The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-09
PIRATES OF 1901 WAS BEST TEAM WAGNER EVER SAW

, them out of. the running. They had previously been the champions. We beat Brooklyn out by simply running away with the game. We 1 ever saw. Our system was to take an extra base on every hit when there was even half a chance. We | ran bases all the time and If a run ner got on first you could be sure he was going to pull something. AS result we had the other clubs up in the air.
 Six shut-Outs In A Row. That same team, which won the pennant again in 1908 as well as 1902, established worlds record for shut outs. We shut out our opponents six times in succession. I happen to have the record in my scrap book. Look:
 June 2. Pittsburg 2. New York O. Pitchers. Leever vs. McGinnity. June 3, Pittsburg 5, New York 0. | Pitchers, Wilhelm vs. Platt.
 June 4. Pittsburg 5, Boston o.
 June 5. Pittsburg 9. Boston o. Pitchers, Phillippi vs. Willis.
 June 6, Pittsburg 6, Boston 0. Pitchers, Leever vs. Sparks.
 June z, Pittsburg ?, Philadelphia o. Pitchers, Phillippi vs.-?
 We were on the way to seventh shut-out in the next game: it went to the seventh inning when Roy Thomas scored on an outfield fly. Now. if that wasn't great ball club I'd like to see one. No other ! club ever had pitchers work like that or ever made any such record.
 Mind you, we had lost some of our best men when we did that. In 1902 several players went to the American ledgue and made great records there. Among them was Harry Smith. great catcher-one of the best in the world at holding runners on base.
 Another great man we lost was Jack Chesbro, who went to the New York Americans, then just starting, and made a wonderful record. Ches- bro was called Happy Jack and right ly so. He had wonderful disposi- tion and was always ready to pitch. Later he picked up the spltball and got famous with 1t. He is supposed to be the first pitcher to develop the spitball perfectly.
 The Lightest Ball Ever Thrown
 There were. some men on that team who made my Grand AllAmerican team and several others who came pretty near it. Take Tommy Leach. for instance. There was great third baseman, despite his small stature. Then Claude Ritchey was at second. He was the best man l ever saw in picking up ground balls between the bounces. Nothing seemed to fool him. Claude was never a great hitter, except in pinch. But then Is when you can bet on him. That is why the fans gave him the name of Little All-Right.
 Chief Zimmer was also on that team. leaving in 1902. The chief threw the lightest ball to second l ever handled. You could catch it without glove. The man who is not e baseball player probably does not know that some players throw what is known as a heavy ball. It Others throw one as light as a feather. Just why that is I don't know and 1 never knew anybody else that knew. There have been some third basemen and shortstops who threw such a heavy ball to first that the baseman could hardly hold it.
 The other stars were Schoolmaster Leever, Deacon Phillippi. Ed Doheny. Jesse Tannehil and Bill Kennedy. pitchers; Jimmy Webring, Ed Phelps Che caught every ball in the 1905 worlds series); Jimmy Williams. in- fielder (went to the American league in 1902); Jack OConnor, Kitty Bransfleid and others. We had an other great player named Davis, who did not last long because he broke a leg.
 Yes, I'd like to go on record as say ing that's the best ball club l ever saw.
 In my next chapter I will give what l consider the all-star National league team for the past 30 years.
 Tomorrow: The All-Star National League Team.