Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-15
Fast Red Sox Have No Startling Lines Of Play
Boston Team Is Perfect Balanced Combination

picked from the members of the
two major leagues, majority of
experts and fans would probably
include just two members of the
Boston Red Sox. They are iris
Speaker, outfielder, and Joe Wood,
pitcher There are half a dozen
players in each department of the
game who would likely be selected
over any other members Of the Sox
for the respective positions. In
Speaker and Wood, however, the
Sox have two men who could hard
ly be omitted from any unbiased
all-star pick.
Speaker Is undoubtedly one Of
the greatest outflelders in the world.
Some rank him the equal of Ty
Cobb-all place him at least Sec
ond only to the Detroit wonder.
Speaker Is great hitter, a great
base runner and a great outfielder.
Apparently he has no weakness.
AS for Joe Wood, his record
speaks for itself. He is the Math-
ewson Of the American league.
Many fans place him first among
the right handlers OF that organi-
cation, although that claim will al
ways be vigorously disputed by
Walter Johnson. They call the
Kansas City boy Smoky joe" be-
cause of his wonderful speed. He
is a heady pitcher, who, like Math-
eWson, makes a study of his oppo-
nents. His delivery is not wholly
unlike that Of Big Six"
One Of Greatest Outfieids
Speaker, Harry Hooper and Duffy
Lewis furnish one Of the best out
fields, II not the very best, in the
big leagues, because of the almost
perfect balance. There are numer-
GUS other individual outfieIders
who would be chosen ahead Of
Hooper and Lewis, but whether
there are any two gardeners who
would be selected above this pair,
outside of Speaker, Cobb, Milan and
Jackson, for practical team pur-
poses, is another question. AS it
stands today the Boston outfield
apparently outClasses any in either
league, but with any one of the trio
removed 1t Is different proposition.
Neither Hooper nor Lewis is a
star slugger, but each is a wonder
full thrOwer and a good fielder.
Each is comparatively slow on the
bases.
StahI Adds Strength to Club.
Jake Stahl is not generally re-
gaTded as a great first baseman.
FIG is not considered in the same
class with Hal Chase, Jake Dau-
bert, Fred Merkle or Stuffy McIn-
mis-, and yet he has played great
ball for the Sox this season. Pos
stbly the SoX might have done just
as well with another first baseman
of equal ability in mere ball play
ing on the bag, and Jake on the
bench, but there is no denying that
the presence of the leader in the
lineup adds to the balance.
Steve Yerkes is not a great sec
ond baseman. Certainly he would
nv NC NldSStu ny many 1dnS with
Collins, or Doyle, or Knabe. or
Johnny Evers, and yet he is a
greatly improved ball player this
year, who is constantly going along.
and who has held up his side of the
intield beyond criticism.
Charley Wagner, the Boston
shortstop, is handicapped by his
name, strange as that may seem.
He has long been one of the best
men on the Boston club; but some
how he never gets proper credit
for his work, and many believe that
it is largely due to the fact that
he wears the same name of the
greatest of them all-Honus Wag-
ner, the Demon Dutchman.
Yet Charley would not be picked
over DOME Bush or Jack Barry. or
several others that might be named.
He is no youngster. McGraw had
him ten years ago, and John |. Tav-
Tor insisted on him being tried out
at short in 1907
Gardner Plays Well at Third.
Pat Donovan always claimed
that Larry Gardner would do bet