South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-27
COLLINS BEST EVER
SAYS JOHN NJ CRAW
Giants Boss Ayers Athletics
Second BaSeman Did More
to Beat New York Than Any
0ne-HiS Career.

Eddie Collins is the best ball play
er / have ever seen during my career
on the diamond" is Manager Nc
Graw's eulogy on the Athletics second
baseman. He is the most perfect and
most resourceful player in the world,
He did more to beat the Giants out or
two worlds championships than any
other member of Connie Mack's team
No one will question McGraw's abil-
ity to judge a ball players worth or
value, but the leader of the Giants is
not the only expert who comedies
Collins the right to the leading niche
in the hall of fame. Frank Chance,
Fred Clarke, and in fact all of our
baseball generals have seen Cobb,
Wagner and the rest of the stars In
action, but all develop a weakness, no
matter how unimpOrtant, during a
season. Collins however, is perfect
in every department of baseball. He
always hits far above the 800 mark,
is one of the greatest workers that
ever trod the infield and is really fast
er on the bases than Cobb.
Maker of Fame Is Eddie.
In looking back over the three
worlds series that Collins was active
in we find that he did more toward
making the Athletics famous than any
other man on the team.
In the series just ended Collins was
always to the front. In the first game
at the Polo grounds ne cracked the
ball for a triple and two singles. This
hitting, combined with the fastest kind
of base running was directly account
able for the three runs. He scored
three times himself.
The third game found Collins again
in the front ranks of the Offense. In
the first INNING his single developed
- - fafxr in 10 nd
scored two. He punched out a triple
in the seventh that sent runner
across the rubber and he scored him.
self few minutes later. Helping his
team to five runs in a single game is
a fine days work. In the final game
he helped TO push around three runs.
Playing baseball comes natural to
this young starch Is only 20 years
old He was "A star from the day he
Joined the Athletics in 1907. Collins
Is a product OK Columbus university.
He was at SECOND base for the varsity
when one of Connie Mack's scouts
discovered him.
Collins was primed for law course
but forgot all about law when a Phil
adelphia scout during the summer of
1906 asked him how he would like to
play ball for Connie Mack. Collins
jumped at the offer and accompanied
the Athletics on their last trip west
Here is where Collins had to do a lit
tie cheating He did not want to i'm
pair his amateur chances at college, as
he was booked TO captain the varsity
team in 1907. bis final year at school
He played in several games on that
trip under the name of Eddie Sulli-
van" and the critics were so greatly
impressed with the playing of the
kid" that pictures and complimentary
articles were printed in the western
81 IN - ba nh a
Manager Mack had uncovered.
Collins Is Disbarred.
Collins returned TO college. and the
next spring when the varsity men re-
ported for practice he was called be-
fore one OF the faculty who produced
a Chicago paper and showed Collins
his picture. Collins refused to answer
when asked if he was the Eddie Sulli-
van" Then came the notice OF his
diSbarment. He was told he was not
eligible 20 play ball for Columbia. Col
Inns accepted the punishment in good
grace and remained at school until
June. when he received his degree. and
then hiked for Philadelphia, and has
been with the Athletics ever since.
This briefly tells OF the early career of
the worlds greatest player.
Collins was born in Middletown. y.
Y. on May >, 1857. He is feet 10
inches tall and weighs about $50
pounds. He was great football play
er. and one OF the gamest that ever
represented Columbia Indeed. IN
every sport that he took up he dis
PLAYED the same aggressiVeness and
gamepess that marks his career as
baseball star.
Covers Lots of Ground.
Since 1903 he has never batted un-
der the 400 mark. for several seasons
be led Ty Cobb in base stealing and
can cover as much ground in the in
field Hans Wagner ever did. He Is
one OF the surest men on hunts that
ever handled a bat. He stands close
TO the plate. SO that a pitcher can not
work the corners.