El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-03-16
d RoBERT ID. lIAXWELI.

pride to their infield. with Doc
Johnson or Harris on first. Bill
Wan bsganes, second; Raymond John
son Chapman, shortstop, and Larry
Gardner. third base. 1t would be
hard to improve on that infield-
The three catchers. Steve Thomas
Les Nunamaker and Chef Thomas
are the next exhibits, and the six
teen pitchers, some good and some
bad are put on as a final
But there is even more than that.
E'rinstance, take a look over the
record OF these high salaried gentle
men for last year You'd be sur
prised.
Wdmbsganss Weakest Hitter.
THE infield usually is not consid-
/ cred seriously as an attacking
power, but such is not the case
here The weakest hitter in the bunch
was Wambsganss and Bill clouted
the sphere for an average -27S. II
an iufield Is able to hit around $50
the manager Is perfectly satisfied,
announces 70 the world that he has
a whale OF a team and considers him
self lucky OF course, a star seeker
appears occasionally, but II is seldom
that 50 may hard hitting persons are
guarding the bases on the same team.
Joe Harris, who nlternated with
Dos johnson At first base, ap-
pe1red In 81 games In 1913, and
finished with n grand average Of
.Ss5s which was nine points be-
low Ty Cobb. johnson hit for
-305 in 1O2 conflicts. But here f.
the big surprise. Ray Chapman,
who led the league with 80 sac
rifiee hits, hit m even 800,
which II better than any other
shOrtEtop could do. Larry Gard
ner also entered the 800 class,
topping the list of third saekers.
You can't pass up an infield like
that, for defensively and extensively,
u looks Ike the class OF the league.
The men all are seasoned veterans.
play steady, brainy game, know
the strength and weakness OF the
opposing batters, and work together
like an order OF ham and eggs. 10
say nothing Of corn beef and cab
oage- II they hit their stride early
In the season Cleveland will gain a
dcult to overcome.
Charley Jameson, the outffelder.
vas another timely slugger. He only
appeared in IS games. but managed
70 walop .353 average. Even
George Uhle. the sandlot pitcher.
finished with .302.
Then we have the outfield. Speak
II despite his managerial worries,
anne through with 1856. and Elmer
smith had .21S- Joe Wood came next
With .255. and Jack Graney trailed
llong with only -2s4. Thus II can
,e seen that everybody vas busting
he old apple last year.
Steve O'Neill. regarded as the best I
eceiver in the league. led the catch
rs with -2S9. and Nunamaker and l
,homas were close behind There 1
ertainly are some lusty larrupers I
n the ball club this season.
PLENTY Of Opposition.
THERE you have the figgers which !
which place the Tribe out in
front as the hot favorite one
lonth before the season begins. It |
ouldn't be otherwise, because fig
ers never lie. However. the boys
lii soon learn they are not on a 10Y
de, for they will meet with the most
liter and stiffest kind OF opposition L
every game.
This is unusual under the big tent.
the olden days. the club which
on the pennant the previous year
as expected 10 repeat, and the other
ans in the league furnished all
inds Of opposition. Then. while the
attic was on, some lark horse
ouid step out IN front and cop the
" - oIAuoAus Aluttus
hen another club was selected for
he honor.
Cleveland viii be treated like a ,
epchild this year. Seve-. other
ubs know the Tribe must be elm ,
iated II they are 10 be considered
annant possibilities. The best pitch
s viii be saved up to be used
sainst the. men Of Speaker and the
pposing players will be on their
res Nothing can be taken for
ranted. and as was said before.
very game Will be a hard one II
realize we are up against il this
Ear" said Speaker but perhaps II