Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-18
COLLINS A WONDER
IN STEADY PLAYING
Captain of White Sox Ranks
as Most Consistent of
National Game.

The most consistent ballplayer in the
world is Eddie Collins, captain of the
Chicago White Sox, 1917 world series
! champions. The great little Sox in
fielder has taken part in twenty-six
| world series games. a mark which no
other player has reached in the history
Of these struggles between the Nation
al and American League champions. and
he has lived up to past reputation In
all departments of play.
Usually a players average shrinks
the longer he remains in play. but
with Collins 1t appears that his level
is higher than most players reach In a
single series. In batting, fielding and
base running he continues to prove
himself the best all-around player who
ever had his opportunities extended.
Collins has participated in one more
world series game than Jack Barry. Red
Sox manager. The chances are Barry
would have gone more than twenty
five games We're 1t not for an injured
hand last year. which kept him from
taking part in the series. He played
twenty games with the Athletics and
games In which a player takes part is
mentioned simply to show how consist
ent he has been, and Collins has been
the most consistent Of all.
Baker Better Batter.
Frank Baker. while a member of the
Athletics. proved himself the greatest
Of world series hitters. and he went
through twenty games with thirty-one
hits for batting average of 1868. Col
Inns average for twenty-six games is
.351. Collins is SO far ahead of Baker
n
place at the head Of the list is undis-
puted.
Collins has made more world series
hits than any player who ever took
en- more bases and scored more runs
than any other player. Add to these
performances the fielding gems which
he has turned in through his five series
and 1t is easy to understand why Col
Inns Is rated the best ever. After the
1918 series John McGraw remarked that
Collins ranked with the greatest play
ers he ever had seen. He thinks much
Collins led both the New York Giants
and Chicago White Sox in stolen bases
during the 1917 series. but that is
nothing new. He led both the Athletics
and Cubs in 1910. when he played his
first world series. and in 1913 he led
both Athletics and Giants in this spe-
cialty. In 1911 and 1914 he did not
lead. neither was he led. He stole as
many bases as any other player on
either club. He pilfered four of the
seven bases stolen by the Athletics in
1910. and three of the five which the
club stole in 1919. Collins led both the
Sox and Giants this year with three
stolen bases
Record to Shoot At.
AS a fielder Collins never had a
superior over a long stretch Of world
series play. He slumped in the 1911
series, in which he was charged with
four errors, making one in the first
game. two in the third and one in the
nth. Ono miscue In 1910 and like
number In 1918 complete his collection
Of errors for twenty-six games. Going
through twenty-one world series games
without an error, and safely handling
l57 out Of 1853 chances in world series
games Is a performance that players in
these games are likely to shoot at for
q long time.
His hitting, with the exception of
1911 and 1914. has been over the 800
mark. Figures go far to prove Collins
worth. but do not entirely cover the
case. If he were mechanical player
solely, the figures would prove his
great worth. but when these are sup
planted with .brainy base ball the case
Is complete. He stands at the head Of
the list.