New-York tribune., 1922-10-29

lt IL extremely dtfncult to organizes
an ail-star team during my period as
manager IN the American League with
out cro@ding the player limit found
so many excellent players. up to the
standard Of stars, Wat found myself
having more players than the law
allows.
There are the stars Of twenty years
ago--the stars who were in the league
when we were firss organized. They
have passed out, but they should not
be forgotten.
While it has been claimed that the
game has advanced; that there is
more speed, better hitting. an i'm
provement in pitchers ard 50 on down
the line, would not say that the class
Of players to-day is better than it was
ten years ago, fifteen and back to
twenty years.
However, have been asked for my
views on an ail-star team for the
American League during my twenty
two seasons.
Sisler at Firss Ease
Opening at first base / dons think
we have to look very far. George SIS
ler is marvel of the age. Why, that
boy can do everything. He would be
pressed by Hal Chase but for the fact
that he is better hitter than Chase
Sisier not only equals Chase as a
fielder but has proven much better
batter and base runner. Sisler gets
the award at first base.
AT second base it is impossible for
me to have one man play the position.
| cannot name Eddie Collins and leave
out good old Nap Lajoie. What re-
narkahie p aver Lajoie wasl Graceful,
handled ever thing without exerti n
and could do what lot of hone-run
hitters could not---ht with the runner
and hit to the fences. Collins, too, is
wonderful player. You have to sit
on the bench and be on the inside with
him to appreciate his value away from
his actual playing.
Two Placed OF Third
"At third base am forced again to
name two. Frank Baker and Jimmy
Collins arc my men. Baker had long
term when | thought he was without
a superior. He was a cleanup hitter
and one of the best third basemen |
nave ever seen. Records will show that
nus average was the highest for a num-
Der OF years. Collins was an artist.
too. They had to knock him down to
get one past him, and in coming in for
.hose mos, slow bunts ne could handle the
oail with his bare hands and get it
around the infeld with the best of
them.
Two players Of practically the same
type are at shortstop. Again / refuse
TO pick one. They are Jack Barry ami
Everett Scott. They were ideal short
stoppers--smart, fast and steady fin
ding slow grounders and hard
drives. Their batting averages did not
weigh up with the fence busters. / ad-
mis, but they were tricky and as hard
to fool as any have seen.
Now we come to the hitting power
OF ball club. The major league out
tielder must be hitter
Going over the entire list, there are
three who stand out at the top. A fell
low doesn't have to hesitate to find
them, and they are Babe Ruth, iris
Speaker and Tyrus Cobb.
Greatest Distance Hitter
Ruth does not compare with Speaker
and Cobb III fielding and base running.
but all Of US must admit that he is the
greatest long distance hitter baseball
has produced.
Speaker ard Cobb are the finished
products. They have been since their
first day in the American League. and
disgree with those who say that
they are edging their way to the end
For the two oIsield substitutes Ii
am naming Sam Crawford and Ken
meth Williams. Crawford was a star.
He beat me out of many games with
his hits. This fellow Williams, with
St. Louis, is developing rapidly. He is
almost the equal Of Ruth in hitting
home runs and 3 mighty fine fielder
and base runner.
"For catching l have Ray Schalk
and Wallic Schang. You'd have to
think twice in keeping one on the
bench in announcing wour battery.
"The biggest task is getting down
20 the pitchers. There are so many
tht | could add dozen to the eleven