The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-10-18
BY JOHN MecRAw
AII.TIme AII.Amerloa roam.

Airline AIl-America Team.
Catchers. Mike Kelly, Buck Ewing
Wilbert Robinson, Roger Bresnahan
pitchers. John Clarksof. Amos Rusfe
Christy Mathewson. Nat Rucker, Nor
decai Brown: frst base, Fred Merkle;
second base, Napoleon sLajoie, third
base, Jimmy Collins, shoFtstop, Hans
Wagner; utility infield, Hugh Jen,
nings; right field. Willie Keller: cen.
ter field, Ty Cobb; left field, Ed. Del.
nhanty; utility outfelder. Billy Ham
iIton
Ny force of backstops would com
& prise the late Mike Kelly and Buck
Rwing. Wilbert Robinson and Roger
Bresnahan. don't think that quar-
tet could be duplicated Each one OF
them excelled at bringing out all a
Iitcher had in him. All were good,
aIl-around men. Fine throwers, good
ception Of Robbie all we're great men
ON the bases.
There is no better catcher in the
game today for allaround work than
Roger Bresnahan. He has shown his
worth to team In hundred different
ways
Ny pitching stan would include the
late John Clarkson and Amos Rusie.
Christy Mathewson. Nap Rucker and
Nordecai Brown. have tried TO think.
but failed. of another FIVE that would
equal this outfit of twirlers for land
Ing a pennant and a worlds cham.
pionship. They lacked nothing All
had that great essential to a pitch
er's success-fine control All had
speed to burn, good curves and a de-
ceptive slow ball. All showed their
nerve in the pinches All were good
tempered men. I never know one or
them to call down a fielder for max
Ing slip behind him, as SO many
pitchers do. In fact, cant think OF
any other i've that could compare
with them.
am forced to put Fred Merkle on
first base because no first baseman
OF his time, or before, has shown me
as much baseball as Merkle has. He
can. and does, make the most difficult
catches. He has developed so that
he can take thrown ball with one
hand almost as well as with two.
never saw better thrower in the
position. He hits the ball as hard as
any man in the game.
Napoleon Lajoie I would select to
cover second base for my team. Since
his first appearance In the National
league, year in and year ont, he has
always been one c. the greatest hit
tiers In the game. He has always
been superb fielder At times he
appears to be Indifferent, but when
the batters are looking for holes in
his side Of the diamond, Larry Just
glides over and fills the gap. He is
the only fielder I ever saw that can
handle ground balls with one hand
as well as with two
There have been several high class
shortstops I'm the game but I can't find
any that classed with Hans Wagner
for allaround ability. He can get
anything that anybody else can handle
and a few more. He throws from
any position and never had a superior
n taking thrown balls and touching
base runners. At the bat he can hit
anything he can reach and hit Il to
unoccupied territory. He has great
speed on the bases and is an excel.
lent base runner.
For my third baseman don't hest
tate to pick Jimmy Collins at his best.
u,
style that was confidence itself. He
could play deep field because he
had as good an arm as any man that
ever played the bag. He handled
hunts Ike taking a piece OF pie.
Hughie Jennings is my choice for
substitute inhelder because he could
play at any position on the diamond
and play well. He was always good
hitter. fine base runner. and never
had superior at letting the outfield-
crs know what the battery contem.
plated doing.
Tor right field my selection is viii
lie Keller played with him on the
old Baltimore club long enough to
appreciate the class Of player he was
IN his time. He was one OF the most
scientific batters the game ever pro-
1dced. Az bunter he was perfect.
VIII place Ty Cobb inscenter field.
Tie n nrst-class at everything. No
body can say more for ball player.
He has the ambition to try TO beat
every record I'm sight. and IL making
good. The most sensational player
Of hIs time. he r. a model for young
players who have natural advantages
but somehow lack the ability or am
hilton 70 bring out what Is In them.
The late Ed. Deiahanty. the "only
DELI n nv choice for feft field His
hating was great treat: that Is,
when he wasn't playing against or
team.
billy Hamilton would select as
nv substitute outfeider He ranked
|IfI fbe best OF the scientific bat.
|1''s vat one 81 the best base run
Itte % bis tlre and a speedy sure
|.Na n ne Held