Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-24

platform. Bennett, trying to follow
wheels. Both legs had to be amputa
The modern game has produced
some sterling catchers. There have
been quite a list of them in the last
Is years.
One cannot overlook Bill Carrigan
of the Boston Red Sox, who later
made splendid record rs manager of
that team. Carrigan, although handi-
capped by a weak throwing arm, was
still one of the keenest judges of base
runners and batsmen that l have ever
seen. He could nearly always out
guess the base runner and few bases
were ever stolen on him even If he
could not throw so we'll as the aver
age catcher.
He was one of the most skillful
handlers of pitchers in the history OF
the American League, and he really
did his best work as a catcher after
he became manager. He then had
the power to insist that pitchers fol-
low his instructions implicitly. an ad-
vantage he did not have before he
became leader of the team. While
Bresnahan invented the trick of block
ing runners off the plate, 1 doubt if
Bresnahan ever did it more effectively
than Carrigan. At least he never had
an equal in his league. Carrigan was
big and extremely game.
One time in Detroit he blocked Mort
arty at the plate when Moriarty tried
; to steal home. Had Moriarty sue
ceeded ii would have tied the score,
but Carrigan blocked him and saved
the game for Boston. It was the last
play of the game. Moriarty and
Carrigan became tangled at the plate
and exchanged blows and riot re-
suited. Carrigan was finally rescued
and reached the club office. But the
fans hung about the park more than
an hour after the game, waiting for
Carrigan. He walked out of the park
between men that were aching to get
q chance to beat him up. None of
them recognized him. Carrigan was
groundkeeper.
Sullivan Earns Rep.
Billy Sullivan made big reputa-
ton as catcher for the Chicago White
Sox, but he had his big years while
Ed Walsh was at his best. Sullivan
always caught Walsh.
Since Sullivan's time the White Sox
have had one of the games greatest
in Ray GCrackerl SchaIk. He is small
but he made up for lack of size in
abundance of aggreSSiveness. He
handled pitchers well, threw well and
had the faculty of outguessing base
runners. w Hll6 IlOL a SITOIlS hitter,
Schalk was always dangerous in the
pinches and generally delivered when
q hit meant something. He was one
of the very best judges of foul flies
IN history. When a foul was hit in
back of him, toward the screen,
Schalk would get TO the screen as fast
as he could, turn and be in front of
the ball. He did not try to take them
over his shoulder as other catchers
generally do.
When Schalk was at the height of
his catching career, Johnny Bassler
entered the league as a member of the
Detroit Tigers. BaSSler is slower than
Schalk and not so aggressive, but a
remarkable catcher and one of the
/. most intelligent | have ever watched
He steadieS his pitchers, il n deep and
sound student of batsmen and is even
better than SChalk at outguessing or
is one of the best hitting catChers the
major leagues have produced-one OF
the hardest men in the game to pitch
mast.
Pull Great Catches.
Muddy" Ruel of Washington, i:
a catcher after the Schalk order. He
IS fast and aggressive, u good hitter
and one of the few CatcherS | have
ever seen who is quick and fas
enough 10 bunt for singles and ge
away with 1t.
Bill killifer made his big reputation
as member of the Philadelphia team
There he was the battery mate o
) Grover Cleveland Alexander, and wh =
Philadelphia sold Alexander to c..
cago the Cubs insisted that Killifel
accompany him. So killifer went t.
Chicago, where he continued his goot
work. He had good judgment and {
good arm. The battery of Alexander
and Killifer must be ranked as one o
the best in history.
Hargrave of Cincinnati Is one o
the best the National League has hat
In recent years. He is a good back
stop. a reliable and hard hitter ant
he handles pitchers in good style
HargraVe has an unusually goot
touch in mailing runners at the plate
Frank Snyder of the Giants car
he described as "trier." He Ii
always in fine condition and gives thu
team the best he has. He is Ions
hitter and a good thrower, well
rounded backstop.
1 have omitted some that may b'
considered equally as good, but have
Srted to place before you the men tina
have impressed me during the time
have been in the game.
Copyright, 1922