New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-01
Greatest Sun
Fielder Since
Willie KeeIer
By w. J. MACBETH


"As good ball player as ever drew
on a spiked shoe"
Thus spake Hughie Jennings, man.
ager of the Detroit Tigers, when his
opinion was sought on certain Giant
player.
Hughie wasn't referring to Herzog,
though the compliment might well have
gone for Charlie Wounded feelings
were too raw as a result of the Herzog-
Cobb feud for Hughie to eulogize Tvs
avowed enemy. Nor did Jennings have
in mind Benny Kauff, Heinie thinner
man or Davie Robertson.
He was speaking of George Burns.
New York fans will indorse Hughes
sentiments in every word and letter.
What grand, great ball player
George Burns is! There is no more
graceful fielder to be found anywhere.
II is doubtful if the great IRIS Speaker
himself can 60 back more accurately,
come in surer or swifter or peg to the
several bags with greater neatness and
dispatch. ...
George Burns can hold his own with
tho Champion outfielder and hitting
king of the American League. And
This can be said Of Burns: His patrol
during the long home stays at the Polo
Grounds is a mans sized job compared
TO the beat Iris Speaker guards at any
time.
No baseball park in the land has
meaner or more treacherous gardeh
than the left field territory at the Poio
Grounds. For five seasons, now, burns
has guarded that treacherous ana dah-
gerous beat, and guarded 1t far better
than any other sun fielder IN the major
leagues during that time.
Greatest Since Keller
George Burns is the greatest sun
fielder fast company has seen since the
hevdav of wee Willie Keller. Willie,
like George. was just natural sundog.
Facing the glare day after day APP
reared in no wise to dim the batting
eve of the most scientific hitter known
10 the game. Through his smoked
glasses Willie could nip a line drive
quite as nimbly as the ordinary out
fielder could be expected to do under
an overcast sky.
Few sun felders last at their best
so long a time as George Burns mas
already served in the left garden be-
meath Coogan's Bluff. But George rs
Just beginning TO find himself. lie
was a great outielder as far as three
wears back. He is far greater to-day
than ever before in his career. lie Is
hitting better, running the bases bet
ter fielding and throwing better and
scoring more runs.
To resume Hugh Jennings's testi-
monial: ,
cts too bad" said Hugh, Chat
George hasn't just a little more ag-
gressivenees in his makeup. II he only
had the fight and the fire OF Htrzog!
There's nothing that boy cannot DO
well. He makes the hardest kind OF
chances appear ridiculously easy.
"Ty Cobb is the ball player that ne
is because ten years ago he set about
to make himself the most valuable
player in the game. He was very
green when he joined Detroit, but pos
sessed of all the natural attributes 10
diamond greatness. Diligence, prac-
tice. ambition and self-confidence soon
gratified his ambition. believe Burns
lacks nothing Ty possessed at his age
save that grim determination TO usurp
the limelight. George, like Keller, IS
more Of the shrinking violet type. II
he only had the knack of press agent
ing himself, as some of the illustrious
stars do, no one Of the National League
would be more talked Of. Burns | con-
slider one of the greatest players in
baseball"
None More Loyal
Burns may not be overly self-con.
scious. but no player is more loyal and
faithful TO his trust To get a line on
his faithfulness one need but glance at
his major league record, which accom-
panies this article. For four years
Burns has taken part in practically
every championship game OF the
Giants. In 1913, Buins's first season
as a regular, he aided the champion
ship fight Of his club in no less than
$50 battles, not counting world series
games with the Athletics. Burns
played in 1854 games in 1914. In 1918
and 1916 the gallant left fielder took
part in no less than 1876 contests. Six
hundred and fourteen appearances in
four consecutive years seems testi-
monial Of faith which any player might
well be proud.
A little giant physically is this sunny
dispositioned, unassuming star. or
stocky mould, he stands only FIVE feet
seven INCHES In height, yet weighs in
l.. IA