The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-23
CHASE STILL KING
OF FIRST BASEMEy
His Leading Rival for Highest
Honors Is George Sisler
Of Browns.
FRED TENNEY A MASTER
Was Regarded as Leader of
Guardians Of Getaway Sack
y in His Day.
BY sHORTsTOP.

nv ShOhTSTOfs
Tho coming OF Hal Chase to the Giants
again has opened the Interesting discus
sion as to who Is the greatest first base
man Of all time. With due respects to
the venerable Cap Arson, who modestly
selected himself as the first baseman for
his all-star team of all time, the greatest
first baseman is a player Of the twenti-
eth century.
Beginning with 1905. the year Chase
broke in with the Yankees. the game has
seen the greatest collection of FIRST base
men In Its history. and has furnished at
least four men, Chase, Stuffy McIhpis,
Jake Daubert and George Sisler, who
have accomplished more in the way OF
FIRST base play than any men before their
= time.
Until the time of McInnis and sisler,
Chase unquestionably led the rank of
nrst basemen. but by the time Stuffy
and "Sizz- close their major league
careers they may rank even higher
than the sensational Californian in base
ball chronology. The batting records Of
both McInnis and Sieler exceed that OF
Chase. while neither Is handicapped
with the temperament that often made
the famous Prince Hal more of a detri-
ment than an asset to clubs Of which he
was member. Both are quick think
OF his wonderful fielding ability.
Anent Old Timers.
Going back even before tho time that
Chase broke into the big leagues, Fred
Tenney. the former star first baseman
or the Boston Nationals. and Frank
Chance, the famous peerless leada- ~
the Cubs, opened up the sty,e of first
base play in the big leagues, and were
decided advance over their predeces-
sors. Fred Tenney in his prime un-
questionably was the greatest first base
man who had appeared up to his day,
while Chances boosters in Chicago,
when the Cubs ruled the world, in
sisted that big Husk was the greatest
the world ever had seen.
There is no position in baseball where
the modern school has made the same
progress over the old timers as at FIRST
base. Tho system Of playing the base
has been completely revolutionized and
the type of men wanted as big league
first basemen has changed the same
as the system. The advent OF tho left
handlers, first Tenney and then Chase.
has been largely responsible for this.
Tho old time first baseman usually
than catch a ball and hit. His one
essential was ability to clout the ball.
For that reason men who had great
ability to hit but could do little else,
were stationed to catch throws at FIRST
base.
Then another type of old time first
baseman was a pitcher. catcher or out
nelder, whose arm had gone dead"
but who still retained his batting skill.
Such man would be permitted to end
his career at FIRST base. where he had
only few short throws to make, and
in right field. which in the old time
parks usually was right behind the in
field.
Only Tall Ones Considered.
The old time first baseman also was
expected to be a huge creature: he
didn't need to have any speed as long
a. he had length. One thing he was
expected to do was to leap into the air
for wild throws, even though he might
not be very graceful in reaching for
them, to his right and left and digging
them out of the dirt.
An old time manager would have con-
sidered one crazy had he suggested that
n man OF the size of Stuffy McInnis, s
feet 8 inches. or Sisler. who only is an
inch taller. would have the makings Of
great first basemen. In the case of Nc
1nnis he became the star he Is to-day
despite physical limitations, as even
to-day six footers are preferred as flfst
basemen.
Splendid types OF the old style first
bascmen were old Cap Arson of the old
Chicago White Stockings, Roger Common
OF the old Giants. Dan Brouthers of the
Big Four of Detroit, and later of the
Baltimore Orioles. and Joe Start of the
old Providence National League cham
pions. They were all famous clouters,
and Arson unquestionably deserves high
rank among the topnotcher hitters of all
time.
But Cap was no Chase at playing the
corner. and often had his troubles keep
ing the low throws from barking his
shins. He did hate to go into the dirt
for them, and once suspended Bill Dab
len because he said Bill Intentionally
was throwing them low to him.
Comiskey Played EN- Deep.
The first first baseman to play a deep
game was Charley Comlskey, the noble
Old Roman OF the White Sox and the
star first baseman and manager of the
old St Louis Browns. the only major
league club that ever won four success
sive championships. The Browns I'M
der Comiskey's management won the
pennant in the old American Association
In 1885, :SSS. I'd 1SSS.-~E
Comiskey only was a fair batsman as
compaeed to the old style first basemen,
but he was a marvel In the field and was
the first man who actually opened I'D
the possibilities in first base play or
the other oldtimers John Morrill, of the
old Boston Nationals came the closest to
Comiskey as a fielder and also was a
splendid sticker.
Jake Beckley, who lasted In the big
leagues close to a score OF years, was
the best fielding first baseman in the
nineties, until the advent of Fred Ten
ney in Boston. When the Boston club
signed Tenney. a left handed catching
sensation from Brown In 1895. Fred was
considered quite a freak Later when
the Boston club shifted Tenney to first
1t waSa seven days wonder. Who ever
heard Of a left handed first baseman?
Yet 1t has been the left handlers who
have revolutionized the mode of first
base play. Henney was followed by
Chase and other brilliant left handed
first base luminaries began to appear,
like Daubert. Sisler and Pipp. Many of
the smartest baseball managers now be-
lieve the perfect first baseman should
be left handed, just as the perfect third
baseman Is right handler.
Chase Exceeds Tennex,
While Tenney actually may be credited
with being the pioneer OF modern first
basemen. Hal Chase. who succeeded him
70 the nrst base crown. was oven more
brilliant than Fred. played q still deeper
hrst base and made plays On hunts ana
70 CtEer Dd5C5 that avian Tapna,, s.a