Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-04-13
ComiSkey Greatest First Stacker
Griffith Ranks Him Above All

II he could club like Wagner be would
he the greatest shorstop OF al time.
Barry, OF the Athletics. also is a
wonder, and Fletcher, of the Giants,
is a mighty good man
"Ot an the third ba semen ! think
MeGrsw and Jimmy Collins, Of the
Boston Red Sox, were the best. Nc
Graw was roNier than Collins and a
better hitter but Collins was the bet
ter fielder He was the most grace
] fIl Fielding third baseman the game
ever has seen And this gives him
the edgs.
Gardner, OF the Red sox Foster
OF the Washingtons. and Baker OF
tho Athletics, are tho only third
basemen who can be compared -
these two
Baker s poor fielder, he is awk-
ward But lie il such a wonderful
latter THAT 1t lifts him up to the top
/ notch Foster Is a foxy fielder and
a foxy batter "a great all-rOund man
Gardner is a wonder, but not quite in
1 Fosters class
| Iris Speaker is the most remark
able outhelder that ever lived" re
marks Griffith, after according places
| in the Outfield Hall Of Fame TO more
( chan score OF the past and present
| gardening stars. He IS the best man
| on ny balls that ! ever have seen.
! His throws are deadly. Batters hit
| the ball a mile, Yet Speaker goes out
/ 10 the fence and gets them gets
I drives that other men would have TO
! lot go for three base hits and home
runs
"Of course, Il is hard to Judge be-
! tween Speaker and Cobb as to which
is the better man Cobb Is a better
| base runner aud a better batter, but
/ Speaker stands out az Il fielder
jackson. Of Cleveland, In a Won
| derful throWer and batter, but lie does
not shine as a base runner Milan,
4 OF Washington is a better ball play
er than Jackson SHe is a splendid
/ helder. splendid base runner and a
consistent 500 hitter lie is cont'n-
ually using his head
ACCOMPANYING these stars with Bill;
- LANCE, OF the old generation,
shows that the old generation suf-
fers Cobb and Speaker are LRnge's
superiors, and I think Milan Is al
most Isnge's equal Among the other
great outtielding stars OF the past and
present were While Keller Fred
clarke Fielder Jones. Jesse Burkett
Elmer Flick Hugh Dutfy, Mike Don
lin Jimmy McAleer FogQrty an
Diehy Johnson
In the catching line the stars OF
the present day are not as good AS
those Of the other days Buck Ewing
never has known an equal as =
catcher call him the best ball
plaNer the world ever has known
The only man who ever approached
him was Mike Kelly of the old Chi
cago White SoN Kelly. too, was q
wonder. but not quite equal to Ewing
uXTyALTER JOHNSON Is the grea o.
w est pitcher o. to-day but
wonderful as he u.s. there We're some
/, old timers that were wonders. too
I Clarkson and keefe We're the best ia
the period that ended in 1898 Then
came three wonders Amos Rusle IN
Young and Kid Nichols. And ther
came Mathewson. Garrison keet,
iand Nichols were not quite as good
as Matty and johnson are to-day but
Young and Rusie. IN their prime
were right along with them.
"Iu making these comparisons. H.
telling who think We're the greatest
men that ever played the different
positions on the diamond ! am only
Swing my opinion Some may differ
With me. but these conclusions are
drawn after watching closely th,
. thousands who have come ana gone
since / entered the big league games