Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-02-08

too, that the other managers will
have to tinker with their first line
of defense makes them stand out
all the more prominently. Delving
into the dust-laden records for
comparisons fails to uncover an
other quartet of this mold. And
there have been any number of
sterling collections.
There have been wonderful four
ply combinations that excelled in
one department or another, yet
when one considers them from an
all-round standpoint Mack's bunch
of All-Stars seem entitled to the
laurel wreath. There isn't a weak
ness in the set. Every one Of them
is a finished ball player viewed
from all angles.
Speed, agility, consistency and
strategy are all to be found in the
number. In defense, as we'll as Of
Tense, every man of the lot is there
able to uphold his end with the
best in his class. Collectively they
bat far above the 300 mark, only
one of the members having an av-
erage below the coveted figure that
is sign of par excellence. Barry,
the weakest batter, finished last
season with an average of .261, all
the others being rated above the
three century point. In fielding, too,
these men have percentages that
compare well with their batting
prowess. Two of them-Barry and
Baker-led the league last season
in their respective positions. The
others, while topped so far as fig
ures are concerned, are of such
splendid ability that they are con-
sidered as good, if not better, than
their rivals.
A unique fact in connection with
Mack's stars is that the ~astute
leader welded this combination in
almost a season. When the base
ball machine that emerged from
the worlds series pennant fight
with colors dragged in the dust be-
gan to crumble and fall apart, Con-
ME looked around for new material.
Picked Up Three Stars.
He picked up three stars that
now form part of the present set
all but Stuffy McInnis. Two of
these had not even played in the
major leagues, while the other
never had a regular job. But in
the short space of a season with the
aid of the veteran Harry Davis the
so-called bushers flashed into the
front ranks, and were acclaimed
stars. Every one of them won the
praise of the experts, many of
whom had predicted nothing but
disaster for them at the start of the
race.
The following season these play
ers were the leading factor in
bringing ii worlds title to the Qua
ker City, which they duplicated the
next year 1t was one of the mys-
teries of last season why the team
should have been beaten with such
great players as McInnis, Collins,
Barry and Baker in the lineup.
When the Giants were humbled
by them in the fall of 1911 the news
went out that Mack had an outfit
that would stand the test of time
for years to come. Last spring
the critics were almost unanimous
in picking them to repeat In fact,
there are many fans who can not
figure out to this day how the Red
SoX and Senators managed to beat
them out in the race.
Although they didn't play up to
their 1911 seasons form. they were
nevertheless superior to other in
fields, and were looked upon to car
~ the team to victory even after
the pitching staff toppled and the
outfield failed to hold.
Mack's team will be one of the
favorites in next seasons race. If
his pitchers brace up and the out
field lives up to promises there is
no reason why the team should not
tanter home, for the infield looms