The New York herald., 1922-09-17
sISLER STANDS AT TOP
Blue Another Flashy First
Baseman - Kelly's Career
Has Interesting Angles.
By DANIEL.

themselves out OF Iast toiHpdnN aild
no capable new material appeared in
the offing. Certain clubs We're promis-
ing prices which at that time We're
: fabulous il truly capable first sackers
could be delivered. But the men
wanted did not seem 10 exist
This season finds the major leagues
equipped with the finest lot OF first
basemen the present generation has
seen. Some of the old timers have
taken a new lease OF life and are play
ing right up to the high standard set
by the younger blood. Jake Daubert
of the Re6S-39 years old and pro-
nounced through when the Dodgers
traded him TO the Reds in the winter q
19lS-l919-is putting up the greatest
game of his life. Wallie Pipp. who
had been slated for trade for several
years, has been behaving like Sisler
this season and has been a prime
factor in the triumphs OF the Yankees
In the American League the leaders
are George Sisler of the Browns, LII
Blue of the Tigers, Pipp OF the Yankees
Joe Judge of the Senators. New York
product: Stuffy McInnis OF the Indians,
and Hauser OF the Athletics. with George
Burns OF the Red Sox and Sheely OF
the White Sox good enough to hold up
their heads in that fine company. In
the National League the top notchers
are Daubert, Long George Kelly OF the
Giants Charley Grimm. Pirates. and Roy
Grimes. Cubs. Kelly is q far better first
sacSer than generally is realized and
shows the highest fielding percentage.
1t tops them all-even that OF Slsler.
Cards Have n Trio.
The Cardinals have a fair representa-
iion with Fournier, Gainer and Bottom
ly, while the Dodgers have likely pair
in Schmandt and Mitchell. The Philies
have used both Leslie, the newcomer
from New Orleans. and Leo. while the
Braves enter Walter Holke Frank Glib
son. the catcher has been working at
hrst recently in the absence OF the in
jured Holke.
At the top OF the class we find Sis
Ter. who is the greatest hitter. base
runner and fielder at his position in the
major leagues Ssler has an arm too
and Sisler is a smart ball player
Like Fred Tenney, once a leading
light at first base for the Boston and
New York Nationals. Sisler is a college
product. Tenny came from Brown
while Sisters alma mater is Michigan.
1t was at Michigan, which he entered
from Akron High School. that Sisler
proved his prowess as pitcher--a
southpaw. Like Hal Chase, the great
est of them all I'm his prime. Sisler hits
George was in college Branch Hickey
left-handed and throws that way. While
got his eve on him and when Rickey
went to the Browns he got the collegian
10 sign a contract.
II developed that Barney Dreyfuss
lad entered into negotiations with Sisler
too. and there ensued a long wrangle
which was settled by the National Com
mission with the dictum that the player
belonged to the American League club.
Dreyfuss still foams at the mouth when
the Sisler matter is brought up. The
National League certainly lost n great
star when the decision was handed
down.
Blue Started In Blue Ridge.
Luzerne Atwel Blue-to give his COM
pletc monaker-is an Eastern product
who found himself on the Plciic Coast
Blue. whom some rate as the fielding
equal of Sisler this season has taken
rank with the greatest hrst-sackers in
the history OF the game. He is efrec-
tive, smart and graceful and ne can
throw. This is only his sixth season in
professional ball--his first In the ma
Jors.
Blue was born in Washington. u. c..
In 1897, began his professional career
with Martinsburg, in the Blue Ridge
League. In 1916 In 1918 Detroit got
him but did not hold on to Lu. He was
sent TO St. Paul on option and the fol-
lowing year was farmed out TO Portland
under arrangement between the two
clubs. He was with Portland In 1920.
too. Last season he blossomed out with
the Tigers and hit for .30S-better
than he had hit IN the American Associa-
ton or Coast League. Now Blue is
alugging even harder than he did in
1921
Pipp's career this season il the saga
OF a game guy" Last winter there
we're reports OF trade which would
send Walie elsewhere. Last season he
was supposed 10 be slipping when as a
matter OF fact Wards unfamilisrity with
the duties OF second baseman made
Pipp look that way. He had TO play
over too far toward second. TN
seoson the report OF a trade was re-
newed But Pipp sticking to his knit
ting. made himself perhaps the most
valuable player OF the New York club.
Like Sser. Pipp is college product
lie was educated at Catholic University
in Washington. The Giants might have
got Pipp IL the Tigers had not beaten
them to the player. We remember one
afternoon at old Olympic Field. when
Manhattan College was playing Catholic
University the report had got out
about Pipp's prowess and several scouts
were there, among them George Browne,
tho old Giant outfielder
Sold 90 the Yankees.
George said he would recommend the
signing OF Pipp--but IL developed that
wallie already had hooked w with De-
troit. The Tigers sold him with Hughey
High TO the Yankees when Col. Rupert
snn Col Huston bought the club. That
was che only aid the other clubs gave
them after much had been promised
lSeIlys career with the Giants Is an
other interesting one. George came well
recommended by his uncle. Bill Lange.
IN 1915 from Victoria OF the Northwest
crn League. He was an outfelder then.
and 4 bit OF pitcher az well az an
embryo f1rst-sackcr With tho Giants
he did not seem TO ft. He was bit
Of this and n bit OF that--but nothing
much OF anything. He was released TO
4