The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-04-08

Does a ball player hit better playing
in center field than in either of the wing
positions, or do managers select center
felders for their ability to hit? Why is
it we find the heaviest punch of the great
majority of ball clubs concentrated in
center field?
is it that right and left fielders are
specialists, chosen to play those posi-
tons because of ability to go either to
right or left better than the other way,
or are the center fielders chosen because
they can come in go out and travel to
right or left with equal speed? If this
is true. why do center fielders hit better
than either left or right fielders, or is
it all an accident?
we must take these things into con-
sideration when we study the center
feders. Seemingly, they are little more
important than either OF the other posi-
tions and that only because they get
more chances. The chances are, in fact,
easier in the average than those of
either right or left fielder, because the
balls they catch are neither sliced nor
pulled, and have much less curve on
them.
| would like to discover why the hit
tiers are concentrated in center field; ana
there is nothing in the game that shows
that they should be, nor Is there any
thing, so far as / can see, in the play
ing of the game that goes to make
center fielder better hitter. unless 1t
can be that right or left fielders are
more liable to play sunfeds which, OF
course, would hurt their eyes.
CENTER FIELDERS HIT HARD
The fact remains that the heavy artil-
1ery of almost all clubs is located In
centerfield: Cobb, Speaker, Felsch, MI
Ian, in the American. and Roush and
Carey in the National. There is not a
weak hitter among all the center field
probabilities, with the possible excep-
ton of Cy Williams of the Pills. whose
Weaknesses are just being uncovered
IT is a great fight for the leadership in
the American league between Copp'
Speaker and Felsch, Cobb, of course,
holding his lead and Speaker barely
managing to retain the advantage over
the Chicago youngster. who appears
bound within season or two to pass
ne or both in ability Felscn, although
<outhit by both his great rivals, gains
consid cradle number of points because
he is a right-handed hitter dhe rarest
Of all great hitters), and he is coming In
While both the others are nearing the
turning points of their careers.
4 Milan. already slipping back point by
polnt. holds fourth place by comfort
able lead with Strunk, now OF Boston,
barely managing to keep ahead OF smith
of ST Louis, who is coming along fast.
walker, with his wonderful throwing
ability and his fielding speed. keeps
Philadelphia up, and New York runs
last, and with few chances OF improving
its figures.
The first four American leaguers are
closely punched in the dope. and the
second four rank rather close together
a. that there is little chance that any
pennant will be decided in center field.
ROUSH A GREAT PLAYER
Only one of the National league CLUBS
deserves to rank with the nrst -FOUR
American leaguers. and that is because
81 the great ability revealed by Roush,
Who Is becoming one of the really great
ball players. Even when compelled TO
figure Neale as part of the center held
Ing assets of Cincinnati, the Reds lead
the National league by comfortable
majority. and we find Pittsburg safe
and sound second. due to the speed OF
Carey.
In figuring Carey, would not advise
anyone to calculate him as strong IN
batting, as his last years record would
Indicate OF course the National league
PLAYERS say that anyone who can see