Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12
BY BILLY EVANS.

Base ball fans like clever pitching, de-
light in plainly of smuggling, enthuse over
sensational fielding, but enjoy no feature
of the game more than the art OF base
running. Nothing eXciteS the fan more
than some bit of daring on the base lines.
What could be more thrilling than a
cleverly executed steal of home. with the
winning run of the game? What angers
the rooter more than to hear the umpire
call out the base runner who has ap-
parently stolen base in safety?
l often hear veteran players remark
that the base running end of the game is
deteriorating; that the present players do
not compare with the Old-timerS In the
art of base differing. Never having seen
any OF the old-time stars in action. l do
not care to dispute the oft-repeated as
sertion that the modern runners do not
compare with them. On the other hand
it is indeed difficult for me to see how
the old war horses could possibly have
anything on such base runners as Cobp'
Wagner. Bescher. Milan and many of the
other speed merchants OF the present
day.
Stepning 100 yards in the neighOorhOod
of ten seconds is moving some, ana all
the major league stars at the base run
ming end can do close to that time surely
the old fellows could not have possessed
much more speed. While speed Is
mighty valuable asset in the art OF get
ting over the ground, before going any
further l must confess that there are
other requisites as important. IL not more
So There are any number OF ball prayers
who can step fast, yet cannot be num-
bered among the really classy base run
ners. On the other hand there are some
players of just ordinary speed VINO are
in the front ranks
Converted to Big Asset.
Sneed. properly converted. is the main
aeset of every successful team, and the
CRYING need of every club that is in the
rut team that always needs bunch
of hits to get. only a few runs is a club
that will not be at all dangerous in the
long run. 1t is the team that is always
taking chances on the bases. the clun
that makes its opportunities, that seher-
ally cuts in on the worlds series melon.
When a base ball club is going badly IN
iect a little speed into the aggregation ana
it VIII usually take on renewed life ano
energy at once The Cleveland cluD OF
the American League was an Illustration
Of this point last year. After settins
away to bad start. faltering at the
half. and going into the stretch a rank
outsider. the team came under the WIRE
With living colors. The addition of two
players, Johnston and Chapman both
with plenty of speed and the clever
catching of Carisch helped to make the
| Mans look like different club.
| For the last two years one has co1tinu-
ally heard the assertion that the Giants
We're not the best team in the National
League, yet the New Workers have cut in
| on the last two worlds series. Naturally.
| a club that can twice win the honors
| from alleged stronger clubs must be
strong in some department to be able to
| turn the trick Ask any National
! Lacquer how the Giants won the pennant
| in the last two years, and the immediate
reply will be by their work on the bases.
| Thus it is evident that base running plays
| quite a prominent part in the game, when
a team, said to be weaker than several
| others, can, by it's excellence in this de-
| partment OF the game. triumph during
the long season of 154 games.
Washington Surprised Fans.
| The surprise of the base ball world
last summer was the showing of the
| Washington club of the American League
| This club. not given an outside chance
| to finish in the first division. came under
! the wire second, and was pennant con-
| tender all the way. The general all
| around excellence of the club made this
| fine showing possible. but no one feature
| played a more prominene part than the
| work of the men on the bases. The
Westinghouse were always doing some
| thing when they were on the sacks They
We're continually pulling stuff. always
| willing and eager to take chances. not
| always depending on base hits alone to
+, produce runs
The work of no one man on the bases
for the Washington club stood out
more prominently than that OF Clyde
MILAN. This wonderful outfielder made