The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-10-19
UMPRES Of THE AMERICAN LEAGUE PICK AN MLSTR TEAM
Charles A. Hughes Tells Who Are Selected By the Arhes and Why|Hs Analysis of Stars is Best
tesaman Chase Shoraop Wagner. Om6edr Cobb Utility InGldr Ende
(By Charles A. Hughes.)

(By Charles A. Hughes.)
The umpircs have to decide so
many close decisions, why not put the
question of picking the All-Star base
ball teams up to them? Then all that
disagree with their decisions can keep
on railing at the umpire.
There are nan eason why an ALL
star ball team should. If selected at
all, be picked by the umpires. In
the first place the umpires have no
be influenced by local pride nor
friendship. But chief among the rea-
sons is that the umpires are closest
to the players in action, see every
good or bad point in the players
work, observe at close range a play
er's gameness, his quality of sports
manship, his ability and willingness
to work for the team instead of his
own record, how the players adapt
themselves to varying conditions or
different grounds. how they stand up
under the fire of a hostile crowd. how
they take a "call" from the manager
in short, because the umpire is al
ways on the job. ar eye witness to
! every bit of baseball and by-play that
takes place on the diamond.
In this article the umpires on the
staff of President b. b. johnson of
the American league have picked the
all-star American league team. In
another. article the umpires Of the
National league will pick the hypo-
thetical aggregation from that circuit.
Then to crow the seasons glory,
Hugh Jennings, manager Of the De
troit Tigers, will select the 'all-star
team from both major leagues. Mr..
Jennings Is we'll qualified for that task
because he has watched closely all the
players in both leagues.
In presenting the umpires' all-star
American league team, the opinions
of the entire staff of "aribtrators'
have been crystalized. The umpires
voted for the men they considered
best for the nine positions. The Sc
lections for second base, two outfield
positions and three pitching berths
were unanimous. There was not quite
a unanimity of opinion IN the other
positions. but the boiled down votes
resulted in the following team:
Catchers Stanage, Detroit;
Carrigan, Boston; Henry, Wash
ington.
Pitchers-Johnson, Washing
ton; Wood. Boston: Walsh, Chi
cago; Plank. Philadelphia.
First base-Chase. New York.
Second choice-McInness, Phila-
delphia. Third choice-Gandil,
Washington.
Second ~base-Collins. Phila-
delphia. Second choice-Lajoie,
Cleveland. Third choice-Pratt.
St. Louis.
Third base-Baker, Philadel-
phia. Second choice-Gardner,
Boston. Third choice-Eoster
Washington.
s~hortstop-Wagner. Boston.
Second 'choice-Barry. Philaoel-.
phia. Third choice--Bush. De-
troit.
Outfeld-cobb. Detroit: Speak,
II. Boston: Jackson. Cleveland.
Utility infielder-Engle. Bos-
tom; utility outfielder-Milan.
Washington.
a batting order wouldn't like to hold
the reins over that aggregation OF
players? What possibilities for de-
veloping wonderful team work. for
that team possesses, first of all, the
keenest base ball brains! Could a team
of sluggers be brought together that
would relish facing johnson, Wood,
Walsh and Plank? And if the opposi-
ton did meet the ball hard now and
then what agility there would be in
the field to cut off the drives.
No weak spot of any kind can be
detected in that lineup. It possesses
all the qualities dear to a managers
heart-great pitching, strong batting.
swift. certain fielding, quick thinking
and much speed on the bases.
Every American league umpire
agreed that Cobb vas the king OF
them all and stands in u class by him.
self. The others who won every vote
for first place were Speaker of Bos-
ton. Collins of the Athletics. and three
Of the four pitchers named. johnson
Wood and Walsh. by some it was
argued that Gregg of Cleveland out
ranked Plank of the Athletics, for
fourth place on the pitching list, the
veteran left-hander Of the .ex-world's
champions winning the place by the
slender margin of one vote.
Oscar Stanage of the Tigers was
named as the leagues best catcher.
That may surprise many fans. but the
ulnpires back their selection with good
reasoning. They point to Stanage as
an almost perfect receiver. a deadly
thrower. close observer of batsmaen's
weakness. and the equal of Carrigan
OF the champion Bostons in outguess-
ing the opposition when the hit-and-
IuH play ID 70 De
Stanage's. light has been hid under
q bushel with the Detroit cam. be-
cause he had to work with such ordi-
nary pitchers that it was hard for a
catcher to shine. He. has handled all
kinds OF twirlers during the past sea.
son n one Of them was really great.
Pitchers that let base runners get a
flying start make their eatchers look
bad. But the umpires never failed
to put the blame where It belonged
and Stanage's work stood out to them
as high class. Many inferior catch
ers. on the other hand. have been rat
ed high because the pitchers they
caught simply made them look good.
A notable case In point is that of
Catcher Street. formerly Of the Wash
ingtons. While he was b~ackstopping
for Walter johnson he gained a great
reputation-with the fans. not with