The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-12-25
SPORTS OF
EDDIE COLLINS Is GAMES
MOST VERSATILE NFIELDER

ter and has DATED - points better. In
his six 5ears as regular Collins
has hit OeloN 800 but once In hls
first year in fast company ne batted
273 In the - years Tinker has play
ed major league ball he has batted
over the 800 mark Just once. when
his average vas .5ls.
Collins is al least just as brainy a.
Tinker lie Is faster ON the bases, but
10 Clinch the arguments. he ls a whole
lOt Younger Tinker Will Dee 50 mex
July Ee Is beyond the prime OF bali
player Collins is - and has several
more years at his best in his system
barring accidents As general prop.
/ osition as player Tinker has bur
two or three years.
In his work on the field Collins
shows JUS how much he had rather
win than, make record for himself
There is no doubt that ID he set our
90 make record. Collins could sur
pass all hase-stealinE performance
As matter OF fact. he did lead the
American league la 1919 when ne
stole 81 bags
The reason Why Eddie does NOT
ahead OF some OF his rivals who ara
irving for records. is that he steals
only when the time arrives for steal
ing lie does NOT take foolish chances
az a Stage OF the game when q stolen
base would avail nothing and when
an our might mean defeat THAT is nor
true OF many other players
There are four diStinCt branches Of
! baseball in which Eddie Collins eXcelS
-Lattlng. fielding base running and
quick thinking First in the order Il
batting. department OF the national
pastime in which the Athletic second
/ baseman is one OF the best in the
history OF the game
Collins is left.handed hitter
against all pitchers His terrific drive
are astounding when his small
SIZE is considered The secret OF Ed.
dies success as q batsman lies in the
tact that he knows how 10 handle
L bat in the way 10 get all OF his
weight behind the swing
He appears nervous when he faces
the pitcher. constantly tapping the dirt
from his cleats shifting his position
end lowering and raising his bat Bur
his nervousness is not real
II Is simply a habit with him and
he would do the same thing II he
were batting q corner lot hurier
His attitude at the plate is so dis.
concerning 20 g pitcher thar he has De
come one OF the most consistent walk
ers in the game. He Is great waite.
and absolutely refuses 10 hit AT bad
ball, unless or course. he is instruct
ed to hit a given ball on the hit
and-run or squeeze signal
Collins is one OF the few left-hand.
eIs> who hits the ball into ever I
corner OF the lot He gets as many
hits into left field as he does/into
right. and about the same Number
into center He frequently txfns sharp
raps over third base, Men on his
next time up ne viii phi one around
over first
There has probably not been. with
the exception O( Ty Cobb, a more
scientific baDer IN the game than
Collins si9ee The palmy DAYS OF
Keller
Once> at first base. Eddie Collins Is
terror He is one OF the fieetest men
IN the league, Is daring when the time
comes 10 De daring. has perfected the
hook-slide from careful study of the
pitchers movements.
IL was in 1907 that Collins had his
hrst tryOut with Connie Mack. Prior
10 that time he mad attended Columbia
university where he was q member Of
the varsity baseball team and played
quarterback on the football team.
When he joined the White Ele.
plants Collins as tried Ia the outhelG. 4
II was soon found that he was not
suited for a place in the garden. al
though h. was used there for a III. /
tie while in 1907 on account OF hit !
ting
The following year 1908. his real
career on the diamond began For the +
hrst few weeks Collins was shifted
around over the diamond until ne
finally landed at second
From the time he was given
chance in the season OF 1908 10 play
the keystone sack. until the present. !
he has been the sensation OF the /,
baseball world