The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-24
CONNIE MACK HAS
GREATEST |NF|ELD
ATHLETIC INFIELD COMBINES
ALL REQUISITES OF GAME.
WILL MACK AGAIN LEAD CLUB
TO WORLDS CHAMPIONSHIP?

Philadelphia, March 23.--In remodel
ing the various big league baseball out
fits for the 1918 campaign, every man
lager excepting one will have to devote
at least part of his attention to the
inner breastworks. The Athletics alone
possess an infie1d that looms UP as near
"a perfect combination as ever graeed
a diamond.
There are those intimately connected
with the pastime who say that this
statement goes for all time-past and
present. However that may be, there is
not the shadow of doubt that Connie
Mack today has quartet of stars head
and shoulders above any string of in
fielders taken collectively on one team.
An attempt to improve the compina-
ton would indeed be like trying to
paint the lily" The fact, too, that the
other managers will have to tinker
with their first line of defense makes
them stand out all the more promi-
|nently. Delving into the dust-laden
records for comparisons, one fails to
uncover another quartet of this mould.
And there have been any number of
startling collections.
There have been wonderful four-ply
combinations that excelled in one de-
partment or another, yet when one
considers them from all around
standpoint Mack's bunch of all-stars
seem entitled to the laurel wreath.
There isn't weakness in the set. Every
one of them is a finished ball player,
Viewed from all angles.
Defense and Offense
Speed, agility, consistency and STRAIT
egy are all to be found in the number.
In defense as we'll as offense every man
of the lot is able to uphold his end with
the best in his class. Collectively they
bat about the 800 mark, only one of
the members having an average below
1.-THE coveted figure that is a sign of par
excellence. Barry, the weakest batter,
finished last season with an average of
.261, all the others being rated above
the three century point. In fielding,
too, these men have percentages that
compare we'll with their batting
prowess Two of them-Barry and Ba-
ker--led the league last season in their
respective positions. The others, while
topped so far as figures are concerned,
are of such splendid ability that they
are considered as good, If not better
than their rivals.
Mack's stars Is that the astute leader
welded this combination in almost a
season. When the baseball machine that
emerged from the worlds series PEN
nant fight with colors dragging III the
dust began to crumble and fall apart,
Connie looked around for new ma
terial.
He picked up three stars that now
form part of the present set, all but
Stuffy McInnis. Two of these had not
even played in the major leagues, while
the others never had a regular job. But
in the short space of a season, with the
aid of the vetern Harry Davis, the
so o-called bushers flashed into the front
ranks and We're acclaimed stars Every
one of them won the praise OF the ex-
perts. many of whom had predicted
nothing but disaster for them at the
start of the race.
The following season these players
were the leading factors in bringing
worlds title to the Quaker CITY, wh1ch
they duplicated the vext year. 1t was
one of the mysteries Of the last season
why the team should have been beaten
with such great players as Mc1nnis,
Collins, Barry and Baker In the line up.
Went Back Last Season
When the Giants were humbled by
them in the fall of 1911, the news went
out that Mac had an Outnt tnat Woulu
stand the test of time for years TO
come Last spring the critics were al
most unanimous in picking them 10
repeat In fact, there are many fans
who cannot figure out to this day how
the Red Sox and Senators managed to
beat them out in the race.
Although they didn't play up to their
1911 seasons form, they were, never
theless, superior to other Intends and
were looked upon to carry the team 70
victory even after the pitching stan
toppled and the outfield failed to hoid-
Mack's team will be one OF the
favorites in this seasons race II MS
pitchers brace up and the outneld lives
up to the promises there is no rea-
son why the team should not canter
home, for the infield looms up Just as
strong as at the finish Of the 1911 CAM
paign
McInnis. who supplanted the veteran
Harry paws at first In 1911, finished
the season with batting average OF
1927. Next to Hal Chase. there Is no pet
ter hrst baseman. His fielding is SEN
sational
some Of the one hand stops that
Stufry makes hre marvellous, He ap-
pears to be improving all the time, 700,
if that is possible. Although he Is rated
as the slowest base runner OF the quar-
|tet, he got away with 23 pilfer trips
last year.
Collins is the real speed king OF the
bunch. The former Columbia student
who surprised the fans by steailns
Isl sacks in 1909, this being the srsa.,
lest number stolen by any player SHY .'s
the days of Bill Lange, got away wiz
|63 cushions In 1912. twice steaiing siN
l,a~. e., -,r~Ia zane To show, too,