The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-05
Ry HANs WAGNER


 This Is my selection of 8 grand all l-American team to represent the pest there has been in baseball for the past 30. years:
 Manager-John J. McGraw of New York.
 Captain-Fred c. Clarke of Pitts burg.
 First Base-Georse sisler of St. Louis Browns.
 Second Base-Napoleon Lajoie sof Philadelphia and Cleveland.
 Shortstop-Bobby Wallace of the old St. Louis Browns. ..t. Third Base-Jimmy Collins of Bos- ton.
 Extra Infieldsr-Eddie Collins of Left Field-Fred Clarke of Pitts burg.
 Right Field-ry Cobb of Detroit.
 Extra outfielder-Babe Ruth of New York.
 Catchers-Johnny Kling of the Ray Schalk of the White Sox.
 Pitchers-Walter Johnson of Wash 1ngton. Christy Mathewson of the Giants, Grover Cleveland Alexander of the Cubs. Cy Young and Ruth
 Pinch Hitters-sammy strang and Ham Hyatt.
 That team, realize. does not agree with any of those have seen published as the choice of such men as John McGraw. Connie Mack and Babe Ruth. Neither does it agree with the team. given in the guide book. The latter. of course, Is mad In exact accordance with records, the human element not being taken into account.
 All of those baseball men and the guide book have been good enough to place me at shortstop, a fact that is my greatest pride in life, 1t is not for. me to pass judgment on myself, naturally. I am limiting myself to a study of the players I have observed in action
 They're Honus' Own Bets.
 To be prepared for a lot of argu- n-ent that is sure to come, will ex- plain in detail why have made these selections. I have looked over the selections of others. but in no way have I allowed them to Influence me in making my own. WhethE you agree with me or not. these are my selections, and. like the fellow who went home to his wife with poor alibi, I'm going to stick to them. have selected McGraw as manager because of his great record. and also because of his knowledge of every angle of the game as player as we'll as a manager. He knows his business. McGraw also knows how to handle men. He is great execu- tive as well as . field manager. At no time In his life did McGraw ever allow club owners to influence him in the signing or purchase of players. His strong will power made that pos | sible.
 With tho team I have selected, however, very little managing would be necessary. All my manager would have to do would be to make out a schedule and then come around on pay day Incidentally. 1t would be | interesting to speculate on just how much manager would pay each of those men according to present day rates of salary. Who would get the most money?
 | Already I have a feeling that some of the critics will say that have se- lected too many left-handed hitters. l They may have an idea that this team would be weak on left-handed pitching. But have taken that into consideration. Every nan I have se- lected can hit left-handers as well as right-handers. have purposely left out those left-handed hitters who have to be taken out against south l much of a ball player as a star hitter who was weak against left or right handed pitching. A good hitter can hit any kind. Fred Clarke, for ex- ample. was the best left handed hit ter against left-handed pitching that | ever saw.
 | What the Choice Is Based On. | I have taken several qualities into sideration-batting, fielding. base running and love of the game. More important. however, are brains, az gressiveness, length of service, and 1 team work.
 Now when you consider length of service, which is probably the most l important of all, you will see that this club could be kept on the field for many years without falling apart, There would be no worry about filling up~ weak places every year Everyone of those not playing now lasted Is years or more.
 have limited myself to five pitch. CTS because I consider that enough All pitchers do better with plenty ol
 My reason for selecting thre, catchers Is that could use Bresna'