. some claimed that it was an honor that should
  ored Ed Walsh. But Cy Young finally was declared the honor bearer.
 cy Young Wins Place.
 Cys long term of service won him the honor For, as his friends pointed out he had gone year after year issuing passes only when he felt so inclined and seldom wasting a ball.
 The outf1elders took the floor once more, when the question, "Who Is the greatest thrower in the American league?" was asked.
 That required a bit of pondering.
 Joe Birmingham of the Naps,' was the answer. The vote became almost unanimous And the Sox fans who have seen the wonderful throwing of the Cleve- land outfelder will agree that the mar who made the statement had much reason for his choice
 that the Indians had all gone and hint dead, besides few wounded ones, taker along.
 linen the major said his soldiers mus lay over a day to bake bread. st'Bake hell! we cried.
 "'Why have you not helped or permit ted us to capture these IndiansT asked McNeal Here we have placed ourselves