The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-10-14
World Series COntenderS Are
Remarkably Evenly Matched
(National News Associationy


A blanket" comparison of the
players of the Giants and Athletics.
who have earned their right to battle
in the worlds series, shows the two
teams to be remarkably evenly match
ed. In one department. the Giants
seem to have the best of it. in anoth-
er, the Athletics look stronger.
Dissecting the teams into the indi-
vidual players, and counter-balancing
the merits of the ROYALS at each po-
sition, we have the following:
First Base-"Stuffy" Jack McInnes.
who holds down the initial station for
the American Leaguers, is graduate
of the Ohio and Pennsylvania League,
having been picked by Connie Mack
while youth in his teens. Connie
kept him on the bench more than a
full season before he gave him a
chance as a regular. McInnes inn
mediately sprouted into a sensational
player, and the close of the 1911 sea-
son found his playing steady, de-
pendable game, much more satisfac-
tory than that of the fast-waning vet
eran Harry Davis. Mclnnes hit
blue streak throughout the season
and fielded well. But in this he meets
his superior in the person of Fred
Merkle of the Giants. Merkle, a ma
tive of Toledo, where he owns hotel.
must bow before McInnes when it
comes to swatting the sphere. In all
other things he seems to possess and
edge over his younger rival. He is a
past master at the fine art of fielding
and throwing and is one of the demon
sextet of Giant baserunners.
Second Base-ln this position, the
Quakertown team has all the best of
it. Larry Doyle, the captain of the
Giants, while a capable man and full
of ginger, can hardly be put in the
same class with the wonderful Eddie
Collins. Doyle is man after Nc
Graw's own heart. He is one of the
scrappiest players in baseball, as well
as one of the quickest thinkers. BE
| cause of his ability to pull off stuff
McGraw made him captain and placed
| him second in the batting order, in
which spot he is particularly valuable
because he can hit and bunt with
/ equal facility, and can also take ad-
vantage of any weakness the enemy
| may exhibit. Doyle, a former Three
Eye League player, is fast infielder
but not finished one. He gets over
| the ground with all the speed neces-
sary, but is inclined to be little err
ratio defensively. That is where Col
Inns has it ION" Doyle. The Columbia
graduate is not only a spectacular
fielder, but a CONSTANT one. He sell
dom boobies easy chances. Although
Doyle is a capital hitter and baserun
ner, he must bow before Collins in
in these departments also. In the an
alysis, about the only point of superb
ority possessed by Doyle is his ag
gressiveness, Collins towering above
him in everything else.
Shortstop-Arthur Fletcher, the
Belleville, ILL.,, youth, who fills this
most important infield job for the
, Giants, is fast, wiry and quick to size
up a situation. He has good whip
and fields flashily, hits hard and regu
!larly and speeds about the bases in
good style. Jack Barry, the Athletics
shortstop, does all these things just
about as we'll as Fletcher and is, il
anything, a better man to send to bat
in a pinch. Barry's experience makes
him more valuable in an important
series than the New Yorker, whose
true mettel has not yet received ar
adequate test. Connie Mack would
bet his life that Barry will play top
notch ball in this worlds series, ever
as he played last year, but McGraW
would not venture such wager or
Fletcher. This youngster is nothing
like the "sure thing" that Barry is
Fletcher may prove the sensation O.
the series, or he may prove disma
failure when under such stress. Nc
|Graw may deeply regret having TRADED
away AL Bridwell, or he may be thu
happiest man in the world when hi
recalls the incident.
Third Base-Both Athletics ant
Giants have great youngsters working
at third base. Charley Herzog, wht
was secured by McGraw from Boston
in the famous midsummer deal, afte,
having been sent to Boston from New
York the previous year, plays a dash
ing, aggressive, snappy game in thu
field and displays the same spirit a
bat and on the paths. Since he re
placed the veteran Arthur Devlin, h
has performed at the far corner ii
practically the same style as his pre-
decessor. Probably he does not cove
quite as much ground as the Devlin O
three years ago, but he is quicker a
Kidding himself of the ball after h
grabs it. He fields a bunt we'll ant
is one of the speediest of all thir'
basemen at chasing foul balls. Her
zogs fielding is every bit as good a
that of Frank Baker, the Athletics
third sacker, and he is a dreaded base
runner, but Baker gets the palm owe
) him when it comes to hitting. Baker
batting against the same pitchers
) probably would not have any bette
percentage than the former Baltimor
boy, but his clouts are longer. He
the Frank Schultz of the America
! League and is disappointed when h
) fails to slam out homer. This ter
dency to break up game with Gil
cult smashes puts him ahead of Hel
zog in allaround value.