The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-28
WHITE SOx AND GIANT
0UTf|tLOERS COMPARED
Felsch Looks to Have Shade on
\Knuff, But Other Outpost Posi-
lions Seem About Even Up.

Chicago. Sept. 27.--Beginning with
the ourposts in discussing the fndi-
vidual merits of the white Sox and
Giants, preliminary to their coming
combat for the worlds supremacy,
there Is no arguing the superiority or
Chicago in centerfield. Hap Felsoh
has II on Ben Kauf' in any department
of the game you may pick, defensive
~ or extensively.
Felsch is a better. batsman than
Kauff. even without taking account Of
the supposed difference in class in
favor OF the American league. The
middle gardener has hung UP the nigh
er mark against better pitching. being
over $40 while the Giant centerfield-
err liz under that figure. but well over
800. They are the, only two regulars
on either tea that have topped 800
with the stick this year.
Kauff Has Improved.
Kauff is no such disappointment
this year as he was last. when he was
expected by Federal league adherents
to burn up the Polo grounds, includ-
ing the concreate stands and the steel
elevated structures that belts the park
Ben injured his playing trying to live
UP to expectations. This year he
started out with less press agenting
and has become a good major league
outfielder. Still he Is below Felsch in
ability, for the White Sox star has
been compared by unprejudiced ex-
perts to iris Speaker, and no one RAJ
tionally could put Kauf IN that class.
Felsch has q pair of hands made to
hold anything he can reach. and has
pair of legs designed to let him
reach almost anything hit in the air
between left and right fields. Kauff is
y1r $~N r. a
are not as long as Hap's, but he is
fast and accurate. Both have good
throwing arms Felseh has the strong
err wing. perhaps, but Kauff Is likely
to be more accurate In the general
run OF pegs. Felsch bats right-hand =
ed and ia swatter of the cleanup
kind, while kauff hits from the south
side OF the plate and hits the ball hard
without taking as long q swing at it
Either of them is likely TO knock the
ball out of the lot any time he gets
squarely hold OF It.
Jnskson VS.. Burns.
In left field Jackson and Burns
would be almost evenly matched II the
class Of the two leagues were equa |.
They have batted at about the sam e
clip, Just below the 800 mark This
gives Jackson the call in stickwork
on account Of the difference IN pitch
ing which he has faced Mister Joe
is a more dangerous swatter than
Burma Ee can drive the bali stra light
out and farther than his rival and
TIT dope shows r1Tat he can TIT Tt safe
ly lust IS often. That ia why Jackson
is batting fourth, In the cleanup po-
sition while Burns is lsad-of man
and expected to do more waiting tina n
his rival In left field is called on to
do
There is uttle difference between
Jackson and Burns in the defensive
end, bat that difference ia In Burns
/. favor. Both cover all the ground
there is and are sure enough on the
catch. Burns exceIs the White Sox
slugSer in that he has mastered the
sun and does not have to be switched
out OF the sun field as Jackson does
That means Mister Joe will play right
field on the Polo grounds and left
! field at Comiskey park while Burns
VIII be in left at botisparks. On the
whole. therefore. Burns Is the more
! valuable man of the two.
Right Field Weak
Right field is the weakest spot on
both teams. For that position each
manager has right and iett-handed
hatsmen to alternate. For the Sox.
| Liebold will face the rieht-handed
| hurlers ana John Collins the south
PAWS. On the opposing team. Robert
st'rf wifi tackle all TIRE north paws and
/ Thorpe probably viii be used when
ever Manager Rowland sends a left
] handler to the slab. Liehold is a bet
ter waiter at the plate than Robert
son but otherwise the Giant is Nemo's
superior by small mars gin in batting
and fielding. Collins is much better
than Thorpe az an out6elder and
| when there is money at stake Shauno
is more dangerous man at bat than