The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-09
|Sideline Remarks
on Sport Topics

In the American League the ques-
tion of second basemen appears to De
almost definitely settled. but the
chances are that there will be some
changes in the various line-ups be-
fore the season is very old.
Collins, of course, will guard the
keystone sack for the Athletics. Cum
ningham, a new man. is slated for
this job in Washington. In Boston.
Gardner has the call. In New York,
Jack knight is announced for this
position. Chicago will have Neon
nell. Cleveland the only Lajoie. St
Louis picks Truesdale and Detroit
will bank on Jim Delehanty.
There liz some uncertainty about
Knight. Truesdale, Gardner and Cum
ningham. New York may find II nee
essary to put knight back at short
field, in spite of the fact that they
have Roach. Johnson and Hartzell to
choose from. The Yankees have a
nifty little second baseman in Earl
Gardner. He is not the sticker that
knight is, but he is as pretty a fielder
as the big league fans have looked
upon.
Hal Chase wants a hard-hitting in
field. He thinks that with Knight
son at short field he will have n
bunch of demon clouters. However,
Hartzell may be crowded out by
young Elliott. and Roach may give
Johnson all he wants in the way of
a fight for the short field position.
Neither may be as useful as Knight
at the stop-gate job, and Chase may
be obliged to put in the lanky boy
at short again and send Gardner to
the second station.
Midget Foster seems to have drop
ped out of sight. He was not heavy
enough for fast company in stick
work.
johnson was with the Eastern
League last season, having been
farmed by Stallings. He made quite
a record as n cleanup man. and al
though he did not bat much over
$50. yet he was noted for his long.
hard drives. Ever since he was in
the Southern League two seasons ago
Johnson has been regarded as a fence
breaker. and if he can do as well In
exclusive society as he has among
the lesser lights. he will stick. and
Jack Knight will get the job for
which he has longed for some time.
knight has had a checkerea ca
reer In the big league. When he was
with Connie Mack he was called the
school boy, and the name has stuck
10 him ever since. He substituted
for both Monte and Lace Cross, and
ronce or twice played the second bag.
He went to the minors for Il short
time. came back to Mack and then
appeared in Boston. Here he was
kept playing at second. short and
third, but he was off in his hitting.
Stailngs finally took the school hoy
and on the Yankee team knight has
played every position in the inaeid,
/ At first base he Was a grand success.
/ and at one time Staliings was said
To be seriously considering of keep
ing him there and putting Prince Hal
in at shortstop.
knight, however believes second TO
!, he his real place. and evidently Hal
Chass agrees with him. Anyway,
the tall boy Will be given his chance
J there this year.
Boston Is not sure whether Gard
ner the former coliaEian, will be
able To fill Andy McConnell's shoes
satisfactorily. Clyde Engle has been
given a chancet here at times and
"Hack"--short for Hackenschmidt.
because of his massive build-has
shown himself something OF a bats
man, where Gardner has not been any
too strong. But Hack is slow com
pared to the graceful Gardner. and
the college boy viii have the first
chance at second. Engie has chance
To beat out Purteil AT third, for the
former White Sox player has not set
the Charles river on fire by his hit
ting since he Joined the Red Sox
camp.
! Cunningham. the new second sack
or OF the Washington team. comes
from the New England League, and
he showed UP mighty well last fall
after hs Joined the National eutsit.
Ed Griiio and Joe Jackson, likewise
Tommy Rice, are quite sure that Mr.,
, Cunningham is the real goods. One
: James MeAleer. which is most I'M
portant. appears to agree with them.
= Cunningham Is not only a good field
or, but he showed himself to- be a
natural hitter. and he stung the ball
in good shape in the game last fall
in which he took part, - ,,. IT,
\ New men generally do Well against
. big league pitchers. and Cunningham
may fall off as the season goes along,
in which case McAleer will be at q
loss to FIJI that hole at second. Leli
, Welt substituted at this place last
year. and. of course, there Is Ger
, many Schaefer to step in, but Ger
. many appears to be slated for the
. outfield. He was by no means a
, grand success in Delehantys old po-
, sition.
4 SO it is up to Mr.. Cunningham to
make good for McAieer.
I'm St. Louis young Mr.. Truesdale
is booked to hold down the job
where Jimmy Williams shone not SC
long ago. Truesdale played with the
Browns last year. and did not re
lceive a wealth of press notices. Still
| he was with a tail-end team. and
: writer's are apt to overlook even good
. youngsters on a taii-ender. Manager
i Wallace says Truesdale is good enough
fol- him, and Wallace should know
. If Truesdale cannot cover the has
threrc is big Frank Laporte to fall
back upon.
|. Iaporte has been tried by both New
York and Boston. and George Stall
ings Is the only one who seemed ia
be able to get good work out Of the
, Frenchman. He has the look of a
| ball player. he Yields the biggest
Coal Order!