The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-16
CHICAGO WHITE SQX
CONTINUED from page 81

"GTh III Inc ViCICfy Oh Inc w uike SoA
over the Giants in the 1917 worlds
series, has not had such success this
year and he is not expected to play
u big part in the coming classic. His
work this season has been over
Swallowed by the performance of
Dick Kerr, midget southpaw, who
made his major league debut last
Spring. Kerr appears at this time
to be more likely to shine IN the series
than Faber. Cicotte Is a certainty
for the opening game of the sea and
Re will be rested up to work in at
least three OF the games. The other
iChicago boxmen-Erskine Mayer
I'm James and Grover Lawdermilk-
VIII hardly get any closer than the
tench, unless it becomes necessary to
Use a pitcher In a game already lost.
| Catching and the InfieId.
Ray Schaik, not as fast as he was
a few seasons back. but better hit
ter this year than in recent cam
raigns, will do all the catching.
Sehalk continues TO do practically all
the backstopping for the club. as he
has done since joining the White
COX back in 1912 This is the seventh
Goason in which he has caught more
than 100 games. Now and then some
f.ashy rival comes to the front, but
rome has been able to keep Schalk off
the pedestal to which he climbed as
soon as he became the White Sox
regular catcher. He is at least as
/ good as any other maskman in the
game and many critics place him at
the head of the list. He hits around
us, is a fine thrower and an artist
behind the bat. Byrd Lynn is first
substitute rnaskman and Joe Jenkins
is third catcher.
The fnfeld is a truly veteran com
tfnation, barring RisbeTg al short
| stop. bur Father Time has dealt len
iently with the veterans Eddie Col
Inns has been a big league star since
1903, but he Sill. is able to outste p
most of the youngsters in the game
Buck Weaver is completing his eighth
season on the lett wing Of the Chi
cago infieid and ne still belongs to the
tsstesst in the game. Risberg, a
youngster among veterans, has all the
dGsh and speed of youth a wonder
iful pair OF hands and as strong an
arm as ever shot ball across an in
field. Gandii at first base is not as
fast AS the other members Of the in
'fer Gordon, but he is a steady plug
ser who combines. rounding with
natural baseball ability, rounding out
a combination OF infielders which
Rows to no other quarter IN either
league for al-rcund efficiency Fred
, MeMullin does the utility work at
second or third. John Collins at frst
enc In case OF accident to Risberg
Weaver shifts over to short and Nc
Nallin goes TO third
The infield differs slightly from
fnat OF Manager Rowland in the
1877 series with the Giants. Risherg
and Weaver started the 1917 cam
kaign in the positions which they
have held all this season. but Ris-
terg hit poorly aud was erratic in the
fed. AS a result Rowland shifted
h. Weaver over TO shortstop and sent
sst afaflin 10 third. which positions
they occupied IN the worlds series
Weaver. who never has had the credit
which really belongs to him for his
ability to do al, things well and
! Flags two or three positions, is as
much at home IN one place as the
'oiher. The infela substitution of Ris-
berg for MeMullin is the only diff
ference in the Sox of today and the
team that played the Giants.
The outfiefd Is exactly the same as
In the 1917 series. is just as fast on
the defense and stronger on the at
tack Feisch has not batted up to
his 1917 form, but Joe Jackson is hit
ting far better than he hit two years
ago, and the ga me is true of the right
fieiders- I.eibole and John Collins.
I4eiheia usually r. played against
righthandec pitchers and Collins
against the southpaws Eddie Murphy.
utility outfielder. has done little work
this season. Fetsch ranks close up to
iris Speaker, for expertness in fly
chasing. while Jackson and Leibold
have speed above the ordinary All
three are capable throwers, as is John
Collins.
Leading this team which carries so
much natural ability in the various de-
partments of the play is man who
Possesses all the qualities that make
for successful leadership William
tkid) Gleason was a star in the old
days. a player who was able to stick
in the game as an inffelder lung after
his pitching arm lost it's cunning
He knows the game from every angle
Is a fighter to the last putout and he
has the confidence of%very member OF
his team. He was Clarence RowIaud's
able assistant in the penaut winning
campaign OF 1917. and now he gets
the honors OF successful leadership
alone. Like Pat Moran, with whom
he will match wits in the coming Sc
ries. Gleason has following that ex-
tends far beyond the limits Of the
city to which he Is bringing a pen
ant.
Collins q Baseball Genius
The White Sox have another adj
vantage 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 is the
greatest player he ever saw. and that
is indeed high praise. Gleason and
Collins form a board Of strategy that
makes few mistakes itself. or allows
the mistakes Of others TO go by with
out yielding the maximum In returns.
1t is an unusually strong combina-
ton in all-round play. these American
League champions OF 1919. The Sox
have clearly established their suprem-
acy in one Of the best balanced fields
the American League has ever had,
q field in which six different clubs
have been strongly regarded AZ per-
ant contenders at different times. 1t
has been intimated that q nine-game
series will help the Reds. but that is