Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-11

N 6W 4OrLfA, ApIll ia SUI :
N vey of the teams of the
4 Y National League as the
opening of the 1881 season
looms on the horizon, shows that
each outfit has it's Achilles heel
in the persons of one or two play
ers, who, if put out play for any
length of time, will cause their
teams to slump deeply in the race
toward the pennant.
Cincinnati may be the one exception
to this conclusion. While the Reds
have net developed what might be
termed an indispensable" still they
would lead a wobbly life If it weren't
for Clyde Sukeforth, their catcher, and
Red Lucas. pitcher.
The most indispensable players in
the Western section of the circuit are
Charlie Colbert of st. Louis, Riggs
Stephenson of Chicago and Pie Tray
nor of Pittsburgh Closely following
them are Hack Wilson. Chicago; Lloyd
Ware Pittsburgh, and Frankie Frisch,
st Lc;-is.
He's Tough in Pinch.
Chicago might win the pennant with
out Stephenson, yet opposing pitchers
will tell YOU that they had rather take
q chance on any other batter on the
Cubs team when there are runners
on the bases. DaZZy Vance says that
Stephenson hits more wickedly against
him than any man in the game. The
Chicago outfelder has been criticized
as having a weak arm, but his timely
and deadly execution with his bat more
than compensates for this.
Wilson will be indispensable to Chi
cago as long as he remains cleanup
batter on the short fields. If either he
or Stephenson were out for any length
of time it would likely cost the Cubs
the pennant If they do not win the
flag this year there will probably be
great tearing up and knocking to pieces
of this club next year, for 1t cannot go
much further without something Of
that kind happening to it.
Colbert should be the best shortstop
in major league base ball this season
and should finish by becoming one of
the greatest that ever stood upon an
infield. His work this Spring was bril-
liant, yet 1t was only taste of what
is to come Frisch is quite as necessary
to the Cardinals The combination OF
irish and Colbert against base run
ner IS like the spider against the fly.
Traynor a Bulwark.
without third base properly guarded
the Pirates would sag like the flag OF
captured ship. Traynor fills the bill.
And without Waner Pittsburgh is
another team. as has been proved. He
is the best lightweight player in the
history of base ball
To get over to the East, Bill Terry
takes the leading and necessary role
for the New York Giants. Although
I,1e& Ey~& Izoe 10 V1lo
the game, he is high up among the
best Of these days. His batting is what
holds him so well up, but he has i'm
proved In fielding also, so he has made
a double stride toward the realm OF
the immcrtals.
Glenn Wright is the indispensable
for the Brooklyn Robins. He made the
team last season, and without him this
season it will surely sag. Put another
Ehortstop on Brooklyn who is less of a
ground coverer and the team would be
in a bad way. Next TO Wright IS Fred
erick In center field. As he has i'm
proved, so has the whole outf1eld i'm
proved from very ordinary one to a
good one.
Boston has its Rabbit Maranville
Not only is this veteran rs good as he
ever was. but his spirit is unflagging
end his inspiration unquenchable. He
keeps the team in constant energy.
Hank Gowdy, the catcher, ably backs
up the Rabbit in this and Mcguire at
second base Is rapidly becoming indis-
pensable, because he holds up the in
field.
The Phillies have an indispensab BILE
player In Whitney at third base He
holds the inf1eld together even If he is
not on the right corner for it. Their
second indispensable player is Klein,
who was not even a good tyro four
years ago. When the Phillies and Klein
failed to agree in the Spring. the club
needed him badly, but it didn't need
him any more than Klein needed the
club, because if he should remain out
of base ball for a season he would never
return and be the same Klein again