Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-06
Y Percy TT WhitinU

BY Percy ii. Whiting.
IF somebody should walk up to you
and say, Here's $4,000 I want
you to present to the most useful
player who ever performed in the
Southern League"
Who would you give 1t to?
What man, exclusive of managers,
has done the most for his team to-
ward winning games in this South
ern League?
WHAT constitutes a useful" play
w er? you ask.
Well, here are some the qualifica-
tons
No. HE must bat tolerabIy well,
preferably something over 300.
No. Pile must field we'll. His
average does not cut so much of a
figure as his willingness to go after
everything and his ability to get some
Of the things he goes after.
No. 3-He must haV intelligence;
must be a quick thinker.
No. 4-He should be able to run
bases moderately we'll.
No. She must have a good dispo-
sition, not be quarrelsome, not be a
gutter, not a crouch, not a trouble
maker.
No. Gle must have good habits,
so that he can always play to the best
of his natural ability and so that he
may not lead other players outside
the paths of decent living.
THE most valuable man in the first
two years Of the leagues exist
ence was Ed Abbatticchio He won
two pennants for Nashville. His good
AL .rsy ~ /.
ership and his quick thinking put the
Vol team in a class by itself Never
since that time has any man stood
out as Ed did.
MANY men who since leaving the
IVA the Southern League have be-
come wonderful ball players lacked
miles of being the best" while they
were here. Nap Rucker, for example.
best Of southpaws now, couldn't hold
job with Atlanta. Joe Jackson and
iris Speaker were tremendous hit
ters in this league, but there their
usefulness ended. Jackson very near
ly batted the PeliCans into first place,
but he was a lemon otherwise Speak
er was a rummy fielder on the worst
fielding team the league ever saw
or nearly that, anyhow. Ed EWeeney
now one Of the greatest of Catchers,
was only second string man with
Atlanta. Jimmy Archer was a great
catcher in his Cracker days, but
somehow he hardly fills the require
ments Of the best of all"
ONE player worthy Of consideration
~ is unquestionably A. Otto Jordan
In everything but batting ability Jor-
dan was a wonder He had almost
as much to do with winning two pen
nants for Atlanta as "Old Abby" had
to do with winning two for Nash
ville-but not quite. If Jordan had
hit as well as Abbatticchio he would
get the honor. He had all the other
qualifications.
If Charley Babb hadn't been a man
ager, he would have to be considered.
In his early days he was a marvel.
He batted and fielded well, and-un-
I'll his Angora departed-wa a won
dertul leader of men. He stands out
In my memory as one of the very
great players in the league.
n NE of the most helpful old codgers
~ the league ever knew was Dad
dy' Duggan, once of Memphis. This
old chap had lost his speed, but he
could hit the ball. and his kindly dis
position, unruffied temper and good
example did more than anything else
to keep one Memphis pennant winner
in its stride
Another good old plugger worthy
Of mention was Clayton Perry. Year
in and year out he has played good,
clever, useful ball. He never hit much,
but he was more useful to team,
especially during his younger days,
than the mere averages showed.
Another player in that class was
Dick Crozier. He did not hit hard
enough to cinch a position in the hall
of fame, but he helped every team
he was with by his willingness, his
cleverness and his good habits and
behavior.
Another former Atlanta player who