Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04
Nationals Manager Thinks He
Is Only Man That Can Play
Center Field Right.
WOOD ADMITS JOHNSON
is BETTER PITCHER
Says That Walter Has Natural
Advantages Over Him in
Height and Reach.
BY J. ED GRILLO.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BOSTON, May 3-Tris Speaker is the
greatest outfieider the game has ever
produced, according to Clark Griffith. In
all his many years experience. Griffith
says. he has never seen an outfielder WHO
classd with Speaker.
Speaker is the only outfielder have
ever seen who knows how to play center
field remarked Griffith. HE can so to
either side for drives, which no other
fielder would reach. while, 1t is next to
impossible to drop Texas Lacquer into
his territory. What is more, he is right
behind every play on the infield and
saves his team many runs by backing up
properly.
the past twenty-five years and must
confess that not single one Of them can
be classed with Speaker. He is really lie
whole Boston team. Without him BCs-
ton would have a hard time finishing In
the first division. 1t was Speaker who
Won the pennant for the Red SoX last
season. He is one of the most marvellous
duced, and there is not fielder in the
game today who can hold candle to
him
Griffith predicts a long career for Wal
ter Johnson. Barring accidents. he be-
lieves that his great pitcher will be just
as good ten years from now as he is to-
day. He argues that Johnson is under less
strain in pitching than any other pitcher
he has ever seen. That enormous sweep
Of his right arm in the act Of delivering
the ball, is free and never forced. He
has tremendous speed without much of
an effort and his muscles are elastic and
not hard. Griffith insists that Johnson
is the greatest pitcher that ever lived.
He has more natural ability than any of
his rivals. and he predicts that before his
career ends he will establish records
which Will never be equaled.
If Johnson were ambitious to hang up
strtke-out records or do other stunts
which would require him to force himself
to the utmost he would probably not last
as long as he will. But Johnson never
pitches his best until he has to. In Phil
adelphia the other day Plank struck out
twelve men and johnson ten, but a ma
jority Of Johnson's strike-outs came
when they were needed to save the game
He made no effort in this direction unless
he was threatened. when he would call
upon that remarkable reserve force and
as result. he was just as good at the
finish as he was at the start which,
however, was not the case with Plank
who pitched at top speed from start to
finish.
Dan MOeller misses tQOle roster more
than does the team. For the past three
years Moeller and Foster have been to-
gether on the same team and have fol-
lowed each other in the batting order.
There is a perfect understanding between
them when they are on the bases and
many a game has been won because of
the able way in which they work to-
gether. Moeller is lost without Foster
and admits it. With Foster out Of the
lineup Moeller has had to change his
STYLE of play to make 1t conform with
that of the players behind him and he
figures himself handicapped for this
reason.
There is not shortstop in the game
today that 1 would prefer to George Nc
Bride was a compliment which Jim Nc
Aleer paid the Nationals captain the
other day. 'Only those in the game can
appreciate McBride's value to a team. He
was with me in Washington for two sea
son and l guess I am qualified to speak
has some good bali players. but his great
est asset is Mcbride. and don't overlook
that fact. Where do you find a shortstop
more clever or one who is always in the
game? In all the years that Mcbride has
been with " ashington he has missed but
few games and that is remarkable
record.
IT will not be at all surprising if the
Boston club fails to repeat it's perform
ance of last season and misses landing on
top this year. The team. as a whole, does
not look formidable. In the first place.
that infield is not one of class. Wagner
is the only finished player on 1t. Engle at
first is not a good man. Yerkes Is only
a fair player and Gardner is not going Is
we'll as he did last season. Stahl has q
wonderful outfleld, that must be conced-