Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-02


Sox inf1eld next spring when
callahan puts his gang through their
preliminary workouts away out in
california No, 1t will not be that
Jaoues Fournier will try to GUST Hal
Chase from the initial corner, for
that appears impossible. Neither does
il mean that Buck Weaver will fail
to show the proper stuff to cinch his
shortstop position, and neither do we
wish to give the impression that Cap
tain Harry Lord will be relieved Of
duty at the far corner.
We have now mentioned first base,
Well, that quite naturally leaves Sec
ond base as the scene Of battle. Dur
ing the recent baseball season the Sox
used a couple of men at the keystone
corner. Morris Rath first cavorted
around the center station, but Morris
light hitting soon resulted in his be-
ing driven back to the minors.
With the canning of Rath same an
the game as a regular. Joe, accord
ing TO the carefully preserved records
in Comiskey's Office, had been regu-
ar whale out on the Pacific coast
He played shortstop out there and
nit above the 800 mark, Any man
who can hit around that mark always
looks good TO the White Sox manage
ment, as 900 clouters are generally
lew and far between when you look
over the roster OF the South Side as-
gregatiOn.
BIackburne After Place.
Berger finished the season at sec
ond base for the Sox. But Berger was
not near the whale that he was out
on the coast. A pretty fielder, yes.
But as a hitter Joe fails to shine
OF course, Joe was not alone in that
respect, for there were no 800 hitters
N the SoX camp Of 1913.
Who will battle with Berger for
second base next season? That's an
awful easy question to answer. Rus
sell Blackburne, the sensational
shortstop OF the Milwaukee cham
pions during the past season, is the
man who will fight it out with Joe
and, furthermore, Russell says the
job is already as good as copied by
him, Berger says not.
Blackburne is no stranger to these
parts. He has been a Sox before, but
he never before looked so good in adj
vance as he does this time. In Mil
waukee they will tell you that Russ
Blackburne was the life of the Brewer
team, team that won the American
Association championship. His gin
gerry work on the paths and afield is
said to have done more toward keep
ing the Brewers up top all season
than anything else connected with the
club.
How did Russ hit down in Milwau-
hee2 Well. he was no sensation as q
hitter of the pellet. but at the same
lime ne finished the season hitting
.25S. That's pretty good hitting for
an infielder coming from the associa
lion, where some good smart pitchers
reside during the summer months
Berger Lacks Aqgressiveness.
One OF Berger's chief faults during
the past season was his lack of ag
gressiveness. AgsTessiveness is one Of
Russell BlaCkburne's stronger points
Can you imagine more pep and ginger
around the vicinity of second base
Than would be cut loose by Black
ourne and Buck Weaver in the event
mat they play alongside each other?
You certainly can not.
OF course, Mr. Blackburne will have
ho cinch in ousting Berger from the
NevstOne sack. He certainly will have
10 show, and show a lot, as Joe's
work during the city series was of a
nigh caliber The fielding Of Berger
curing that always thrilling clash
oordcred on the sensational. He also
hit fairly well against the Cub pitch
RS.
Blacl1burne passed through the city
ne other morning en- route to his
nome in the East. and while here he
saw several of his old friends. He
told them he was glad that he was
coming back to Chicago and that this
''ne he was coming to stay. That
'oAclusively proves that he has made
up his mind TO earn a job on the Sox
nheld, and If it is to be regular
100 1t looks as though Joe Berger is
Inc man he must beat out.
'hase, of course, is fixture at first
o5S@ for next season. And Buck
NeaVer-well, the stuff that Buck
showed during the last few weeks of
'-' American League campaign and
.Nilng the city series assures him OF
ne first crack at the short field po-
slt.on.
Weaver was a wonderfully i'm
proved ball player when the season
.Aded. From the day that Callahan
put him up in the lead-off position
the batting order he commenced TO
improve. At the close OF theJsea son
me- was leading his team in hitting
ana his fielding-well, it is not nee
rNrtry to comment on his work as a
rrr.1er. He makes errors. of course.
hl, he's all over that ball yard and
r". hlng looks impossible to him. I'm
,''s present indications fail he should
SON
Lord Sure of His Place.
would take a good, steady, relia-
G man to shove Lord away from
o0ra base, While not a brilliant
l''a"r, Harry is steady. He's one of
lose ball players who always know
Nl,+t 70 do and when to do it. And
NH a much better hitter than the
n'"rAges Of 1913 indicate. So. after
'lhlng over the infeld candidates
E next season. it looks as thong h
big fight in fact. the only fight,
ne for the regular position at
"0d base. Blackburne says he's