The New York herald., 1922-09-03
RUTH MOST POWERFUL
Speaker Stands for Grace, Col
lins for Smartness; Bob Meu-
sells Arm Best.
By DANIEL.

lean League An analysis of the
major league emphasizes the class of
those top notchers:
Greatest In power-Babe Ruth.
Yankees.
Greatest hitter-George sisler.
Browns.
Greatest throwing arm-Bob Men,
sci, Yankees.
Smartest infielder-Edd.e Collins,
White Sox.
Most graceful outfielder - iris
Speaker, Indians.
Fastest base runner--George Sis
Ter. Browns.
OF course you could get up quite a
number of subdivisions, such as best
first baseman, best second baseman.
and SO on. But the above headings
take into consideration the major fac
tors--and supremacy in each depart
ment appears to ne well defined. Sis
ler. it will be noted, has the greatest
number Of accomplishments to bis
credit. He is truly a great ball player
and every time Barney Dreyfuss
thinks of him he is inclined to tear
few hairs frora his head. Barney
thought he had. Sisler when George
was a student at Michigan, but the
National Commission handed George
over to the St. Louis Americans.
Leading Hitter with Alb.
With a batting average OF .413 Sisler
leads the major leagues. With base
stealing record of AZ Sisler again leads
the Big Show--though not by big mar
gin. Max Carey Of the Pirates presses
him closely, with 40 bases frankie
Frisch. who should be the leader, has
only % to his credit
Siser is the greatest first baseman in
the game. There are some who believe
that he is greater than even Hal Chase
in his prime. The star OF the Browns
is a more accomplished hitter and run
rer than Chase was at the top OF his
career with the Yankees--but sisler is
not a Chase of that era when it comes
TO fielding his position. There never has
been another Chase fcr coming in on
a dead run for a hunt and throwing out
his man at third from any old position.
He was marvel, was Hal--when he
wanted 10 play his best.
In the batter Of tremendous power
Babe Ruth stands alone. Ken Williams
tops him in home runs thus far this sea-
son. but that doesn't count for any
thing. There Is just one king crasher
of them all--and his name is Ruth. The
power which he puts behind the ball is
said to be greater than that which any
OF the old timers such as Delehanty and
Brouthers put behind their swing.
Speaker Is All Grace.
In the matter of graceful fielding IN
the work In the outfield we believe that
the title will go without dissenting
vote to Speaker. Iris Is slowing up.
There Is no doubt about it. EHs bad
knee has been handicapping him great
deal and then he is getting older every
season. He is past the forty mark.
Yet his easy grace in going after ball,
be IL fly or a grounder. marks him as
the leader.
Ty Cobb is no near outfeder George
Burns OF the Reds IS a marvel for TAX
ing a ball and making tough chances
look easy. But iris Is the king. Be
hind that grace OF Speakers is a batting
average Of .372. Behind that ability of
Cobbs is a hitting average of 400.
Titans both-and good managers TO
boot.
sessed by Bob Meusel of the Yankees.
Not since the palmy days OF Jack Muir
ray Of the Giants king thrower OF his
time, have we seen a man with a steel
trap wing like that OF the Yankee left
fielder. Meusel has learned to put
direction behind his power and has
made himself the most feared thrower
in years. Among the infielders the
greatest arm Is that OF George Kelly %
he orafc IL al. al.
mond to third is n classic
Now for question which may arouse
debate. Eddie Collins. VIC believe, is
the smartest infielder in the business
He IL the neatest and most graceful
Eecond baseman. a fielder who makes
difficult chances seem easy and who
moves without ostentatiousness. He
aeems 10 glide into the right spot un-
assumngly. He has the intuition which
comes only to great ball players and
has o remarkable nose for a plav"
lie can diagnose the encmy's tactics.
lie can sense an impending move. And
when he puts his defense into operation
he Is all efficiency, all smoothness.
Bancroft Graceful sbortstop.
Among the ehortstops the palm In
grace and in smartness goes to Dave
Bancroft Of the Giants. Bannie has
lost a number of games with errors
this season. but he has more than made
up for his lapses with brilliant stops
and fine throws. Scott OF the Yankees
Is close to 3annie. but the deacon Is
not quite as fast as the Giant. Ban
croft hits harder than Scottie. too. and
moves faster on the bases. Hollocher
or the Cubs. Maranvlle OF the Pirates
end Johnston OF the bod gers also shine.
Coming around to third basemen we
find ourselves In hot water. Groh is
not the Heinie OF his prime. but he
Etill Is there. Joe DuRan OF the Yankees
is playing one OF the greatest games
seen around third in many seasons on
their form just now Dugan has the
edge. but Y Is not big margin. In
hitting they are about on n par.
The American League holds a bic ad-
vantage In catchers. with men like
0Neill OF tho Indians Schaik OF the
white Sox, Perkins or the athletics and
Schang OF the Yankees. The National
Leagues leading catcher this year Il
Frank Snyder Of the Giants. Walter
Schmidt OF the Pirates. VINO got a very
late start. Is coming along strong Last
season Schmidt was the hcadiest back
stop In his league and close to the big
men In the younger circuit. His intui-
tion on hit and run plays at times was
unoAnny.