The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-10-19

u great man for the Athletics. He
doesn't v the vast area that
Chase does, but is very reliable. Be-
ing left-handed, Chase has a big ad-
vantage over McInnes and Gandil in
handling hunts and forcig me at Sec
cd. In getting the ball away from
him Chase never had a superior. Gam
dis hitting and good first sacking had
much to do with the Washington
teams success.
At second base Eddie Collins was
named by every umpire as the best.
The youngster has displaced the for
mer king Of ball players" Lajoie.
He has no weak point. while Lajoie
has two serious weaknesses. In the
first place, Lajoie is quite susceptible
to injuries. and for the last three sea-
sons has been out of the game a great
deal. But another point. which the
fans may nave overlooked, is Laioie's
burning up" of the shortstops. The
cleveland team has used up many a
shortstop during the time Lajoie has
been playing second. The shortstop is
left to do practically all the work of
holding runners close to the bag. Sell
dom do you see Lajoie dashing into
the bag to worry base Sat
lsl1ed to play only his w position,
selves out. With advancing years La
ole has naturally slowed up and can't
go more thar ten feet in either direc-
ton in handling ground balls. He
hasn't stolen as many bases this year
as Cailahan. another veteran, whose
batting has been 100 points less than
Lajoie's. Besides that. Lajoie was
constantly receiving passes with a
runner on third, and most of his steals
were recorded when no play was made
to get him. However, he is still a
wonderful hitter and a marvel OF aeil-
ity in. double plays.
Pratt, of st. Louis, was named as
third choice among the second base
men. He is a young player of prom
Use. a good hitter. and, best Of all,
takes an interest in his work. Rath.
of the White sox, played good. con.
sistent ball. Yerkes, of the champion
Eostons, was only fair. In fact. the
league had fewer stars at second base
than at any other position.
"Heinie" Wagner was the best
shortstop, Barry and Bush ranking
next. Wagner is given the lions share
OF the credit for bringing the pennant
to Boston. His all-around work was
truly wonderful. Nc American league
shortstop since George Davis time has
shown as much skill as Wagner in
working With the pitcher and catcher
in trapping men off second. He ham
dies a throw and tags a runner as we'll
as any intielder that ever lived. Even
Cobb's whirlwind slides don't insure
Rim safety when Wagner is there
handling the ball.
second" sasely remarked one umpire.
the opposition is never dangerous.
ON second they are always dangerous.
touching runners is an art in itself.
Wagner is a wonder at il. When /
first saw Collins play second. I said
he never would do because he couldn't
tag The second time I saw
MIN play--ten weeks later-he was
riding he runners into the sack. That
was the only weakness he had to over
come. But it's Il weakness that ON
players master"
Ihree third basemen outshone the
rest of the league. Baker is ranked
best because of his terrific batting.
Gardner second and Foster of WASH
lngton third. Each of these ME is Il
,~horoughly strong performer. Baker
h!ts a ball to right field harder, many
say. h any hitter that ever swung
the ash. He is Il little weak at touch
ing n at third. but at that he
doesn't miss many. Gardner has play-
ed by far the best game of his career
this season. His fielding has been
nothing short Of heroic. 1t will sur
prise many to learn that Gardner has
IL IlloIe IuIlS IOE Inc MONS
than Speaker.
Beautiful Work.
"ostors work has been beautiful in
an departments. Especially note
worthy has been his stiffness in the
~hit-and-run. Harry Lord Of the White
SoN was mentioned by many of the
ulinircs as q good third baseman but
his future career will probably be in
the outtield. His strength at third was
always overestimated. However. the
chances. are that he will develop into a
great onttielder since he knows the
game, mas IA great arm and is fast.
Ensle Of Boston. was rated the best
utility intielder. He does we'll at first
or third. but this has been his worst
year with the bat.
And now we reach the outfeldcrs
where Cobb and Speaker. jackson and
Milan shine. What more is there to
say of Cobb?
Cobb is so far ahead of all the
ball players that ever lived that com
PARSONS are idle" said one of the
ablest umpires. His superiority is
more mental than mechanical. He
thinks faster. has more daring and
nerve than his rivals. 1 regarded
Cobb's work of hitting over 400 last
season as somewhat of an accident be-
cause he beat out so many hits. But
Sai'~. Ntt't Tx IlstS Itll DellVI lIdn ever
and his average has been aided by
fewer hits to the inileid. His drives
have been cleaner than ever. Where
Cobb differs from many other notable
s~lugsers. especially Iajoic and Hans
Wagner Of the P%ittshurgs is that he
rarely hits at bad balls. Lajoie and
Hans knock Wild pitches over the
fence. Which in no way proves that it
is good policy to hit at had ones, be-
cause more often they miss the wide
ones or pop them ur.
II am amazed at the tricks Cobb
get away with day after day at the
expense of really great and expert
cnced players. Cobb seems 10 divine
what they intend doing with the ball
before they throw. There is only one
WAY 70 head Cobb Off and that is al
ways tn play The ball in front OF him.
We is always coins: on. GA. on. Never
,hSow the ball to the base he is sta
toned at or you will see him at the
sack ahead"
Speaker is undoubtedly the hes, cen
tcrfielders in tn" league. His iuds-
ment of fly balls l.: better than Cobh's.
He starts quicker for the ball and is
~ dead sure catch. He handles
ground balls better than Cobb and has
Il better HrEl-much better. In fact.
the l:pSton outiield is IL wonder for
strong arms. speaker Is a mighty hit
tor but not Il Cobb at bat nor on tn.
bases.
The real problem for the umpircs
was to decide between Milan and Jack
son to hold down the third post in
the outficld. jackson Won the place
hy Il close vote-a majority OF one.
Jackson car not field as we'll as Milan.
nor run the bases so we'll. But he is
such a fierce hitter Thai he can't he
N--.A 49, A-- A--- T.