Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-04-13
By Frank g. Menke.

NEW YORK. April ll.--BsSe oa.
M to-day il a faster, more sell
entihc game than II was %
years ago. but many stars Of the old
DAYS outrank the brightest, shining
satellites OF the present age, in the
opiz.on OF clark Guffith. manager OF
The Washington Americans, In an ar
tcle on twenty Years IN BIG
eague Baseball which appears In
The April issue OF the Outing Maya
zine.
Griflth. after declaring that he has
been connected with the bis leagues
for Is years, compares the different
stars OF the past and present and fur
nishes some interesting baseball his
tory.
Charles Comiskey, now owner OF
the White Sox. is ranked by Grithth
as the greatest first baseman that
ever held down the initial bag. Grlt-
nth credits him with reVoutionlz-
ing the system Of playing first base.
He was the first man 10 see the
possibilities OF the position" writes
Gritith. Before his day first base
man was only a basket He stood
glued 10 the bag, received the balls
thrown 10 him, but never moved
away
UpUT soon after he got the irst
- basing Job for the old ST Louis
BroNns he was discovered play ing
about ten feet back OF the bag ana
about the same distance TO the right
People thought him crazy and yelled
10 the manager TO can him. Even
.. lrfnt~aa AFf fhR
manager had confidence in the orainy
Cornlskey, and when he began to grab
balls that formerly scooted off to right
neld for hits, and beat the runner
TO the bag. the jeers changed TO
chesTs.
This encouraged Comiskey TO play
even farther back and he hnally
foeced the pitcher 20 DO the unheard
OF thing Of playing the first base
mans position when the hrst base
lnaa was fielding the ball. So Well did
The innovations work that Comiskey
soon had the other frst basemeu
doing the same thing
Griffith then stated that Arson, al
though a great player was not
Comiskey's equal. that Dan Brouth-
ers. also a onderful player, was
lated under Arson.
az Until Hal Chase came there were
y no great first basemen durine
The intervening years, writes Grt-
18th "Then there came three men
VINO give promise OF being ever
greater first basemen than those Nho
lave gone before They are Jake
Daubert of Brooklyn. 'Stu6y McIn-
MS, Of the Athletics. and Chick Can
oil. Of my Washington team They
are wonders
Eddie Collins. jn Grlfs opinion IS
the greatest second basemau tine
world ever las known.
when we consider Collins there
Is no use Of talking about any other
second baseman Of the present DAY
writes Grit
Gufith gives Fred Pfener. Of the
old White Son and "Biddy" NcPhee
81 the old Cincinnati Reds places
among the greatest men that ever
worked at the initial station.
From their DAY until the coming
% Collins. Lsjoie the big graceful
lrenchman, Ehoue as the brilliant
star.
Herman Long o. the old Bostor
club was tle greatest shOrtstop
ever have known Other men hay,
come since his time. and played tn'
position ln wonderful style. but Long
On my opinion, never has known ar
equal
Williamson. OF the old White Sox
was wonderful shortstop go 1880
He used 10 play without glove
Dahleu. Corcoran. Jennings. Walac,
and Davis also we're marvellous short.
stops And so rs Wagner Hans hal
= barrc' of aAIlitN bus bic is NOT 4uoI
p foxy 3 aver as many persons talnk
Bot be j. wouderf % bate"
oON par with Wagner piac,
- 81 Bride OF lie Washington
\ club lie ls the best defensive mar
NJ the business. b9t "a weak bitter