Great Falls tribune., 1922-04-22
Cafchers Responsible
for Many Weaknesses
in Tedms--FuIIerfOn
White Sox Lead American and Cubs National
League in Strength of Receiving Depart
ments Says Expert.

New York, April 21.-Continuing his
dope on the strength Of various base
ball teauas Hugh s. Fullerton devotes
chapter to the catchers. He says:
The dope on the catchers Of the
major leagues explains the weaknesses
Of certain clubs to remarkable degree
The pennant chances Of no fewer than
seven of the major teams are sadly
handicapped by weakness behind the
bat, which of course, vitally affects
pitching strength.
sThe fact that one great catcher who
works well with pitchers can make a
pitching staff look good has been dem
onstrated too often for argument to be
necessary. Even more evident is the
fact that bad catcher (who may be
excellent mechanically but bad in di-
recting and handling pitchers and team
work. can ruin good pitching staff.
There is one team in the National
league which has pitching staff up to
the best in the league which loses one
quarter of pitching effectiveness
through wretched catching.
Sox Lead American
'9In the American league we find the
Chicago White Sox leading in strength
due largely to Schalk's ability, with
Cleveland second. largely because Of the
superiority Of Steve O'Neill. In both
these clubs the big strength is in the
fact that they work SO many games:
Neither is great hitter. although good
for catchers, and the Cleveland catch
ing staff has attacking power in addi
ton to defensive strength. Perkins car
ries the Athletics up into the third po
sition, while the hitting strength and
speed Of Schang, bad defensive cat
cher. helps the Yankees to fourth place
and ahead Of the Browns, which, how
ever taken as an entire staff. leads in
attacking power. Higgins is handicap
ped by losing attacking strength when
gaining on defensive and vice versa.
Charity brings Washington well up,
and Detroit, while still weak behind
the plate. has improved somewhat in
that respect and in the American league
the Boston outfit is the weakest-with
being weak in attack and only fair in
defense.
Cubs Lead National
"The Chicago Cubs hold first rank
in the National league with an excel
lent and we'll balanced catching staff.
Somehow those Chicago teams always
appear to be lucky in getting catchers
or to concentrate their scouting efforts
toward securing good catchers. Pitts
burgh is second, close up. and the
Giants only few points behind. The
Giants are improving behind the plate;
improving steadily, and since that has
been the most vital weakness of the
team (not excepting pitching) up to the
time Snyder was acquired, it means a |
great deal
''Pittsburgh's strength depends upon |
Schmidt coming to terms and then COM |
ing into condition and Chicago depends |
largely upon Killefer getting into his |
top form and avoiding injuries. Bill |
has become brittle these last few years ,
and his enforced absence have affected
both catching and pitching strength in
his team. With these elements Of |
doubt present New York may push into
front rank yet, especially as Smith has
shown some signs of steadying and
learning something about the art Of
handling pitchers.
Brooklyn makes sorry showing in
the catching department staff. Boston
has settled down to mediocrity and
Cincinnati has fallen away badly, the
catchers slowly losing the pep
and hustle. that made them"
Mr. Fullerton's table On 'atcbers is
as follows: