The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-28
Kelly, Ewing and Robinson Were Trio
 of Great Catchers
By MAcLEAN KENNEDY

Mike Kelly. Buck" Ewing and Wilber Robinson were trio of old-time catcn- CTS who have never been equaled for helping pitchers. These kingpins of the old school were large and powerful men, men of girth and their very size was in spring to young pitchers. Why, tha. bunch could make a rookie hurler believe he had the best hook, the best slow ball and no end of speed and that he was the peer of all hurlers. young or old.
 HELPED HURLERS
 That big, experienced jolly catcher can make a young hurler believe the earth is his, ask any hurler. With the great Ewing or King Kelly or Robbie slipping on their armour immediately created feeling of confidence in the hurler who moment before, felt like curling up. A feeling that as long as the big veteran in the mask was guiding him the young pitcher knew that everything would be all right and feeling of az gressiveness took possession of him and he pitched % per cent better. On the other hand, when Clarkson. Keefe, Mo Cornack or Radbourne were in the points with Clements, Kelly, Bennett, Ewing or Robinson catching the average young batsman felt as if he were mere toy in the hands of finished workmen.
 BENNETT WAS GREAT
 It is said that Charlie Bennett who caught for Detroit and Boston from 1881 until 1894, or until he was injured, was the greatest mechanical catcher the game ever had, that is, Bennett was the greatest thrower. the surest receiver ot curves and sure catcher of foul flys. Bennett led all the old-time catchers in fielding his position; his life's average n: fielding stands .94s which is remarkable, considering the fact that half of his ca reer heAcaught with the small glove ard flimsy mask and protector. During the days of Bennett, the catcher averaged 70 passed balls per season; Bennett had les; than nine per season.
 Such weil-known catchers as Bushons. Flint. Milligan, Daily, Mack, Gilligaa, Keenan, Zimmer, Mcclure and Boyle were very clever catchers and excelled in certain lines, but none compared with Ewing Kelly. Robinson and Bennett when all-round value to team was considered. Heinie Petz, Tom Deasley, Tom Kinslow Ed Buckley, Ganzell and Vaughn all showed symptoms of great ness, but they lacked the quick brain thought at the crucial moment Then there was Billy Earle, Martin Bergen. schriever, Grimm, Farrell, Morgan Mur- phey, Joe Sudgen. all good catchers or they wouldn't have made the success they did in the big show. Nal Kittridge Jack O'Connor, Lou Creiger, Mike Grady, Tim Donahue, John Kling, Frank Bow erman. Roger Bresnahan, Mig Clark, Pat Moran, Dooin, Spencer, Street, Gi5- son, Powers and Bil'v Sullivan formed wonderful galaxy of high-grade back shoppers.
 Creiger. Kling, Bresnahan, Powers, SuI- livan and Gibson were generals and won- derful catchers. but didn't quite class with the great Ewing and the versatile I- -ct1 ..rt,atA to team. Jimmy Archer, Ira Thomas, Bill Carrigan. Bemis, Phelps. Livingston. Fritz Bettlow and Lou Drill were clever bunch Of catchers. and all possessed cer tain qualities in which they exceiled, but James P. Archer could be singled out, and his name placed with the great catch. CTS of the game. Bill Carrigan was one of the few catchers who played his posi- tion with an ambition to direct the team work, andN that Carrigan made success. the record of his career will tell.
 From 1905 to date the game has pro- duced host of good catchers, but not r.anr Keliys. Ew'ngs. 9er~ets or Roh- insons. Perhaps it is harder to single out the great catchers. perhaps they are all great. Oscar Stahage, Bill Kiliifer. Eddie Ainsmith, Chief Meyers Mig maker, Williams, Lapp and Rariden- are products of the last 12 years, and who. one way or another, made more fame than the average catcher. Chief Meyers of the New York Giants and later with the Brooklyn club was a great catcher and comes the nearest to the Kelly-Ewing type the game has had since the days Of old. Chief Meyers stood close to six feet in height and tipped the scale beam at 200 pounds. and had [ nfs's batting average of .zg7, which tops off all the modern day catchers.
 SOME MODERN WONDERS
 Some swell catchers are displaying their ability in the swo biz circuits today. but when the fans take . slant at Hay Schalk of the White sox and Steve O'Neil of Cleveland they needn't look any farther, for in these two wonders all the qualities which go to make . great catcher can be found. Another catcher who. is making considerable stir in big. league circles is Ralph Perkins of the Athletics. and at the rate he is going young Mr. Parkins will be rated with the big ones of tho game. Ivy Wingo s