The Washington times., 1931-12-17
FINISH Y { A R
WITH SAME
AVERAGE
BY GARRETT WATERS


The Griffmen shared honors
with the Philadelphia AS for
being the best fielding cluo in the
American League during the 1881
season.
Manager Walter Johnson's team
as a whole handled 4,1S2 put
outs, 1888 assists. figured in 148
double plays and committed only
142 errors for percentage of
.976.
The AS, as a team, handled
4,095 put-outS, 1851 assists,
turned in ISL double plays and
miscued 141 times for the same
percentage of .976. Neither the
Griffs nor the AS were able to
figure in triple plays.
The st. Louis Browns, Chicago
White SoX, New York Yankees
and the Detroit Tigers figured,
however. The first two named
clubs turned in two apiece while
the Yanks and Tigers retired the
side once apiece by this measure.
MelillO Was Star
There were several outstanding
fielding featS during the season.
For instance, Oscar Melillo, St.
Louis Browns second baseman,
came within II of tying Nap La.
joie's record of handling chances
made in 1908, when he accepted
971 chances in ISL games.
Tom Oliver, Boston Red Sox
outfielder, accepted 448 chances
and made only three errors to
make him a standout in this de-
partment, while the work of
irving Burns, Browns first base
man, was an added feature.
Burns finished the season with
an average of 1898. He turned
in 1875 assists and participated in
131 double plays in 143 games.
He made only ii errors.
Buddy Myer and Max Bishop
tied for first place among the Sec
ond SackerS with averages of 1884,
Melillo, however, with his record
of 428 outputs, SAB assists, 118
double plays and only 80 errors,
was outstanding even though his
1868 average reads lower than
Myers and Bishops.
Dykes of the AS, and Bluege,
Of the GFiffs, we're the best third
basemen in these compilations.
Dykes average was .974, Bluege'S
$50.
Hal Rhyme, Boston Red Sox.
easily led the short-fielders with
his average of 1853.
West in Running
Sammy West, of the Griffs;
Earl Averill, of the Cleveland In
dians: Ben Chapman. of the
New York Yanks. and Roy John.
son, of the Detroit Tigers, were
featured outfielderS next to Tom
Oliver.
Playing in 1877 games, 10 less
than Oliver, West had 402 put
outs and 13 assists; Averill, in
155 games, had 1913 putouts and
nine assists; Chapman, in 1877
games, had 300 putouts and IA
assists, and Johnson, in Isl
games, had 332 putouts and Is
assists.
Bill Dickey, of the New York
Yanks, led the catchers. with an
average of 1896 in 125 games.
Rick Ferrell of the st. Louis
Browns, totaled the most assists,
86 in 108 games. while this same
performer tied with Bennie Tate,
of the Chicago White SoX, for
being in the most double plays.
II. Cochrane, Berry and Ferrell
were charged with six passed
balls each.
Moore Good Fielder
Pitcher Wiley Moore, Boston
Red Sox, is credited with 10 as
Sists in 1875 innings, practically
three and one-half assists per
game. to lead the pitchers. Wes-
ley Ferrell had IA assists, but
pitched 276 innings.
Two records were broken or
established during the season, in
conclusion. The New York Yank-
ees' catching staff went through
the entire campaign without a
single passed ball chalked against
them, thus establishing new
record, while by making only 141
errors, the Philadelphia AS broke
a former record of 144 held and
made ny the Yankees in 1923.