The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-26
M'GRAW'S TEAM IS !
OLDEST IN MAJORS
Giants Outrank All Others in
Years and Playing Ex-
pericnce.
AVERAGE MAY INCREASE
Addition of Chase or Daubert
Will Throw Another Vet
eran Into Array.
AVERAGE MAY INCREASE
by sHoRTsTOP.

IN his first year as part owner of the
New York club he will have to turn
the trick with veteran talent. The
Giants OF 1919 will be the oldest team
in point of years and in length of big
league experience OF any club in either
league.
The age record of the Giants will be
raised still higher II either Hal Chase
or Jake Daubert replace Walter Holke.
comparatively young man, at first
base.
McGraw says II Chase is cleared of
the charges now filed against him by
the Cincinnati club he will make the
Redland club an offer for Chase. Not
only Is Prince Hal tho dean OF first
basemen but he is the Oldest regular
PLAYER In point OF service in the hig
leagues to-day. Only Leon Ames. a
pitcher OF the St. Louis Nationals, was
an active player in the big leagues when
Chase came to the Yankees in 1905.
At second base. shortstop and third
base McGraw. as far as his present
. rlans are known, intends to start the
season with Larry Doyle. Art Fletcher
erd Heinie Zimmerman. all of them past
30 years and veterans Of their craft In
their respective positions in the Ma
tonal League.
Doyle now is SO years old and he has
Seen playing National League ball since
1908 Larry actually grew two years
since he went South with the Giants
las. spring. Then he was 81. now he
10 IS.
How Larry Gagged Fast"
II all was due to the draft raids of
l.NA
June 6, 1917. giving his age as 80.
However, around the time OF the draft
raids last summer Larry thought It
vas best to have his birth certificate
handy, so he sent out to the priest of
his old parish in Caseyville. Ill. for
tho document To his surprise Larry
discovered he had been born in 1885
Instead of 1885. and was over the age
limit when the registration for the first
trest was taken.
Eddie Collins of the White Sox is
two years younger than Doyle. but
antecedes Larry in the big leagues by
one year. Collins first joined the Athle-
ties under the name OF Sullivan IN 1906.
while the Giants purchased Doyle from
Springfield, Ill, the following year.
DOYLE made a great comeback with the
Giants last spring and was hitting above
400 when he becare i'll and was forced
10 undergo an operation. Larry lost
much weight and his play suffered when
ne got back. his batting average melt
ing away to PSI. However winters
iayofY may enable the old Polo Ground
star TO regain the top OF his form.
Arthur Fletcher also is SS years old.
and came to the Giants in 1909. He has
been playing stortstop regularly for the
New York team since 1911, and is the
veteran shortstop of the National League.
Bush OF the Tigers has been playing big
lea que ball a year longer than Fletcher.
but the crack Detroit shortstop Is Ar
thurs junior by two years.
Dean of Third Sackers.
Homie zimmerman. third baseman of
che Giants, Is the dean of third sackers
n both leagues in age as we'll as IN
playing experience. "Zimm,' who Is
month older than Frank Baker, will be
% years old next month. He started
with the Cubs in 1907, while Frank
Baker came up with the Athletics year
later.
Zimmerman talked OF being tired OF
PLAYING third base last season and was
ambitious TO try the outfield. Needless
70 saw. this does not conform to Nc
Grsy's plans. With such a wealth of
outfield talent in Burns, Kauf. Young
and Robertson. the Giant leader hardly
u likely 10 dislodge any of this quartet
10 experiment with Zimmerman in the
outskirts. Heinie again will be picking
no the hot ones at the far corner next
season.
II the Giants acquire Hal Chase TO
play first base, which Is very likely TO
happen, the Giant infield will average
close to thirty-four years In age the
Oldest infield in baseball in many years.
Chase will celebrate his thirty-sixth
birthday next month.
Ross Young, from present indications,
VII be the only youngster holding a
regular Job on the Giants next season.
unless Earl Smith, the young catcher
from Rochester, is promptly put to work.
Young is only 81.
The other Giant outfelders, Burns
KAur and Robertson. all are veteran
Performers, though all of them still are
n their twenties. George Burns will be
81 Years old this year. but there are only
two outfelders in the National League
who have seen longer service. They are
Sherwood Magee of the Reds and lack
wheat of Brooklyn. Max Carey or the
Pirates came up the same year with
Burns.
Benny Came Up in 1911.
Esuf also is generally looked upon as
G 'oungster, yet 1t was eight years ago
that Benny's name first appeared In the
metropolitan press as young outhelder
dong reckless base running stunts at
the Yankee training camp at Athens. Ga.
Benny had some discouraging expert
eaces before he landed with the Giants
IN 1916. and the little fellow now Is
pretty we'll seasoned. Kauf Is 2S years
Cd
Davey Robertson, who is slated to re-
tu-a to the Giants this year, is only 26.
buy he also NAV be considered a veteran
n baseball He originally came to the
Giants as a college pitcher in 1912. but
nccr being released TO Mobile on an OPP
'ioual agreement in 1918 Robertson be-
came a regular outfelder in 1914.
Both Of the Giants regular catchers--
lew McCarty and Bill Rariden-will
Iar3 their thirtieth milestone this year.
!sriden, however, says he has had
'- ugh Of baseball and will stick to the
'-rm this season. The passing OF George
Gibson makes Rariden the veteran
catcher OF the big leagues despite the
fat that Bill still is comparatively a
young man. Rariden started with the
Boston Braves in 1909. a year before Ed
60 Ainsmith came UP with Washington
md Les Nunamaker got a tryout with
The Cubs
Mccarthy Is only a few months
yo'-ger than Rariden, but came into the
National Lea que four years later, joining
tie Brooklyn club in 1914.
Depends on McCarty.
Earl Smith, the youngster who came
10 tie Giants for i've players and cash q