Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-12-21
Good Third BaSemenAreScarce
Articles; Southern League Has
Had But Few Real Top-Notchers

average $50 to .29O and his fielding
was fiashy.
Another third baseman who had
a season or two of briniancy was
Bobby Cargo. As small as Scotty
Walker, he welded a monstrous
bat with nurderous force; and he
knew how to field.
Pug" Bennett, a contemporary
of Cargo, was man well remem-
bered for clean, aggressive work
Bennett was, for a while, q heavy
hitter and "a quick thinker
\ player who, for one season,
looked a world beater was Scotty
Walker, Of Atlanta. The little lad
came to the Gate City at the end Of
a long period of wretched third
basemen. In consequence, the dis
covely OF lad who could field his
position, throw to first and who
wasn't afraid and didn't tank UP
with cheap booze was a real event,
and he was hailed as the wonder Of
the world More brilliant fielding
and throwing than Scotty Walk
er's have seldom been seen in the
league Like Babb, Walker had
but one good season. After that he
began to fade.
For consistency, the palm goes to
two performers who year after year
figured creditably in the record
George Robe and Clayton Perry.
Robe appears first in the record
book In the year 1904. The years
of 1905, 1908, 1909 and 1911 find him
in the third basing division. always
with a good fielding mark, occa-
sionally with a good batting record.
For good steady, dependable work
he has seldom been equaled.
Clayton Pery's record is even
longer He figured in 1906. 1907,
1908, 1909 and 1910 as third base
man. And when he wasn't playing
third he was playing second and
doing moderately well. Perry has
been the sort Of chap who has bat
ted around $50 or Il bit less and
tieloed around 1888 ever since he
broke in. He isn't a great fielder.
but be plays a pretty steady game
and, all things considered, is one
of the best
A COUPLE of Southern league
third basemen who looked like
wonders for a while were Humpty
McElveen and George Manush.
Both were strapping big fellows,
smacking hard hitters and afraid
of nothing. In 1907 and 1908 Nc
Elveen batted in the 2S0's and
tlelded well. "Humpty's" DISPOSE
ton proved TO be his worst enemy
and. though he had a chance in the
big leagues, he couldn't make a go
of IT, Manush is another who
went up with the prestige of fine
records and a big send-ou. But ne
didn't liuger.
THE southern league has never
L had really great third base
man. The southern has never sent
third baseman to the big leagues
who became really great. The
Southern league never had "a player
who in previous times had been
great in the big leagues OF course,
these statements are subject TO
some explanations lied" Smith
may develop into wonder. though
he didn't quite arrive last year
Phelan, under more favorable sur
roundings, may be as good a man
some day in the National league as
he was i'm the Southern. though he
did not show it last year Bobby
Byrne. famous big league third
baseman, played shortstop on the
Southern. And. Of course the eN-
ception of Lave Cross should be
mentioned. He was a once great
who slumped back, But he does not
have to be considered. because he
played but part OF a sea son
Verify verify third base is "a
tough old position TO play and good
third bascmen have been alarming
ly scarce.