The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-23

/ Pitchers-Christy Mathewson, John
| Mcmahon, John Clarkson, Napoleon
| Rucker.
4, First Base-Frank Chance.
| Second Base-RGgers Hornsby.
| Shortstop-Hans Wagner.
| Third Base-Jimmy Collins.
| Left Field-Hugh Duffy.
| Centerfield-Ed Delehanty.
| Right Field-Willie Keeler.
Substitute Infielder-Frank Frisch
| Substitute Outfielder-Joe Kelley.
Already have explained my choice
of many of these players in the
grand all-American team. With the
exception of Nap Rucker, the pitchers
and the catchers are the same.
/ have included Rucker because OF
his greatness in the National league
during the period of its greatest
growth. He never played in any other
league.
Rucker was easily the greatest
slow ball pitcher that 1 ever have
seen. He relied on that tantalizine
flGater almost solely In critical mo
ments. Occasionally he would serve
swifter ball, but even that was only
half speed delivery-just enough tx
be foil for his teasers.
A wonderful slow Ball.
OF course, you know that Ruckel
1 was southpaw. Originally he used
considerable speed, but as his arm
became weaker he was wise enough
! to appreciate that he could not last
much lCnger unless he conserved his
strength, Thereupon he shifted &c
his slow ball and with perfect control
was a better pitcher than ever. Ruck.
err utilized a "sailer" that seemed to
hang in the air as If he had tied a
string to 1t. Many batter almost
broke his back swinging at that ball
before it got to him. He felt sure
that he could knock 1t out of the lot
it appeared so big and sc easy.
There have been other slow-ball
pitchers of note. but Rucker had the
most aggrayating delivery of them
| all
"why. Rucker can make that ball
! talk" heard one dumfounded bat
| ter say. ut comes up as big as a
house and just seconds to drift away
when l swing. 1t amt there"
1t was really laughable to see a
batter go up against Rucker the first
time. As i'll fortune would have It.
| Rucker never get to pitch on cham
pionship team. He did come back as
a coach and was allowed to go in
| for few minutes when Brooklyn got
In the worlds series. But that was
after his usefulness had waned.
Frank Chance a star.
Frank Chance. in my opinion, is
easily entitled to the place as ALL
! National league first baseman He
was manager of the Cubs In the days
of our great rivalry. Those were
tough, fighting days-every game a
| scrapping event. There was no weak
| ening or quitting of team on either
side, Frank Chance least of them
all. He was always there with the
goods as hitter. fielder and base
runner. Frank Chance knew baseball
from A to 2. There have been mighty
few such combinations as Evers
| Tinker and Chance.
Roger Hornsby is my choice for
second base, because of his many evil
dences of greatness. There has been
I'so much talk about Hornsby as bat
ter that attention seems to have been
diverted from his second base play
and base running. This wonderful
Texan is a much greater fielder and
base stealer than the fans seem to
| appreciate. He has everything-is
almost the perfect ball player. There
is no hesitation on my part In Sc
lecting Hornsby.
1
| Jimmy Collins appears on both my
clubs. 1t will also appear on the ALL
American league team. to be given
later. This may be puzzling to some
of the younger fans, who regard
Jimmy Collins as an American
Lacquer. They do not realize. per-
haps, that Jimmy Collins rose to real
| greatness while in the National
league. As I have said, he really
| originated the present style of de-
feLse against the bunt. Later he
he was just as great for years.
| AS 1 already have given my reasons
for selecting Jimmy on the grand ALL
American team / will net discuss him
| here.
The "Fordhnm Flash"
! have selected frankie Frisch as
substitute infielder on the ALMA
| tional league team because / regard
| him one of the greatest young ball
players that has come into the league
in the last 20 years. Coming from
Fordham university, where he was
first noticed by Arthur Devlin. Frisch
almost Immediately got the nickname
Of "Fordham Flash" He truly de-
serves 1t. In addition to his speed
Frisch has the baseball instinct. That
| is difficult to acquire. He seems to
! have been born with it,
| So wonderful has been the work of
| this boy in two and a half years that
| would not be surprised to see him
some day selected as member of the
Grand All-American team of all
1 times.
My selection of Ed Delehanty On
the All-National league team for CEN
terrified is source of much satisfac-
ton to me. / had considered him for
the Grand AllAmerican team of all
times. but in the last analysis l could
not give him the place over Ty Cobb.
I have no hesitation, though in list
ing Ed here.
A Genuine Siugser.
| Ed Delehanty was the Babe Ruth
| of his day. Though he was a right
handed hitter. Ruth did not have a
great deal on him when it came to
smashing the ball out of the lot. He
was a tall fellow with broad, power
full shoulders that gave him great
swinging strength. Delehanty, ! be-
Iieve, holds the record of having hit
four home runs in one game. Ny,
| how he could plaster that ball!
| Not only was Delehanty a marvel
Gus hitter, but he was a great field
or. Ed was a good-natured. lovable
| fellow. and naturally was one of the
most popular idols of his day. On
| the same team with him--Philadel-
phia--was Napoleon Lajoie. They
were indeed a grand pair. Talk about
your heavy artillery-well. many an
| infielder had his legs knocked cut
from under him by those boys. The
other players on this All-National
| league list are on my Grand ALL
| American team, and have been dis
cussed in the preceding chapters.
| In the next chapter l will present
what / consider the All-American
league team since the second major
league came into being.
| Copyright. 1923, United States and