The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-10-22
YANKEES NEED OU UTFIELDER
 AND CATCHER NEXT YEAR
New fork Americans Lack Class In Those Positions and Owners Are Willing to Spend Money to Get Men
 With Proper Amount of Ability

New York, Oct. 22.-The Yankees. like many other major league clubs. will be shuffled during the winter and dealt again with the joker left out of the deck. At least two new players will be added to the cast for the production of 1920 The club was so glaringIy weak in the outfieId and behind the bat, Colonels Ruppert ani Huston will shake balloons heaven and earth to obtain the players nee essary to develop the Yankees into a winning aggregation.
 Where they will procure the essen tiaI grenadiers is not yet apparent. There are few good cutfeIders or catchers available at present. The clubs that possess efficient men in those positions are not eager to turn them adrift.
 However, it is safe to predict that before the advent of spring the Tanks will have plucked at least one first class outfielder and catcher to fortify the club against what promises to be one of the bitterest campaigns in the history of the circuit next season.
 Colonels Ruppert and Huston desire beyond all to win pennant Last season was one of rich prosperity for the Yankees-the first successful year since these popular sportsmen ac- quired the franchise. Now that they have made the club a financial sue cess they intend to turn all effort to- ward winning the pennant.
 It was no state secret even while the clu,5 was Iekinking in the South that the outfield lacked class. The essential speed and attacking jolt were absent. 4 yawning hole in right field kept Huggins continuously on the spike of suspense.
 It is apparent now that neither F'ewster nor Wick fill the so-caIled bill in right. F'ewster we consider one of the most promising young infield- CTS of the day.
 To endeavor now to convert him into an outfielder would rank the highest crimes of the sport F'ewster has it in him to become a gilded headliner as an infieIder. As an out fielder he never would rise beyond the mediocre, regardless of his vast courage and natural baseball apti- tude.
 Do you recall how, when Eddie Col lins was breaking in with the Athlet- tcs. Connie Mack tried him as an out fielder for a brief period, merely to ascertain whether the hedgling from section the cast? It soon became apparent to Mack that Collins would never make la first class outfielder, but that he was potential infieId prince And at the first opportunity-when there came break in the infield-Mack shifted his recruit back to where he belonged. In two years he had be- come one of the games great infieId- CTS.
 The cases of Collins and Fewster are in many respects analogous, Few ster in stature is much like Collins when he damned his way under the main tent and Jimmy Valentined all the second passing honors in the sport.
 F'ewster, however, may be a regular member of the Yankee inffeId next season. There is growing likelihood of break in the inner line that may give him his long sought opportunity.
 Furthermore, the Yankees require a first string catcher to share the back stopping burden with Muddy RueI. Hannah has slowed down a Ia Erie. and as the Tanks require speed more urgently than anything else it would be no surprise to see the numbering Truck replaced during the winter
 A well seasoned catcher would strengthen the Yankees considerably. RueI Is promising, and in another year or two may become one of che lofty headliners of the game. But he can hardly carry the burden alone A catcher like Steve O'Neil or Wallis Schang or Cy Perkins would give the Tanks the essential finish behind the bat. The catcher, next to the pitcher is by long odds, the most important member of the club. He largely di- rects the defense of the team. The value of a catcher has long been shown by Schalk on the White Sox and O'Eeil on the Indians. The noodle counts around the plate, and, there must De a sinewy arm and speed of foot in the bargain