Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-27
CLYDE MILAN PLAYS
THREE GARDEN Jobs
Pitcher Willett Wants Credit for
Bringing Him Into Big
League.
IS GREATEST FIELDER
IN GAME TODAY
Detroit Critic Considers Him as
Fast as Cobh-McAleer
Developed Him.

It would hardly be truthful to say that
II 1t was not for Edgar Willett, Clyde
Milan would still be in the bushes as
man in Kansas Informed us a few years
ago, but it is truthful to say that Willett
Q. KID Milan and got him his first real
job, says Fl. c. Salsinger In the Detroit
News. Willett was the first player in
organized base ball to recognize Milan s
ability. Today Milan is rated as one of
the best outfielders the history of the
game can show.
Clyde is center fielder for the Washing
ton Nationals. Being center fielder he
comes near being the entire outfieId. He
constantly goes into left, where Milan
is depended on to take the longest drives
And he is asked to invade right field,
where Doc Gessler is discovering that
he can't cover near as much ground as
he used to.
As Good as Ever Was"
Milan. small in stature compared to
other big leaguers, fast as they make
them and sure judge of fly balls, Is
perhaps the greatest fielding outfielder in
the game today. Milan gets more wicked
drives, cuts down more runs and covers
as much territory as any outfielder that
ever lived. The last statement comes
from veterans who have seen outielders
come and outfelders go.
Years ago Milan was living In the west.
He played ball, and his fielding soon be-
came the talk Of the village The Wich-
fta club heard about him, and Edgar Will
lett. then a member Of that organization,
was sent out to look Milan over. Willett
saw Milan in action and reported favor
ably. Willett also Informed the Wichita
s sSSe'' 'na' 'ne' 00o'0 nave "''ah l0r
Makes Good Immediately.
Milan started in organized base ball.
He made good. They couldn't keep him
out Of the big leagues. and he landed
there heavily. He developed rapidly.
Milan became remarkable fielder last
season. Jennings regarded him as one of
the best he ever saw. Detroit wanted
him, and there was talk of trading Craw-
ford to Washington for Milan, but the
Detroit club heard that Milan had bad
foot and the deal failed to materialize.
In the games that the Nationals play
at Bennett Park Milan is always at his
best. In the series between the Tigers
and Nationals this year, the first one
that Washington played on Bennett lot,
Milan's work was wonderful. He pulled
OiI q SSIlOS vi CAICJlcS tHdI SQudIc0 any
thing in outfield work ever seen here.
As Fast as Cobb.
Many inhelders say that Milan can get
to first as fast as Cobb. Whenever Milan
hits grounder they make double-quIck
time getting the ball to the first baseman.
1t does not pay to take a chance in max
ing a slow throw with Milan going down.
Jimmy McAleer. manager of the Ma
tionals, has done his part in developing
Milan. McAleer, himself looked upon as
the greatest fielding outfelder Of his time
and probably Of all time, has watched
Milan day in and day out performing
feats Of fielding the like Of which Nc
Aleer alone could pull of in his playing
days. They say Milan owes his success
to McAleer; maybe he does and maybe
he doesn't. One thing is certain-a player
with the ability Of Milan does not keep
his light under bushel. 1t soon crops
out. McAleer might have helped, but the
Milan kind Of fielding is natural