Evening star., 1919-12-27
FEW GRLFES SHINE AFIELD,
1919 OFFICIAL LIST SHOWS
GandiPs Record of Only Three Errors During
Season Note.vorthy-Red Sox Furnish Lead
ers in Three Departments of Play.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

Little comfort can be found by
Washington fans in the official field
ing records of the American League
released for publication today. AS in
the case with tie batting averages,
the Nationals are listed seventh, and
as that is the position they held in
the standing of the clubs, at least two
good reasons have been advanced in
explanation of it. That team fielding
marks are not an accurate gauge by
which to judge the prowess of a club
is demonstrated. however. by the fact
that Boston, which tops the field. fin
ished only one notch ahead of the
Grifmen in the league race Good
pitching and strong hitting in addi-
tion still are necessary to get team
anywhere in pennant race.
The champion White Sox excelled
at turning in double plays. its total
of 122 exceeding that of Boston by
three. Honors for the largest num-
Der OF both put-outs and assists go
to the Yankees. while, needless to say,
the greatest assortment of errors was
compiled by the Mackmen. who alone
ing percentage than the Griffs.
Leonard OnIy Local Leader.
In the entire list Washington has
only one nominal leader in any posi-
tion, Joe Leonard's mark of .975 as
a third baseman being the best figure
recorded Joe played in only twenty
hVe games at the hot corner. however,
the real leader being Oscar Witt of
the Red SOx, who has a mark of .967
for 1873 games.
OF all the players Chic Gandips per-
centage of .?97 is the most noteworthy,
as it represents only three errors
charged against him in the handling
or l,179 chances at first base in 115
games. A player who can go through
n Ifpsl IJNyS ct L.,
only three miscueS, no matter what
position he plays, is putting up u
remarkable game. Gandil was not
the busiest first sacker in the league.
WallE Pipp OF the Yankees having by
far the largest number of put-outs
ana George Sister Of the Browns piling
UP a big margin in the matter of
assists: Joe Judge was fifth in the
line of regular first basemen with a
helalng percentage of .9SS.
The local second basing contingent,
that is those Ban Johnson's statis-
tician saw fit to include in the records.
finished in bunch at the bottom OF
the heap, Jack Barry alone having a
poorer record than Joe Leonard, Roy
Grover. Hal Janvrin and Hank
Shanks, who split up most of the
keystone work between them. Joe Ged-
con of the Browns led the array with
a mark of .97o, while Eddie Collins,
one point lower. turned in the largest
number of put-outs, 347. and Del
Pratt. next in line, eXcelled in assists
with 491.
Although Witt has the best per-
centage for third basemen, Frank
Baker of the Yankees led in put
outs with 116 and Larry Gardner Of
the Indians was the busiest assist
maker, compiling 29l. Eddie Foster
stands sixth in the list Of regular
third sackers.
Scott Tops All ShortstOPs.
Everett Scott of the Red Sox is the
undisputed fielding champion among
the shortstops. his percentage of .976
for 1873 games being highly creditable.
Frank Ellerbe for % games has a
percentage of .945, Mcbride, in Is
games, 1892, while Hank Shanks, for
"a games. has mark of 1922, being
next to last on the list. Ray Chap
man of Cleveland is the leader in
put outs. with 290. while Roger Peck
inpaugh of the Yanks grabbed honors
for assists with 434.
Mike Menosky stands fifth in the
outfielding array and tops the rest
of his mates-Rice. Murphy. Milan
and Charity, following in that or
der. Babe Ruth, the slugging wonder
is at the head of the roster with a
percentage of 1892. Manager Speaker
of Cleveland was the busiest fly
catcher, having SHARED 3i5. Hap
Felsch of the White Sox turned in
the greatest number of assists. his
50 testifying to the accuracy of his
throwing arm.
Several players are closely punched