Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-06
Bv Rube Maruuard.

"A JEW YORK, oct. 6.-After last
IN years worlds series between
the Giants and Red Sox, Ar
thur Fletcher came in for much dis
cussion among baseball critics all
over the country. Many of them said
he would never wear a Giant uniform
again as a regular; others picked
him as a lemon while some authori-
ties we're looking for McGraw to
release him.
To-day Fletcher stands out head
and shoulders over all the short
stops in the National League, in
GLIDING the only Hans Wagner. And
It ~ my opinion that Fletcher will
be one of the big stars Of the coming
clash with the Athletics.
True, Fletcher played poor ball
against the Red Sox last season. and
l was one of the many that thought
he was far from the gamest ball
player on earth after # was all over
But Arthur has certainly vindicateu
himself this season. His work has
been a great help in bringing the
1918 National League pennant to New
York.
Six Errors in 1911.
In 1911 Fletcher hit 100 and made
six fielding errors, while Jack Barry
distinctly outCla him in every
way: but this year the admirers OF
the Illinois grocer are confident that
ii will be a different story. Fletcher
himself will probably enter this series
with more confidence than he ever
had before. He has had a good year,
and that ought to inspire him with
confidence.
Never was a ball player slower in
coming to hand than Fletcher In
1911 he tore through the National
League with a batting average or
.3l6. only to fall off to .2S2 the fol-
lowing season. He stole 90 bases in
1911. and only l6 in 1912, and it
seemed that he had fallen away all
along the line. At the beginning Of
the present season he was sitting on
the bench, while Artie Shafer tried
TO take his shortfeldinS job away
from him
There was a time when any man
watching Shafer play the territory
between second and third would have
taken oath that the young Calltor-
MAN would develop into the greatest
shortfielder the National League had
seen in many years but before the
season was very far along "IlIlie
had merely developed into something
of a bloomer so far as that particu-
larly district was concerned. He
seemed to unaCcountably slow up
while playing snort. and finally Nc
Graw put Fletcher back in his old
position. while he alternately used
Shafer at third and in the Outiield.
Immediately upon his return to the
game Fletcher suddenly displayed a
wild burst Of energy and ability. He
not only began a mad career of field :
ing and hitting. but he also perked
up in his speed on the base lines,
| and from an ordinary base stealeT
| he developed into one Of the best on
/ the team. Up to a week or 50 ago
! he had stolen - bases, which is not
many for a member OF the Giants,
| but which is mighty satisfactory
I Enforcement for Fetch.
Slow to Develop.
Fletcher has been a matter of slow
development with McGraw from the
/ time he first came into the big league.
/ but the fact that the Giant chief has
| always chung TO him proves That Mo
I GraH never lost confidence iu the
Young mans ability After be- re-
/ ported TO the Giants Fletcher sat un
/ the bench couple Of years. under
/ going the usual course OF tHn Clam
| recruit. and finally he got A.s chance