The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-20
PITCHERS STAND
IN SP 0 TLIG \ I
Occupy Pivota! Position in Base
ball World. and Must Stand
Criticism.
SOME COMBINE ALL QUALITIES
Outileldcrs Must Be Great Stick
crs to Prove OF Lasting
Value.

In less than one month the race FOR
| the 1911 pcnnant Will DO on. News
iron, the training camps OF the big
teams III the South is pouring in every
day. and is second only in interest to
the United States army manoeuvrcs on
the Mexican border. When April IL
arrives however, even tho war will
pale into insignifcancc; tho baseball
VIII replace the cannon ball. and tho
diamond warrior Will become tho pub,
lie hero instead Of the hoy In blue
Speaking OF heroes, 1t is generally
the pitcher who gathers in the largest
number OF laurcls OF any individual
member of the team. lie has more Of
an opportunity to distinguish himself,
individually. than any other member or
the team. and is censurcd or praised in
accordance with his work. His place
on the team is held only BY it's pitch
iiiS ahiiit%; his stick work is not con-
sidcrcd IL he is Il great twirlcr. With
other field positions, however. it Is
slightly different.
Must Tilt md Field Hoth.
y player must not only have the abil-
ity 10 cover his position, but must hav,
u mating eye as we'll Both Qualities
come III for an equal share Of considcra-
non, ana his reputation hangs on tho
particular quality in which he cxcels
+ or instance. lLans Wagner is a great
anortstop and a greater batter. 1t is
his phenomenal stick work that has
made him a baseball idol
Larry 1ajoic. of tho Cleveland team
IS .anothcr example. lfc has an cuvi-
abic reputation as a second bascman
pnt ms work at the bat has over
shadowed 1t. On the other hand, we find
q man like Hal Chase, OF the Yanlices
whose work at the initial sack has
occn responsible for his success on tho
diamond. Chase is II fair hitter. but
had IT not been for his phenomenal
work In the field. lie would probably
not had been heard or
o"tfcidcrs Primarily Hitters.
mere arc scores Of such eases in tho
infeid where mans reputation as
ball player. is based on either his
ielding or batting ability With the
outiteid. however. it is different. Out
heidcrs of course. must be able TO fold
= bail, but their main qualification mus,
DC their ability to hit. MI outhcltcrs
who have achieved great rcn,iation
lave invariably been great slmgwers'
\ glance over tho roster of the big
lcaShc teams to-day. will bear out this
statement. All the prominent out
hclders arc men who hit above the 800
mark. I-'5. m
IN the National League VIC find Ma
| sec. Of the Philadelphia team. who
ended the season with Il folding aver
| age OF o14, having only eight errors in
~ games. In the Individual batting
average he led tho league with Il por-
centngc Of %3l Hoffman, OF Chicago.
had leldinE average of 975 having
only seven errors in ITO games ana in
TIC individual batting column he wound
up the season with a percentage OF as.
Snodsrass and Dcvorc of New York.
ochulte OF Chicago. Campbell or Pitts
burg, and Bates of Philadelphia. arc All
outhelucrs hitting above The 500 mark.
T* Cobb Heads List.
" Cobb, of the Detroit Tigers. IS
undoubtedly the best known outiield-
Ter in the American League Ills field
ing average was by no means the best.
| having fourteen errors in 1877 games
! and percentage OF 95I: but he stood
AZ ne head OF both leagues in his stick
work with an average of 3S5. Speak
| or. OF Boston. fell slightly below Cobb
both in fielding ana batting, his latter
average being $40. which would make
nm desirable addition to any team.
OldrinS. OF the Athletics. is onotbrr
| star. lie led the league in fielding.
viii an average Of 97S, having onIy Six
errors In 13i games, and a bltt,rc
average OF sos
II is such men as these that retain
tnelr positions on team, not for their
ability to cover ground and catch =
ly ball, but for their work at ,hc \.
they are the main factors in the Of
fcnsive work Of tho team and occupv
obscure positions on the defensive. ann
Tor ihls reason the personnel or thn
outiield Is always a strong remnant
| factor. -