El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-02
Only a Few Of the Clubs Are
Definitely Sure Whom
They VIII Use.
(BY MONTY

= EM YORK. March ---f lrsL
M base has proved the hardest
= position Of su to fill by the
big league towns during the last few
years and at no other time has there
been more uncertainty about its Occu-
pants throughout the two major cir
cults than at present. Five teams are
among the non sure class, as TO who
wll hold down the Job, and two others
viii start out with new faces on the
first corner
The Cleveland Americans will have
Harry Davis, the old regime athletic
working on the initial cushion, as well
as manag ing the outfit whereas
George StOVau caVOrted about the
same package Of saWdust last year
ST Louis Americans have obtained
Stovall by trade, giving LEFTY george
& young sOuthpaW pitcher IN return
and George Stovau VIII occupy the
breach that existed in the Mound CITY
ever since Old Tom Jones was let go
10 the Detroit Tigers on the bogus
transaction in which CLAUDE hossnah
ran off on a tangent and refused 10
play in ST. Louis
over the first base problem are Bos-
ton. Chicago and Pittsburg Of the Ma
ffonzl league, and Chicago ana BOs-
ton Of the American league True
both the aeams have veterans on rnelE
roster-Stahl with the Americans ana
TenneT with the NatiOnals-Dut u IS
lar from foregOne conclusion that
they viii be able 10 keep up the speed
necessary IN these days Of ultra 1ast
BAH. A safe guess would De tnaL
neither OF them can come back this
year, and that experimenting VIII be
done there the same as at the other
places named
some Real stars, These.
The National 1eague possesses no
less than three men who can be called
stars Of the first magnitude at the
Jumping off position Jake DauberI
Of Brooklyn. Fred Merkle Of New York
and Ed Konetchy OF St Louis are all
splendid performers, and philadelphia
and Cincinnati are not badly fixed
with Luderus and HOblitzelle, respect
lively, working at the corner.
The American league has really only
one man who can always be counted
upon 10 play ball that compares with
the three National league stars-ano
he is Hal Chase Of New York, VINO can
give them all a little handicap ana
then some Stuffy' Jack Mc4nnes'
who performed so brilliantly for the
Athletics in the successful 1914 cam
paign- would seem on the strength q
his showing 20 date, to be classeo
among the best OF them all Wltnol
passing judgment on his AFFINITY "
must be said that he has not yet Deeu
IA the big arena long enough 10 JUS
tify an unqualified declaration tnat ne
IS sure 70 travel at equal speed Win
Merkle, Daubert Konetchy ana com
pany-
Del Gamer, who holds the fort at
pillow No. I for the Detroit Tigers
figures Up almost the same as NC
lines, Germany Schaefer, the comlcal
initial sack guardian Of the Wasnlng
ton Senator's, is witnessing the DC
cline OF his star, but Clark GrlL4i -
viii probably keep him on the JOB
during the coming season
Frank Chance Counted Out.
Frank Chances retirement from the
field Of play makes the Chicago Cuos
about the most undecided crew or al
50 far as the first basement IS con-
cerned- The peerless leader expert
meuted in a variety OF ways last sea
son in order 10 turn up a worthy sue
cessor for himself. but without sue
cess He was obliged 10 step in him
self and work in % games during the
season because Of the failure OF the
experin entees to deliver. The trading
Of Johnny King to Boston put him
sn the necessity Of having to abandon
his plan OF making a first basemau
out of Jimmy Archer, as the latter
then became needed behind the bat