The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-03-06


Alexander has won his 80 games
or more for three years. He should
be listed well up among the great
pitchers. MordecaI Brown was not
only a finished pitcher but he was
one of the greatest fielding pitchers
that ever lived.
Naturally / have no personal
knowledge OF Clarkson. Nichols,
Breitenstein and Rusie. but knew
from their records and from what
oid.timers have told me that they
we're great. It would Be unfair to
leave any one Of the men have
mentioned off an an-National
League pitching staff.
There is no question In my mind
about selecting Ewing as first
catcher. He was q great catcher
and q great ballplayer from every
angle. He was q deep student OF
the game; one of the pioneers OF lts
scientific development.
Roger Breenahan is my second
selection because of his aggressive
ness and natural baseball instinct.
BresnaIlan was wonderful receiver,
very aggressive and one Of the few
catchers who ever have led off La
the batting order.
He threw himself into the game
with every ounce OF strength. In
the series of 1905 he established
himself as an absolutely top
notcI1er. He was the inventor Of
the sI1inguard and also improved
the chest protector.
Killing, Charley Bennett and Marty
Bergen were also great catchers.
They were deadly accurate in peg
ging to the bases.
/ have taken into consideration
the fact that catcher to be great
out Of his pitchers.
In placing Fred Tenney at first
base I also had Frank Chance In
mind and had to split hairs over
this decision As a fielder Tenney
was in a class by himself, but
Chance though not so brilliant as
q fielder was a great team work
man. He was very deliberate in
fielding and very smooth. He also
was good hitter and q great base
runner.
Other great first basemen were
Jack Doyle, Jake Daubert,, and
George Kelly, of the present Giants
! must also mention Pop Arson on
account of his marvellous hitting.
but his fielding did not compare
favorably with the others.
Hornsby belongs at second base.
His terrific hitting really over
shadows his fielding-so much so
that fans are apt to forget that
his fielding will average up with
the other great men in that po-
sition. He has a fine arm and
can go into the outfieId for Texas
Leaguers. To my mind It lie i'm
possible to keep Hornbby off that
team-or any other team.
In a previous article / have ex-
planned why / did not select La
Joie. He lacked in base runnin~
and in that ability to go back
into the outfield for short flies.
Iajoie also had a weakness in
touching runners.
frankie Frisch also deserves men,
ton as do oldtimers like Fred Dun
lap and Fred Pfeffer.
For shOrtstOp Wagner stands,
alone. Old HOnus had every.
thing. He could smash 'em. was
q great base runner, and nothing
got away from him at short.
Wagner was probably the great
est all-around ballplayer i'm any
position In the history Of the
game.
Herman Long was a truly great
ehortstop. His fielding was sef1sa-
: tional and he could hit OF the
present day shortstops 1 must make
mention Of Dave Bancroft. Win
ming teams are built around short
stops and Bancroft's work proves
1t. They have had pennant win
ners wherever he went-Philadel-
phia and New York. He Is likely
to build up winner In Boston.
Jimmy Collins played in the Ma
tiona1 League at third base before
he came to the American. For that
reason 1 have named him as the