Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-07-26
.INFIELD STARS
PLENTIFUL IN
THENATIONAL
But II is in the Outer Garden
That Older Organization
Is Weak


Clubs in the National league are shy
of star outfielders. There are so few
real good ones that one can count
them on the fingers of one hand. There
are no Ty Cobbs. Iris Speakers or
Joe Jacksons, and most OF those who
are playing regularly are only slightly
above the average. The American
league has the edge in the outfield
department.
Where the National league shines is
on the infield positions. Take first
base and shortstop. At those places
the old major league has the class OF
the game in Vic Safer of the Cubs,
Jake Daubert OF the Brooklyn Dodg-
ers, John Miller of the st. Louis Car
dinals, Art Fletcher of the Giants,
Hans Wagner of the Pirates, Walter
Meanwhile OF the Braves, Oliver O'Ma-
ra of the Dodgers, Buck Herzog Of
Cincinnati and Howard Bancroft of the
Phillies.
II mas been years since the National
league has had such great shortstops
as it possesses at present. The col
lection is wonderful and It is difficult
to pick the best one of the lot. In
fielding they are experts. Fans used
to think that Joe Tinker and Mike
DoolaH were stars in covering ground
and in making sens ational plays, but
those two veterans never had a thing
on any Of the shortstops on six of the
eight clubs.
Hans Wagner, of course, is the vet
eran of the league, and from what he
has shown to date clearly indicates
that he is far from has been" The
National league has recently unearthed
more finds for the shortstop position
than the American, the latest OF whom
are Bancroft of the Phillies and
O'Mara of the Dodgers. This is Ban
crofts first year as e major Lacquer.
and he has already earned his spurs
and placed himself in the class with
the leaders. There is not one thing
be cannot do ON the field. He goes to
either side with equal alacrity, comes
in like a fash, has strong arm and
touches runners cleyerly at second.
What is more, he is full of ambition.
~ NAoA O woo q HOuuCttui SAOuAu CIV
erer last year and can throw with any
infielder in the league, but this season
he is not living up to his 1914 per-
Torrance because of broken leg at
the close of last season. He has not
regained his confidence. He favors
the leg little, with the result that he
has not been getting about as well, but
1t is expected he will be back to his
true form before long. O'Mara and
Bancroft are not sluggers of the Wag-
ner, Fletcher or Tinker type, but they
bat in the neighborhood of $40, which
is regarded as good enough with the
invaluable assistance they give in the
field.
MaranviIle Of the Braves has a repu-
tation Fans on the National League
circuit regard him as the star of the
bunch because of his inimitable style
OF playing. He does things different
from the other shortstops. He plays
a grounded and fly ball differently and
has snapper throw to bases. Maran-
vile gets the sphere away from him
as fast as any infielder in the game.
He has looked better since Johnny
Evers was stationed alongside OF him
and the pair have easily equaled the
much-talked-of work Evers and Tinker
Used to do for the Cubs. MaranviIIe
Is dangerous man at the plate in
pinch for he has keen eye, chokes
the bat and drives the ball sharply.