Evening star., 1924-01-07

plains why they are in such minority.
They can do better at something else
that they have been training and
sisier 10 not only a great first base.
man, but he Is just as good pitcher.
A good hitter like him cannot be
wasted as pitcher, as a pitcher Is
out of the batting order too much.
HE walked up to the plate with as
much confidence the first time / ever
saw him as he has done since. He
can hit any kind Of pitching. and does
1t so naturally that he really makes
batting look easy. His greater value
Is that he can hit into any field. Out
felders never know where to play
for him.
Sisler q Great Team Worker.
Sisler Is not an individual star, but
n great team worker. He has studied
base ball from every angle, and likes
to play the game just for the sport of
It, He Is very fast on the bases and.
It's pretty hard for a pitcher to out
guess Sisier.
But as a first baseman Sisler is par
ticularly good In fielding bunted balls.
His great arm helps a lot. Then he
is bird on taking low throws to
first There are many first basemen
1 who are wonderful at getting them
over their heads, but the boys who
are sure shots In picking them out Of
the dirt are very rare.
.Sisler Is a real gentleman, always
having consideration for his team
mates as well as his opponents That
/ makes him easy to handle. He al
ways keeps his head. Sisier is easy
on umpires. 1 expect him to make q
wonderful manager. He is a natural
leader.
| / have considered the other great
| ones-Jiggs Donohue. Fred Tenney,
Tommy Tucker. George Kelley and
| all OF them. but my choice must go to
Sisler
Napoleon Lajoie is my pick for"
| second base without a moments hest :
| tation. I'd rather have him on my
| club than any man ever saw. There
was never such hard and graceful
| hitter as La3oie- What's more. there
never was any better ball player La
| joie was a man OF powerful build and,
| though strong as an OK. he was as
| graceful in every move as q dancer.
| He swung through on hit with as
much rhythm as a professional golfer.
] In fielding ground balls he made them
| look easy. 1t was the ease with which
| he handled his muscles that made
him last SO long.
Very few OF the critics seem to
In Lajoie's hitting. He drove a bali
SO far as'a rule that the outfielder
| played very deep for him. That made
| 1t cinch to score from second base
on a single. This also is true OF
| Babe Ruth and I have wondered why
| more experts have not pointed that
| out as a reason for his driving in so
| many runs.
LAjoie had a wonderful arm and
| was a sure shot In relaying throws
| from the outfeld to the plate. His
| Quickness and grace made him q star
| at completing or starting double
plays. Lajoie was not one of the
star base runners. but he was q
| fairly good one. At any rate he al
| ways knew what he was doing He
| was steadily on the job. seldom get
| ting injured.
His 1S-Year Average II .351.
| Lajoie had the same hard luck as
| Walter Johnson in never having had
a chance to play in a world series.
Now when in addition to these
! things you recall that Lajoie had q
batting average Of 1851 for eighteen
\ years you can well understand why
! 1 have picked him over all corners.
J I'll admit tht Eddie Collins runs the
| big Frenckmn a close second. That
| is why / have made Collins my
utility infielder
Bobby Wallace Of the old st. Louis
| club is my pick for shortstop and