Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-05

Baltimore wanted to get the game
over. so we told Collins to play third.
We promised him we would not pull
any balls down the third-b base line.
and that we would not bunt on nlm
Finally he consented under those con-
ditions. We kept our promise and Col
Inns finished the series at third and
continued playing the position through
the remainder of the Eastern trip Of
his team.
Greatest of Fielders.
The next glimpse we got of Collins
was in Louisville. He was still play
ing third No longer bound to any
promise. we started bunting to third
Three men hunted in succession and
Collins threw out each man. He had
learned to field hunts. l have still to
see his equal.
Collins was the best and most con-
sistent fielder of all time. He not
alone handled hunts superbly. but he
was perfect in fielding any other kind
of batted ball. He ranged wider than
any man that ever pla%e ed the position.
There was an ease and "a grace about
him that reminded one of Napoleon
ajoie. and although he was not quite
as graceful as the Frenchman. he was
still the most graceful Of all third
Sackers of his or any other day.
John j. McGraw was shifted about
a good deal before he settled down at
third For a few years he was played
at short and at second base. 1t was
not until 1894 that third base became
his regular position. l consider Nc
Graw a great fielder. He was a fine
man on hunts and an accurate
thrower Besides that he had the com
petitive spirit. I have never seen a
more courageous soul or a finer fighter
than McGraw. He usually played in
spired ball. He was intelligenut and
he was aggressive, the sort OF player
that pulls a team with him. Not alone
was he invaluable on defense, but In
the attack Of the Orioles McGraw was
always a shining light. He knew how
to get on bases. If he couldn't get on
by hitting the ball, he got on by let
ting the bali hit him. He had a genius
for getting bases on balls. for years
leading the league in getting passes
to first With McGraw able to get on
and strong hitters following him in
the lineup, you can see how much he
aided the attack of the Orioles.
If Buck Weaver had remained in
the game he might be regarded now
as a keen rival of Collins and McGraw.
playing that position was the most
erratic thrower l have ever seen on
an infield. I know of no player that
could throw the ball higher or farther
from an infield position. 1t seemed
that he would never learn to throw.
but he did learn. and when he
was shifted to third and became
accustomed to playing there, Weaver
was one of the best throwers in the
game. He was good on hunted balls,
went far to left or right and handled
l. of ri a wi
range. He was a good hitter from
either side Of the plate. an able bunter
and was fast on the bases.
Bradley and Steinfeldt had strong
arms and were good at fielding hunts,
but neither was as good as McGraw
or Collins in getting hard-hit balls.
Dugan Clever Performer.
Joe Dugan has been the successor
of Weaver in the American League.
Not so versatile in hitting or fielding,
he is still the nearest approach to
Weaver and one Of the best men the
game has developed in playing hunts.
Heine Groh has always been a con-
sistent fielder and thrower and good
batter, although handicapped in recent
years by numerous injuries. His best
work has always been done in the
tight spots.
w lllle kamin, whom chicago bought
from San Francisco for a record price.
proved a graceful fielder and thrower
but never got the credit in the majors
that his work deserved because of his
lack OF color. Another reason is that
kamm did not hit we'll after leaving
the Coast minors.
Hans Lobert was a fair fielder and
a first-class hitter, also one of the
fastest players of all time.
Bobby Jones Of Detroit is good
all-around fielder and unusually in
telligent. While not flashy he is re-
liable and particularly good in close
games. He comes up with the ball in
pinch: his weakness is at bat.