Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-29
BOTH PLAYERS ARE
GREAT IN LEAD-0FF
Otis CIymer and Jimmy Sheck-
ard Compared by Man.
ager Evers.

How does Otis Ciymer compare with
Jimmy Sheckard as lead-off man for
the team" was asked Manager Evers of
the Chicago National League club.
That was delicate question to put to
the Cub pilot Judging from the way he
pondered and paused for several minutes
before venturing an answer Naturally
one would expect him to praise the pres
ent center fielder to the roof because he
is on the team and Sheckard Is off it. But
he did not do that.
1T is hard to compare any outfielder
with Jimmy Sheckard,' replied Evers. In
my estimation / do not think smarter
or better outfielder ever played ball than
Jim. | do not say that with any intention
to make him appear big because | let
him go or because he was one of my
teammates for years. That is my honest
opinion And I'll tell you why he was
great outfelder and is still pretty good.
I'm the first place Sheckard played the
sun field. which is the hardest position
in the garden to cover. He played 1t the
same as a star man plays right field. he
was not only great at catching ordinary
fly balls. but he is the only man | have
ever seen who is able to come In, dive
and catch the ball while sliding. Some
outfielders can do that no wand then, but
Sheck did it whenever the opportunity
presented itself Besides, he was not only
in a class by himself in that respect. but
he could go back after drives as we'll
Knew Where to Play.
What made Sheckard SO wonderful
was his knowledge of where to play for
different batters. Now, these are only
some of the prominent features of Jim
work AS a thrower he eXcellcd, and
NJ no q
was not a thrower for distance, but he
could shoot the ball on a line harder
and better than anybody l ever saw. |
really think he caught more men Trying
to go to second and picked more runners
off third than any outfielder / have seen
since l began playing ball Jim is one
of those outfielders who can see a play
in fraction of second and think az
the same time. Miller Higgins would
not be making any mistake IL ne made
room for Sheck in the outfield. because
he needs a man with his brains out there
las a lead-off man l do not think the
Cub team ever had better one tnan
Sheckard. or ever will have | was at
the head Of the list for years, but l never
got the bases on balls he did. he Is
without question one of the best walters
in the game. His records prove that
When any player goes through the sea,
son playing more than l4O games and
| averages nearly one pass contest he IS
going some Sheckard has done 1t. he
has received as many as 122 bases on
balls. 1t was just that thing that made
him valuable to club.
"A manager ought to try to have
man leading off who makes pitcher
pitch. 1t counts tremendously. fellow
who gets on two and three times in
game is going TO score a lot OF runs,
| especially when he has some heavy bat
| tiers following him. That is why Chance
switched US around in 1870 and that 1t
! was an improvement was shown by the
enormous amount Of runs Sheckard
scored each year.
"Clymer, l think. will be as valuable
to the Cub team as Sheckard was. He
is not as proficient in waiting at the
plate. but he is harder and more con-
sistent batter. He will reach first base
as often as Jim did, because he will bat
| around the 300 mark and better. You
know. Sheckard has not been stronger
than 300 hitter in the last four years.
but he Offset that by the numerous passes
he secured.
"Clymer. in addition to banging the
ball at .3O0 clip. will get a lot of bases
on balls. as he makes the pitcher put
the ball over before he offers al one
What surprises me most is the fact that
he is capable of smuggling soutiipaws an
we'll az right handlers Clymer will prove
a great asset to the team before the
season is over. HE is fast and knows
how to play base ball