El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-20

FEW YORK. n. Y, FEB. 2O.-Ihe
nj selecting Of an aiI-star base
- ball team from the players Of
the present generation is a sinecure
in one department., the Outfield, but
a genuine task the rest Of the way.
Not even the most ardent partisan Of
the National league would venture the
argument that the senior organization
could put forward a corps able to cope
with the wonderful quartet that did
duty in the American league last sea
Cobb, Speaker, Jackson and Milani
All of them young men who have
fought their way to the front with
brilliance and all Of whom have earned
rank with the greatest Outfielders Of
all time. Look back to the haIcyon
days of Fred Clarke. Tommy Leach,
Willie Keller, Jesse Burkett. Ed Dele
hanty and those other great figures in
the fly-chasing and fence-bDsting an
nails. Leach still viii be seen doing
duty in a limp sort Of way for the
Cubs this year, but he is not the old
Tommy that used to make umpires'
lives miserable while he and his boss,
Fred Clarke, burnt up things for the
Pirates in their champion days. Clarke
retired to the bench just a year ago,
though he still appeared to be in the
full glory of his career on the field.
But the others ceased to be big
leaguers long since. Keller now is
Bill Dahlen's assistant in the manag-
owner and manager OF the Worcester,
Mass club and Delehanty is dead.
OIddmers the Bests
Bring these men back to their prime.
How would they compare with the
young blood of our days2 Some old
timers who sat in the sun of the old
15-cent bleaChers day in and day out,
will arise and proclaim that none of
the men playing today, not even eX-
cepting the great TyruS Cobb, can hold
q candle to the illustriOus ones Of days
gone. others of the. veteran contingent
who have continued to follow the game
Just as closely as Of yOre beg to differ.
They viii tell you that the quartet of
Cobb, Speaker, Jackson and Milan owns.
if anything Just a slight edge Of superb
Ority over contemporary four OF the
other DAYS. Keller. Burkett. Delehanty
and Clarke framed probably the most
remarkable quartet Of out1etdcrs OF
any one period in former baseball gen.
Grafton baseball generation meaning
the length of service Of the average
player. or possibly 10 years And. re
be considered as oUtshining these old /
masters is honor indeed.
OF the present day quartet Cobb IN !
doubtedly is the foremost. He eXcels /
Speaker as q batter and a baserunners
sUrpasses Milan as a batter and IS the 1
superior Of Jackson IN everything eN-
cent hitting. where his edge Is so slight 1
if fs barely noticeable. OF the other 4
three there is much difference IN Opln- /
ion. But from this distance we would |
choose Speaker for second place, CIV
ina- him a slight margin over Milan In Z
everything except baserunning, and /
over Jackson in all except hitting
Milan we would IA over Jackson be- /
cause OF greater all around efficiency /
despite ShOeleSs .JOe'S superior batting ;
eve But it's drawing pretty fine lines I
TO rate Jackson. Milan and Speaker :
one above the other.
Would Hit at go.
Take the quartet together and you
have q combined batting strength,
based on last years figures, Of about
370. Each is a capable fielder. fleet /