Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-28
KEEN EYE AND NERVE REQUIRED
TO TOP BATTING ORDER DAILY
''Lead-O#'' Man Who Can Get On Wins
a Majority of the Ball Games
in the Big Leagues.

he proved a valuable man to lead Off
for Herzog's team because of his hit
ting. Groh is not as good a waiter"
as Higgins, but makes a pitcher put
much better hitter. Johnny Evers. cap
tain OF the Braves. is another Of the
Huggfns type. as is Moran, also of Bos-
ION. VINO was at the top of the list in
many games. George Burns of New
York. the veteran Tommy Leach, now
with the Reds, and Wilbur Good of
the Cubs are all good lead-off men,
out depend as much on getting on by
hitting as by drawing passes.
one OF the Weaknesses of the Phillies'
on man. Bobby Byrne held the place
curing the greater part of this season.
but Manager Moran tried Bancroft.
Becker and Paskert In the position, and
mas not succeeded in getting a player
year Byrne was in 1875 games and walk
ed only As times. while he is credited
with striking out A times A lead
on man of the type of Higgins or
Iron would add considerable strength
TO the Phfllies, with Bancroft in second
position and the smuggling crew behind
him.
Eddie Murphy. formerly of the Ath-
letics and now of the Chicago White
lead-off" men developed in recent
years. Murphy was an excellent bunter.
fast on his feet, a fairly good hitter
and one OF the best men In the game
to wait pitcher out to the limit. Last
year Murphy fell off in his ability as
"leadoff" man as well as in hitting
and, never being considered a first IS
outf1elder. his work was far below what
1t should have been as a member of a
world championship team. Before he
went to Chicago this year 1t was even
worse.
Detroit Has Two Clever "Wa1ters."
In Witt and Bush, Detroit has two of
the cleverest 'Iead-ofr" men In the
game today. Last season Bush, who
topped the Tigers batting list, led the
league with liz bases on balls. This
year Wit took the place and demon
strated that he is one of the best men
IN the game for the position. The value
OF having man like Witt or Bush at
the head of the list. with hitters like
Cobb. Crawford and Veach to follow. is
readily seen. 1t was the same with
EDDIE Murphy when he was with the
Atnletlcs and had lube" OIdring, Ed
ule collins. Home Hun" Baker and
Stuny Mclnnls to do the .cIean-uu
woik. Maisei OF New York. Moeller OF
w washington and Snotton OF ST. Louis
although not star hItters, are consid-
cred good walters" and hard men to
pitcn to, and tor that reason have held
the top OF the batting list with then
teams Tor several seasons.
Harry Hooper, who mas been the
lead-on" man for the Boston Red Sox
ever since ne first Joined the team. is
a clever man in the position and an ex-
tremely valuable one with the heavy
hitting continuation that follows him
Hooper not only is good man at
waiting EN- out" but he is a hard
hitter, a clever and reliable batsman
and speedy runner. This year Hooper
mad one or the best seasons of his no.
table career.
1t is not the aggregation of stars
which shows up the best on the field,
team play being the strongest factor
in the makeup of winning combina-
ton, and one of the strongest links in
the chain is the "lead-on' man, for it
is UP to him to get on"