Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-05
QUEER TWISTS IN =.
FIELDING AVERAGES
Butch HsnIine Was Only Local
Player to Lead at His
Position
CHICK GALLOWAY GOOD

Fielding averages are queer things.
The mere fact that Uall player has the
highest average is no indication that he
h the best. Hal Chase. one Of the most
brilliant fielders that ever lived, used
to be far down the list every year. On
the other fist. Stufy Mclnnis, than
whom there never has been II more re-
liable first baseman, is always rated nt
or close to the top. so 1t proves that
the averages don't mean a thing.
This yenr the Phillies rated sixth in
club fielding and the Athletics seventh,
but the latter was just II point higher
In the averages than their National
League rivals. Besides. Mack's slaves
handled more than a hundred chances
In excess Of Bakers.
The only Philly regular to lead the
procession at his position was Butch
Henlinc, who also had NOR" assists than
any other nniskman in the league cN-
cept Bob O'Fnrrell. Of tn" Cubs. Big
John Peters, the second string catcher.
went to the other extreme by finishing
last.
Fourteen National League pitchers
passed through tn" season without
making boot. Grover Alexander lead
ing the list with IS chances. Our be-
spectacled friend, Lee Meadows, only
made one bit in ~ tries. but that dtdnt I
get him anywhere near the top.
The number Of assists that first
baseman makes is usually fair indica.
tion of his ability as II ground coverer.
Roy Leslie. our local guardian at Broad
and Lchigh. didn't rate SO high in that
direction He made E' assists in 1"9
games. less than that Of any other
regular first bns'man except Jack
Fournier. who made 90 in 10 games.
Roy had a $50 fielding average, which
isn't bad.
The real surprise comes at second
base. where Rivets Parkinson. who has
usually been looked on as n rather
crude workman in the field. not only
had a good average. but handled more
chances than any other Keystone sacker
in the league. In three successive days
Rivets accepted II chances "A game.
coming each time within one of the
major league record.
Fletcher was not the star of old
ut shortstop. He averaged only J.>4
chances a game compared with th" O.
grabbed by bayry Bancroft. who led
the shortstop> in total chances. Rapp
was pretty fair a. third. but he did
not set the world on fire.
As usual. i'y Williams was the prize
Of the outfeldinS gallivantars. TIL.
bald Three Forks farmer snapped in
S76 flies. and in spite of his so-ralled
weak arm. had nineteen assists. which
was not hettered by very many or'
fielders. Curt Walker was the throw
Ing demon OF the Phil outtcld. getting
twenty four assists.
The Athletics Record
The boys at Twenty first and LehiSh
had some good fielding pitchers on the
roster. Naylor, Eckert and larrison
getting through the season without an
error. Rollic led his teammates BY
handling iifty-six Eddie Rommel wGs
we'll down the list with five boots. and
.kim Sullivan had the dubious honor Of
being the tail.cnder.
Ray Srhalk. ~ usual. topped tho
catching field in averages with $50 and
IN total chances with 40. He also
averaged better than an assist Il game.
getting 100 in 142 contests 81 Per-
kins was third in fielding and toto
chances.
At first Joe lIauser was an earnest
ana Wiling worker. but he rated far
down In average and chances accepted.
The honors were split between Judge
And McInnes. who each had .a06, Pipp
accepted the most chances and Sisler
had the most assists.
Eddie Collins was tho polished per.
former of old at second base. lie loL
rhe league as he has done so often in H.,
past. but young Stan Harris. of Wash :
ington. accepted 100 more chances In
me same number "f games. Per
Young did not rate very high.
AT shor,stOp We have the best in the
league. Though Scott. as he nearI,
;; does. led in average and chances
galloway was close on his heels in bntl
departments, And. at third base, de-,
spite the fact that Jim Dykes wa
made over from second sacker h,
accepted more chances than any of hi
rivals at ha, difficult post.
None Of our outiicldrrs were rer,
figh in fielding averages. but Ring Mil
icr and lilly Walker each shared mor
than 800 flies. Each Of them also mnd
nineteen assists. which was good enougl
as only two outt"lders in the leacu
made more than twenty.