The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-09-23
SPORTS

lnUelu anu no SClil ptloAkSr w tac
fastest in the game. Risberg, "
youngster among veterans, has all tho
dash and speed OF youth. n wonderful
pair OF hands and III strong an arm
as ever shot ball across an inhcld,
Gandil at first base Is not IA fast as
the other members OF the inner cor
don, but he is steady plugger who
combines intelligence with natural
baseball ability. rounding out COM
ibination OF infielders which bows to
no other quartet in either league for
all,around efficiency, Fred McMnllin
does the utility work at second or
third. John Collins at first, and in
case OF accident to Risberg Weaver
shifts over to short and McMMlin
goes to third.
The infield differs slightly from that
Of Manager Rowland in the 1917
series with the Giants. Risberg and
Weaver started the 1917 campaign in
the positions which they have held
all this season, but Risberg hit poor
ly and was cratic in the field. AS
result Rowland shifted Weaver over
TO shortstop and sent McMullin to
third, which positions they occupied
in the worlds series. Weaver, who
never had the credit which really be-
longs to him for his ability to do all
things well and plays two or three
positions, Is as much at home In one
place as the other The infield substi-
tuition of Risberg for McMullin is the
only difference in the Sox of today
and the team that played the Giants
Same Old outfieid.
The outfield is exactly the same as
in the 1917 series, is just as fast on
the defense and stronger on the at
tack. Felsch has not batted up to his
1917 form, but Joe Jackson is hitting
far better than he hit two years ago,
and the same is true of the RICH field
ers, Leibold and John Collins Leibold
usually is played against righthand
pitchers and Collins against the south
paws. Eddie Murphy, utility outfield-
or, has done little work this season
Felsch ranks close to iris Speaker
for expertness in ny chasing. while
jackson and Leibold have speed
above the ordinary. All three are
capable throwers, as is John Collins.
Leading this team which carries os
much natural ability in the various
departments OF play is a man who
possesses all the qualities that make
kid Gleason was a star in the old
days, a player who was able to stick
in the game as an intlelder long after
his pitching arm lost its cunning. He
knows the game from every angle. is
a fighter to the last putout and he has
the confidence of every member OF
his team. He was Clarence Rowland's
able assistant in the pennant-winning
campaign of 1917. and now he gets the
honors of successful leadership alone.
ike Pat Moran, with whom he will
match wits in the coming series,
Gleason has a following that extends
far beyond the limits of the city TO
which he is bringing pennant.
Collins a Baseball Genius.
The White Sox have another adyan-
tage in leadership other than that
exercised from the bench and coach
ing lines. Eddie Collins directs the
team in the field and Collins owns
the keenest brain that operates
among the active players of the day.
John McGraw has said that Collins
ia the greatest player he ever saw,
and that is indeed high praise Glea-
son and Collins form board OF
strategy that makes few mistakes
itself, or allows the mistakes OF DINERS
TO 20 by without yielding the maxi
mum in returns.
1t Is an unusually strong comoina-
ton In all-around play. these Amer
can league champions OF 1919 The
soY have clearly established their SUI
nrernacy in one OF the best balanced
fields the American league ever mas
had field in which six different
clubs have been strongly regarded as
pennant contenders at different times
n has been intimated that nine
came series will help the Reds, but
thar is difficult to understand The
hest teams in the American leagne
have been unable TO show 10 aoNalil-
age over Gleason's team In an eS
tended stretch OF play, though they
have grabbed OF short series now
and then. This Chicago team mas
enough strength to recover even n !. !.
abould start poorly. and the longer
ne eer,eg the better IS the opportuh-
NV 10 come hack strongly