The Washington herald., 1917-12-23
ROUNDUP OF
AN ALL-TIME
STAR OUTFIT
But Few Spots Open for Ar
gument in Rice's Array
Of Ball Players.
BY GRANTLAND RICE
An AII-Time An-stsr Team.
M SEA


No. s-The Reund-up.
catcher-Buck Ewing. New York.
Cincinnati.
Pitcher-christy Mathevson. New
York.
First base-Fred Tenney, Boston.
Second base-Eddie Collins. Phila-
delphia-Chicago.
shortstop Hans Wagner, Pitts
burgh.
Third base-Jimmy Collins, Boston.
Outfeld-Ty Cobb. Detroit; Tr1s
Speaker. 'Boston-Cleveland; WINE
Keller. Baltimore.
A Few Arguments
There are only a few spots open to
rebuttal in the above array. There
are logical arguments TO be offered
that Hal Chase or Frank Chance
should displace Fred Tenney at first.
But in the way Of batting and field
ing records, Tenney wins.
II might be argued that Mike Kelly
should displace Iris Speaker or Willie
Keeler. But those who have watched
the game closely for over thirty
years-those who have qualified a.
keen students OF all-sround ability
pick Speaker and Keller.
1t might be argued that Radbourne
or johnson or Alexander was a great
er pitcher than Mathewson.
But we'll string with Matty against
the field.
stars Left In Action.
From this array four Of the nine
men are still left for active service
They are Eddie Collins, Hans wag-
ner, Ty Cobb and Iris Speaker. with
Wagner at the end of the long high
way. So Collins, Cobb and Speaker
will be the sole survivors within an
other year.
Mathewson is still In the game ~
a manager, where he has already
shown great ability. The Others have
completed their day.
-Four Of the nine men were success
full managers and two Others turned
down major league managerial Of
fers
One was a star back in the s0a,
Buck Ewing. Three others. Tennsy,
Jimmy Collins and Keller. earned
most Of their fame between 1880 and
1900.
Still another. Wagner, began star
ring in 1896, and continued the process
for exactly 20 years.
The normal batting averages Of this
infield would be around $40. In their
best years It would be above 80.
Normal Averages
The normal batting average Of the
outfeld would be around .S6S. In their
best years It would be over 800
A battery composed OF Mathewson
and Ewing would have an overflow OF
At
three clubs.
Stamina is another feature Of this
array, for most Of them served longer
than a dozen years. and none Of them
lasted less than ten as stars
Averages built over the long tran
could only count in such . lineup.
for two or three years Of briliancy
could hardly be matched against !.
or Is years OF stardom-
The Verdict.
The above is the verdict arrived at
after discussions with managers,
players and writer's who have seen q
big section OF the long parade, and
who are therefore able 70 compare
the stars Of today with the best men
Of forgotten years.
Out OF the thousands Of fine players
who have made up the roll-can OF
the game since 1870 II would seem i'm
possible to pick nine men and award
them the olive wreath. In several In
stances the margin among three or
four is slight
But as far as deductions. observa-
tions, records and opinions 70. the
cast named isn't very far away from
an all-time, sll-star round up, picked
for ability. stamina, brains, aggres-
siveness and team value.
II it doesn't stick, just what name
from the above could you drop7