The Washington times., 1921-09-24

The present worlds series possibil-,
ities are all strong In first-string
catchers, though several of them are
woefully weak In their second-string
men. In Walter Schmidt, brother of
Charley, the former Tiger, the Pirates
have a receiver who comes pretty
close to being the top-notcher Of the
National League. But Pittsburgh's g
second-strtngers have been a sorry lot.
Got Brottem From Griff.
They started the season with
Skiff, a former New York semi.
professional, as first aid to Schmidt.
Then they picked up Toney Brottem
at the inter.league waiver price from
Washington. and finished with
oooch, former American Legaue
outfielder, as assistant to Schmidt,
As a result of this inefficicnt
second-string catching material. Pitts.
burgh's percentage has suffered
whenever Schmidt has been out of
the game.
The New York Giants have in the
opinion of the writer the best bal
,snced catching staff in the country.
In Frank Snyder and Earl Smith,
McGraw has pair of 800 slugging
catchers. both splendid throwers and
hish-grade men in handling throws
to the plate.
When two catchers can completely
keep Miguel Gonzales hid inp the Oh
scurity of the bench, they must be
pretty good. Gonzales would be first
catcher on numerous big league ag-
gregations.
Both Smith and Snyder have
renchant for home-run hitting, and
between them they have knocked out
seventeen. Smith driving out nine
and Snyder eight.
Mighty Useful Men.
Wallie Schang, the first catcher of
the Yankees, isn't any O'Neill or
Schalk. but he has been a mighty
useful man behind the bat for the
New York Americans. In some cir.
cles there is an inclination to criti.
else Higgins for giving UP Muddy"
Ruel for Schang last winter, but
Schang has proved very satisfactory
to New York.
He Is q hard worker and a plugger. |
and though inclined to be erratic at |
times. he usually comes back with a |
timely hit In the pinches. He hit next |
to nothing when he first came to New |
York, but has been making up lost |
ground and is now listed at .2ss.
Schang has been In three world |
series. two With the Athletics and one !
with the Red Sox. His jhatting and |
throwing to bases in 1918, when he !
was a big league freshman, was one |
of the features Of the Athletics Giants !
series of that year.
Hitting With Athletics.
Wallie hit 1857 in the 1918 series,
getting a homer and a triple; .l67 in
the Athletic rout against the Braves
in 1914 and. .444 when the Red Sox
heat the Cubs, the war year Of 1918. }
Schang caught almost all of New
York's games until a lame back re-
Gently forced him to lay off for a
fortnight. Devormer, a youngster
from the coast, showed a lot Of ability
when he got his chance and displaced |
FREDDY Hofmann as second catcher on
the Yankees.
In Steve o'Neill, Cleveland still has
the greatest catcher in the country,
and one Of the leading maskmen of ali !
time. Schalk Is as nimble as Steve
behind the bat, but the Cleveland
player is a far superior batsman.
Though kept out Of the Clevland
lineup for quite a time with an in.
Jury. o'Neill had participated in 81
games UP to Labor. Day and was driv-
ing the ball for 1927 clip. Steve hit
1893 in the Indian.Dodger world
series n year ago. y.
Nunamaker, Cleveland's second
catcher, broke his leg several weeks
ago and Shinault, a fledgling, In now
Steve's only assistant.