Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-23
GIANTS FINE TEAM
LEAVES FOR SOUTH
Mugs McGraw Has Great
Foundation for Pennant
Winner This Year
10 TRAIN AT MARLIN, TEX.

NEW YORK. Feb. 23.-what is generally
caled the greatest baseball team ever seen
~ une National League. not excepting even
tne Famous old-time Cubs left New York
To-Day Tor Marlin, Tex. where 1t will go into
spring training. second squad of Giants
VIII follow on March 2
John j. McGraw successful leader Of the
Ne" YORK team will have the greatest
foundation for a pennant winner he ever
led out Of Marlin, providing players now on
the clubs roster all report. Lack of condi-
tloh, wholesale injuries or an attack of
SMALLPOX, IT Is admitted by every critic in
baseball. are virtually the only things that
VIII Keep the Giants from another pennant
COMPARED with the Giants inner and
outer defense and its catching stan, other
clups pale away to mere shadow.
Beginning almost where they left off last
fall after having established a record OF
twenty-seven consecutive victories. the
Giants will have big job on their hands
In running true to form, but the punch is
there and if things happen without kicking
hole in the dope. the worlds series will
be staged with one-half of the receipts
counted at the Polo Grounds.
At first base McGraw will have Walter
Holke, the brilliant recruit from the Inter-
national League, who topped the National
League batters Lac, season during the brief
period he was with the New Workers. lie
is being called the most promising prospect
Who has worn the spangles of a major
Lacquer in years.
Charley Herzog, years ago star perform
er at third base and recently shining light
at shortstop, has been converted into sec
ond baseman and is doing better there than
at any of his former Jobs
At third base the former Cub. Heine
Zimmerman, will be planted. His hitting.
in addition to great fielding ability, has
caused him to be styled the best third base
man in the league.
Arthur Fletcher, another brilliant per-
former, will be at shortstop
Every one of these cogs in the Inner ma
chine, with the exception of Holke, is a
veteran performer. There isn't a chance
that youngster will take the place of any
of them, and for that reason there wifi be
few recruits on hand. This defense un-
doubtedly will stand through the season.
The outfield is Just as strongly organized
and will have this year an additional bull
wark in the person If Red Murray provided
McGraw decides to retain the sorrel-topped
gardener,
Benny Kauff will have the center field po-
sition again. and McGraw, in addition to all
his supporters. expects the former Fed to
make good in far better fashion this year
than his last effort showed. kauff's hitting
last season began to show Improvement as
the season approached its end.
Davy Robertson will be planted in right
field and George Burns in left, unless all the
signs fail They are both mighty hitters
and far above the average tielders.
For a pitching STAFF McGraw has the
youthful but brilliant Schupp as a nucleus
for wonderful staff In addition there
will be jeff Tesreau, Fred Anderson, Poll
Perrtt Slim Sallee and a few recruits who
are expected to show well.
Kocher. Rariden and Gibson are signed tC
New York contracts. These, with Lew Nc
Carty to lead the way, form an efficient
catching staff.