The New York herald., 1922-08-27
Blue, Galloway, Stengel and
Fonseca All Far Ahead of
1921 Gait.
OLD CASEY IN SPOTLIGHT
Rise of Giant Veteran From
Bench Warmer to Star
Dramatic.
BY DANIEL.

By DANIEL. %
1t has been suggested that the
American League. in addition to honor
Ing the player who has been of the
greatest use to his club. should provide
a prize for the man who has shown
the greatest Improvement over the
previous season. An award of that
character would bring about very
interesting competition and might spur
some of the younger experts to greater
effort and ambition. The National
League. which declined to follow the
lead of the Johnson circuit in honoring
the star of the year. might find the
new suggestion more to its liking.
If there were prizes for improve
ment over 1921 in the major leagues
this year the competition would be
keen indeed. In the American League
II would be a close fight between
Galloway of the Athletics and Blue Of
the Tigers. In the National League
old Casey Stengel would have a lot
tc say about the prize--and so would
Fonseca of the Reds, Tierney of the
Pirates and Cunningham of the
Giants
Blues jump in one season has been
phenomenal, He looked mighty good
last year. but this season there are
many critics who concede Sisler nothing
over the Detroit first baseman In field
ing. In hitting and running. the star OF
the Browns. of course. Is far superior.
Blue batted for .30S in 1921. but he is
up there with 1892 this year and going
efr r. ha hntx he
Yankees and the Tigers Blues work was
one of the dazzling features. Blue was
the first American Lacquer to score 100
runs this season.
Galloway Leaps High.
Galloway's rise both In the field and
at bat has been remarkable. He was a
fair fielder--rather streaky-last year,
but this season he is one OF the finest
shortstops in the business, fast and
agil with a fine steel spring arm. And
20 is hitting. Last rear his average
was .265, but now we find him with a
neat $3.50 and showing no tendency to
slide back
The drama Of the rise of stengel this
season from bench warmer and dug
out jester to one of the outstanding fig.
ures in the National League is familiar
game. Stengel was regarded as being
through last season when he Joined tbs
Giants in trade with the Philiies. This
year, after SINNERS had been injured
Casey was sent in as the centerfieldel
against righthanded pitchers. Now h,
has a batting average of $40 agains
his mark Of .2s4 for 1921. and keeps
saving games with great catches.
Stengel's alternate in centre field
the man who goes in when the opposition
pitching IS left handed is Cunningham
and Bill has made great strides too
Last year the boy from San Francisco
hit FOR. 276 but this morning finds hin
petting q modest little $50. With
Stengel and Cunningham the Giant,
have a composite centre fielder who I.
spanking the ball for .36o,--and Il
going far and getting 'em too. L
Gyrge Burns IS missed, It is not in tn,
batting department.
Fonscca,s Great Rise.
Fonseca. the sweet singing Portuguese,
of the Reds, who has showed Bohn,
into a berth in the dugout. is another
Of the big surprises. He has jumped
from 276 TO 361 in hitting and hi,
fielding Is about as good as that of AM
other second sacker In the league.
Tierney of the Pirates has Ieaped Il
the front in sensational style. Tierne,
was on the market last winter and h,
was offered to the Dodgers this season
but now he's a fixture. He Ia hittins
for 37i,--quite a jump from the 2st
which he sDorted at the close OF las
season. Tierney is taking the gam,
more seriously.
Big Frank Snyder. the Giants catcher
is another or the improved PLAYERS
Pancho has been around for quite 1
spell. and he has not been in any toe
good health at times this season. We,
he is doing better work than ever be-
fore in his career. Snyder is CATCHING
better ball. he is hitting harder Pan.
cho shows an average OF .3s3. which 1.
forty three points higher than the one
with which he finished the hot campaign
Of 1921.
Now for Waffle Pipp OF the Yankees
first baseman who has been playins
the greatest ball OF his life for the iasi
month or so. Pirp's improvement In the
field may be attributed in part 70 tho
Improvement Of Ward as a second base.
man. Pipp had 10 tack over towarc
Aaron lot last season and that made
him look bad toward the first bag Blu,
Ward Is playing bangup ball now
playing a fine and graceful second base
and Pip has benefited too. wailie "
shooting them to safe territory for .3f7
and he hit .296 last year.
Dugan's Improvement of course In a
ratural thing. lie always was a great
ball player but the drab surrounding
IN Philadelphia and then the none toe
rosy outlook In the Hub hurt his play.
ing and his hitting. Dugan In not much
higher than he was last season. wher
he hit for .295. Joe Is going at 20.
now. but he Is coming along like house
anre. He was down below the .25t
mark when the Yankees got him. HI,
playing around the hot corner has beer
of the sensational order.
Carey OF the Pirates, Daubert OF tn,
Reds and Myers of the Dodgers mako
trio OF veterans. whose work this sea
aon has been far and away better thar
II was in is21-particularly on the hit
ting side. Carey, who has been a thorr
In the sides OF tho Giants all season, hal
jumped his batting average from ~,
.309 of 1921 to .34s. and he is cloutins
them over the fences too. He still 4
fast and bids fair to regain the bas,
stealing championship which he lost q
Frisch last year.
Myers had very bad season in 1891
after reporting late. and he hit for onl,
.2s7, but now he Is smacking the ieathe,
s4v .s22. Daubert. 80 years old and sup
posed 20 be through when the Dodgor'
sent him away, is playing better bal
than ever before. He is hitting hard and
timely--hitting for $40, as against hi