Evening star., 1932-12-22
BOTH CLUBS BREAK
0LDF|ELD|NG MARK
Cronin Tops Shortstops in
American League-Pair
of InfieId Records Go.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

NLAYlNG a brilliant defensive
- game, the Nationals this
i year shattered a nine-year-
old major league record
when they fielded for an average
of .979, but their record doesn't
60 in the little red book of base
ball.
Official American League field
ing averages show that the Ath-
letics also bettered the mark OF
.977 made by the Yankees back in
1923 and did so to a greater eX-
tent than the Washington club.
The AS set the league pace with
a fielding average of $50.
Two other fielding records were shat
tered, one a major league mark. Max
Bishop OF the AS playing in LOG games
at second base, hung up record OF
1888, thus beating by point the old
big time mark he had set in 1926. JIM
my Dykes, playing for the AS, made a
new American League record for third
baSemen with an average OF $50, top
ping by two points the record Willie
Kamm Of the Indians had made.
The Nationals led the league at max
ing double-plays. 157. and in Joe Gro
min had the best fielding shortstop OF
the circuit. Accepting 754 chances in
141 games, en- average CT 5.35 per game,
ice wcs Just about the busiest shor,-
fielder in. the league and his average
of .959 shaded those of the othe- short
stops.
JIMMY FOxx; OF the AS with an
average Of 1894, was the best of the
first basemen playing steadily. but
Joe Judge Washington veteran, in IS
games f1elded .997 and Joe Kuhel. now
the regular National initial sacker,
Travelled at 1894 clip in IS games.
Buddy Myer stood fourth among the
second basemen for he flelded for an
average Of .975. Ossie Bluege again
demonstrated how good he Is at third
base He and Karlm we're the only hot
corner guardians IN 100 or more games
to accept three or more chances pe-
game. Kanlr handled t63 chances
in 14S games. an average OF 313. while
Bluege took care Of A53 in 149 games,
an average of 3,04 per game. Bluege.
with a season mark CT 975, finished
third behind Dykes and Joe Sewell of
the Yankees. Heinie Manush, fielding
for 1888. was second to Joe Vosmik of
the Indians, among the gardeners.
Roy Spencer, who did the bulk of the
washington receiving finished far down
the list of catchers as a fielder. Mickey
Cochrane Of the AS led the backstop-
pers with an average of 1888. AL Crow
der, 1874. made the best fielding mark
among the Nationals pitchers. Walter
Stewart, recently procured by Wash
ington from the Browns in q trade, led
the box artists afield with his perfect
1000
GAM WEST, in centar for the Ma
y tionals the East saacon. With $50
put-outs and IS assists. vas the
leagues most energetic oulieide-. Ccch-
rane led the catchers in number CT
games behind the bat. 1877 in total ac-
cepted chances, TAG; in assists, "a, and
in double-plays, Is. Mickey also was
charged with II passed balls.
Ray Hayworth. Tiger catcher, took
care of BAT put-outs and So assists In
81 games before he made his first error
of the season in the second game OF
August 20. Urbane Pickering, Red Sox
third sacker. on August IA tied the rec
ord for assists in a game at the not
corner when he made nine. Yves Fer
rell, Indian hurler. On July % made 10
assists in '12-innfng game against the
White Sox. Despite that good fielding,
he lost.
Jack Hayes, former Na...onal, probably
set record when a. scco-d base for
the White Sox in two successive IL
inning games on July IA and Is he &C
ceptcd "a chances without slip. That
was practically one-third of his teams
total for the two days. 106. The first
day. Hayes had put-outs and 10 as
sists and the second day put-outs and
10 assists.