New Britain herald., 1928-12-11
BY BILLY EVANS

Who are the seven greatest play CTS in the history of the American legue?
 Naming the Big Seven" Of the junior organization is unquestion- ably a real task. Few people would care to tackle 1t and, as a matter of fact, only a limited number are really competent to express an important opinion.
 While flaming with Connie Mack one day last summer. the thought occurred to me, Here is the one man who is in a position to express a really worth while opinion on the seven greatest players that have graced the American league since it entered the field"
 In matters pertaining to baseball ] have the greatest regard for the judgment of Connie Mack He pioneered with the American league and has seen it grow from a weak ling into great organization that has kept pace with the National. which for years lad the major league field all to itself. Incidentally, Mack, aside from being great manager, starred in his days as q player.
 Here was a man who for nearly 30 years had seen hundreds of stars land near-stars come and go. During that time he developed many out standing players and won pennants and world champions. I made up my mind I was going to get his opin- ion on question 50 often asked me: Who are the seven greatest players in the history of the American league?"
 Mack smiled. then held up both hands in horror at the very idea. No one can answer that one with any real degree of accuracy" he finally answered. After all. those all-star things are just . matter of personal opinion. Ask any six prom inent baseball experts to answer such . question and no two will agree. 50 great is the difference of opinion of the relative merits of the various players.
 However. I continued to press Connie for his opinion. He finally agreed to give it, all the time stress ing that his ideas about the matter meant no more than any well versed fan. After a few minutes of study, in which he seemed to be recalling the stars of the last 30 years, he re- piled:
 ny Cobb is my first choice. ] think he is not only the greatest player in the history of the Ameri- can league but the greatest of all time. His achievements have been 50 notable that I doubt If the game ever produces his equal. certainly not his superior. Cobb didn't have a weakness as player.
 Babe Ruth is my second choice. He isn't far behind Cobb. I am sure there are some people who will con- sider him even greater. Ruth is more colorful and the greatest draw ing card in the history of the game He does some things better than Cobb others not so good. Eddie Collins is choice number three with Larry Lajoie in the num- Der four berth. Here we have the two greatest second basemen I have ever seen in action. with little to choose between them. Collins had more speed.
 1 Iris Speaker Is number. five Walter Johnson number six and George Sisler number seven Speaker I rate the best outfieldel have ever seen: there never was man who could cover more terri. tory. Johnson is my idea of wha' a great pitcher should be. Chase alone compares with Sisler in tho are of first baseing. It is unfortu
 nate that eye trouble beset Sisler a the very height of his career.
 There you have my idea of the ! Big Seven of the American league
 yours is perhaps just as good" am inclined to think few vii