The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-29
WORLDS SERIES PLAYERS
Who's Who in Big Diamond Classic
of the Year.

Arthur Fletcher-Fletcheri is anoth-
er of the McGraw veterans who has
done former worlds series duty. Save
just a few of the oldest veterans,
Fletcher is the Oldest shortstop now
doing duty in the big leagues, in point
of service. For years he had been
stationed at the cleanup position for
the Giants in the batting order, and
only relinquished it when Heinie Zim-
norman was acquired from Chicago.
He now maintains a niche only one
peg below that place. Fletcher is an
ideal workman alongside Herzog.
Each is unreservedly sharp with his
tongue, and each is a lightning fast
fielder. Double play relays come nat
ural to this pair. Fletcher covers
lot of territory in the shortfield and
is steady enough to balance Heinie
Zimmerman erratic tendencies.
Heinie Zimmerman-Here stands
the most temperamental man in base
ball, a successor to RUDE Waddell and
Bugs Raymond, though lacking in the
irregular habits that made unfortun-
ate careers of those two stars Zim-
norman spent most of his baseball life
in Chicago, where he is in disfavor
with the general run of fans. 1t was
a daily habit for long time for him
TO get into alterations with the UNI
pires. Fines were frequent and sus-
pensions only a part of the seasons
work. John McGraw has taught
Heinie to curb fiery temper, and the
big New Yorker is playing the best
points above recent marks turned in
at Chicago. McGraw is as well forti-
fled at third base as any manager in
the National league. Most critics
think he is better off.
Hans Lobert-Honus old, but still
speedy and carting a heavy maui, may
see service in the worlds series. He
came to the Giants in a trade that
carried pennant winning material to
Philadelphia-and has been prac-
tically worthless as a regular ever
since. Pinch hitting and coaching is
the main duty of the one-time star,
but he is perfectly capable of giving a
good account of himself at times. In
jury to Herzog probably would mean
a shift of Zimmerman to second base,
with Lobert at third.
Jimmy Smith-This youth is a prod
uct of the Federal league where he
did his first professional shortstop-
ping under the tutelage of Joe Tinker
in Chicago. He did utility duty here
until the Feds blew and he was picked
off by Pittsburg. An excellent fielder
many manager has tried to develop
him into a hitter, but without notice.
the International league and is having
another fling at fast company as a
utility man.
George Burns-The Giant left field
Ell is sort of noncommunicative
cuss. He's the sort of player who
makes his presence felt rather than
heard. He's the most efficient pa
trolman left fielding boasts in the Ma
tional league, and there have been
many, many times when the quick
brain made opposing players the vic
tim of some startling play. George
heaves the bat with his right hand.
He is 800 performer with the mace,
and extremely dangerous in the
pinches- He is an excellent base run
ner, and has a powerful, true arm
Benny Kauff-Benny's press agents
had it all fixed for him to make a
holy show of the rest of the National
league when he graduated from the
Feds to the Giants. He didn't do it,
bids fair to some day gain fame Jt4-
will name him the best outfielder in
the National league. It is doubtful if
there is a man in baseball who hits
baseballs with more force than the
squatty Giant center fielder, and it is
doubtful if there is a man in the
game who drives more of his efforts
straight into the hands of some wait
ing fielder. Despite this he has at
tanned a 800 average and has held it
there most of the season. Benny is an
erratic fielder, prone to take long
chances, but RECEIVERS many of them
thru his speed and a strong arm. He
is very dangerous with them on bases.
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