New-York tribune., 1921-03-06

The first step taken by McGraw was
to get into communication with Joseph
"Goldie' Rapp. star third baseman of
the St. Paul club of the American AS
sociation last year and regarded as the
most sensational and at the same time
the most valuable player in that par
ticular division Of professional base
ball.
Rapp Awaited at Camp
Rapp had so far failed to report at
the training camp and McGraw was
anxious to get good look at this
alleged phenom as soon as possible
"A glance at the records OF the Amer
ican Association for last year reveals
the fact that Rapp trapped" the ball
of 1877 hits, Of which tllirty-seven were
doubles and nine triples. He failed to
get home run, but much more to the
point he stole forty-nine bases, more
than any other man in the association
save Dresen, also of the st. Paul club,
who pilfered fifty.
In fielding Rapp did not measure up
SO we'll, but yet his showing was not
so bad at that. Rapp handled 2S4
chances, making thirty-one errors. for
an average OF 93s. This is a rather
low figure, as compared with the stand
ard set by several other third base
men in the association, but at that
it is on a par with the mark attained
by Milton Stock, of the Cardinals,
regarded as a pretty fair third base
man, and is several notches higher
than the average of Buck Weaver, late
of the White Sox.
But providing "Goldie" does join
the Giant squadron, another little diff
fculty arises. McGraw is planning to
use Rapp at second base. where ,he
youngster has had little or no expert
ence. So pleased is the Giants man
ager with the work of Frlsch at third
that he will hesitate long before re-
moving the Fordham Flash from the
''hot station" 1t thus behooves Rapp
time he is breaking into the big league
This will be somewhat Of task.
The possible inability of Dave Ban
croft to resume his old post at short
stop would greatly add to this intield
problem, which is already sufficiently
serious. OF course, there is large
flock of youngsters ready and waiting
for their little day TO come, but they
are ever an undependaSle quantity.
Many Outfielders in Line
Jumping to the outield. we find q
whole rabble Of players disputing for
possession of the center pasture. Benny
Kautf may go back TO his old stand
from which he was shunted so sud
denly last year, but the connection
of his name with the National League s
little baseball scandal and other things
make this eventuality rather doubt
| full
Then, too, Benny was not playing his
/ ,ssl,N 10 l. !,
wilds of Toronto last season. Vernon
Spencer and Lee King, both of whom
played in center last year. will put up q
hard fight for the position, and Of the
two King. because Of his fondness for
left-handed pitching, may win or at
the worst be retained as a pinch hitte r
and start games whenever southpaws
appear on the mound for the opposing
| team.
Spencer opened up like two or three
whrlwinds when he first broke into
soon appeared to lose his vim ard was
withdrawn. He may come back, and
come back strong.
Among the new II en-, Edward Brown,
the idol of San Antonio last season,
seems to be the best prospect. Brown
batted for percentage Of 1926 as a
member of the Bears, pounding out 200
hits, of which "a were doubles,
triples and home runs. Brown, al
! though big fellow, also stole "a bases,
which is fair enough. AS q fielder he
had 384 put-outs and only II errors
which produced the very fine average
of .97l.
This outlines the situation which
faces McGraw, with the pennant chas-
ing stated to begin only a month or SO
ahead. The little Napoleon is great
| "solutioner," however That's his job