The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-31

cSDys 4 l'. in as SY SnS T%'d Assn : cs.S: s.%
 By H. G. SALSINGER.
 Cornelius McGillicuddy's Philadel- phia Americans of 1910 and 1911 formed, in the opinion of Cobb, the greatest team he ever saw. They ap- pealed to him mostly because they were intelligent. On that team was, what they called in those day, "the $100,O00 infield." This sounds funny in the light of recent baseball history. The Philadelphia infield of 1910 and 1911, coming to the top ten years later, would have been called "the million dollar infield." Imagine, four players like "Stuffy" McInnis, Eddie Collins, Jack Barry and Frank Baker, going for $1OO,O0O at a time when one recruit infielder, Willie Kamm, player who had never played on a major league field, brought $1O0,OOO alone!
 T believe that the Philadelphia team had the smartest second-base combina- tion the game ever produced. They were better, in my opinion, than Joe Tinker and Johnny \Evers, and while the ''Tinker-t to- -Evers-to-C Chance" line re- ceived much publicity, I believe that Barry to Collins to McInnis, while the line did not suit the purpose of rhym- ing, was a combination much more valuable to baseball.
 Power On Attack.
 "The Athletics were not alone a great defensive team, but they had remark able power on attack. They were in telligent at both ends of the game, more than any team I have ever seen.
 Before the Athletics developed to their top form, a simple signal system was used by pitchers and | catcher The catcher would point one finger in his glove and the pitcher would throw a fast ball. He would point two fingers and that meant a curve ball. But the Athletics made that system obsolete and compelled teams to adopt combination signals.
 '"The Athletics stole signals. This was not done illegally, but in a legiti mate manner. They would get a mar to second base and he would watch thu catcher. The batter would make thu catcher waste few balls. The runner would get the signals. Then he tipped 1 off the batter.
 "Then the Athletics, coming to ba and knowing the signals, would get il position where they could watch thu catcher signal. They would tip of the batter to what the pitcher intended throwing.
 Long Time Solving
 j "It took teams quite awhile to dis cover why the Athletics were hittin so we'll. When it became known, al teams were compelled to change thei systems. The catcher would use thre or four signals. Only one would mea anything. It might be the first, set ond or third signal. The others woul be used to confuse the opposing tean And then the catcher could call Oi whatever signal he had given by tosi ing dirt in front of him or behind hil and switch the signals.
 Besides a great ifield, the Athletic had a splendid pitching staff wit Coombs, Bender and Plank leading They had a good outfield and a fairl good catching staff. They were a ba 3 anced team; a smooth-working nG , chine, highly intelligent, highly pow { cred, mechanically skilled"
 The greatest pitcher?
 Cobb believes Ed. Walsh, of the Oh l cago White Sox, was the greatest th r league produced. He gives Eddie Plan ) a place close up. He also names Der l ton T. ("Cy") Young. These three | Walsh, Plank and Young, in Orde named-are his choice.
 Never Names Weilman. He never names Carl Weilman, wh
 had more success against him tha g any pitcher Cobb ever faced. Althoug
 Weilman was Cobb's master, he nevt B considered him a great pitcher, an
 Cobb is correct in that.
 APlank was intelligent. He kne