The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-01-24

taken with the same approval as that
of Hans Wagner for shortstop.
The greatest infield, to my way of
thinking, is George Sisler at first base,
Eddie Collins at second base, Hans
Wagner at shortstop and Jimmy Col
Inns at third.
What about Rogers Hornsby or
Larry Lajoie for second? No doubt
every admirer of those great players
will have such thought as he reads
my infield selections. Then there is
frankie Frisch, Tony Lazzeri and
Johnny Evers and Hobe Ferris of
other days.
And while no doubt second base will
be more discussed than any of the
other infield selections, my hardest
problem was making choice be-
tween Hal Chase and George Sisler
for first base. After much erasing
Sisler, got the call, yet ! feel the mar
gin of difference is extremely slight,
if it really does exist.
Sisler, remarkable fielder that he
is, fell short Of Chase's standard in
this department of play. In my opin-
ion Chase could be rated the perfect
fielding first baseman. He didn't have
a single weakness in the field. He
handled high or low throws with
equal ease. His playing of hunted
balls was uncanny. He seemed able
to sense just where the ball would
roll. Chase's speciality was forcing
runners at second and third on bunts.
He invariably elected to make the
play on an advancing runner rather
than the batsman.
In giving thought to the great Sec
ond basemen, the first celebrity to
come to my mind is Larry Lajoie.
What a wonder player the big French
man was! He had grace in the field
that neither Collins, Hornsby nor
Frisch possesses. / am told it was
Lajoie who inspired the phrase poetry
of motion" as applied to baseball.
Ny next thought on the second base
question was Eddie Collins, and at the
same moment there flashed the ques-
ton, what about Hornsby and Frisch?
But after considering the greatness
of Lajoie, Hornsby and Frisch. 1 can
not refrain from naming Eddie Col
Inns as the most valuable all-round
second baseman 1 have ever seen in
action.
Jimmy Collins gets the call at third
base. Collins, inclined to be pudgy,
a rather unusual type for a third
sacker, was marvel as fielder. Not
particularly fast, he was wizard at
handling bunts. He would time after
time throw the speed merchants of his
day out several feet on what appeared
perfect hunts. He was a wonder at
handling the ball with his ungloved
hand and could throw from any posi-
ton. Collins never had to straighten
up. The moment he got his hands on
the ball it was on its way.
OF the more modern players, "Pie"
Traynor impressed me as one of the
greatest players / had seen in action
at that position.
Catching plays a most important
part in the success of a ball club.
Few clubs have won pennants or
world series without at least one out
standing receiver. Not only in the
handling of the pitchers but in the
general direction of play does the
catcher make his presence felt.
1t would be no great task for me to
name a dozen outstanding catchers of
the last % years, yet in naming
Johnny King Of the famous Chicago
Cubs of 1906-07-0S, and Ray Schalk
formerly with the Chicago White Sox.
T feei that have two of the greatest
catchers of all time.
GO. 1880. Bell syndicate.)