Evening star., 1933-02-11
FIGURES PROMISE
TOP DIVISION SPOT
Simmons, Haas, Dykes Raise
Potential Stick Average
From .267 to .285.
BY GEORGE CHADWICK.

~HICAGO, February H.
1 That the Chicago White
~ Sox will be strong con-
tenders for a first division
berth in the 1888 American
League race is rather well estab-
lished by facts and figures Of
fered today by Henry P. Edwards,
publicist for the junior major
organization.
The addition of Al Simmons, George
Haas and Jimmy Dykes furnishes the
power on which the White Sox will
climb" declares Edwards and then
proves his statements by the following
figures.
During the 1882 season, in which
Simmons, Haas and Dykes collectively
missed only IL games, the trio made
306 runs, 534 hits, for total of 80l
bases fer the Philadelphia Athletics.
Measured against that performance is
the work OF the 10 players, who over
the run Of 1882 season. filed the posi-
tions that Haas, Simmons and Dykes
VIII MI on the SOx team this Summer.
THE 10, all of whom have been
i shipped elsewhere by Chicago,
couid make only 1872 runs and
463 hits; difference of ia runs and
II hits in favor of the new Hose play
ers. The former Mackmen accounted
for IS doubles, l9 triples and Al homers
as compared with "a doubles, 10 triples
and only IA home runs for the departed
Chicago players. Simmons drove in
Isl runs, Dykes, 90, and Haas, who
batted in the sacrifice position, IS. Red
Kress was the only member Of the
White Sox to excel even Haas in driv-
ing home runs, his record being sc,
while Luke Appling accounted for So.
SO If Simmons, Haas and Dykes per-
form up to their 1892 level, the attack
OF the White Sox will have been greatly
strengthened.
Detensively the addition of Sim
mons, Dykes and Haas also will bring
an Improvement to Chicago's play.
Dykes will give Chicago ample defen-
siVe power az third base, position that
was poorly covered last year.
IN 1892 Chicago used six third base
merE and that crowd was guilty OF
47 errors, accepting 407 out of asa
chances Tor an average Of 1896. On
the other hand, Dykes fielding aver
age at Philadelphia was .980-a diff
ference OF "a points, which Is much
greater than the numerals would in
dicate. The fielding of Simmons and
Haas was far better than that of the
mob that attempted to play the OUT
field for Chicago last season.
The team Lew Fonseca hopes to pace
on the field when the season opens win,
on 1882 performance, have a batting
average OF .285 as compared with the
.26i percentage accumulated by the
club that finished seventh in the 1892
race. This mark CT .285 would put the
SoX right up among the batting leaders
OF the American League. There is pos
sibility that this mark may even De
improved for Kress batted far under his
usual level last year and Fonseca, al
ways a 300 hitter, was in only q few
games. Appling improved in his bat
ting sufficiently last season to become a
prospective 500 hitter and both Billy
Sullivan and Frank Grube are develop
ing.
EVEN if the Chicago pitching is no
- better than it was in 1882 the Sox
viii be a better team, for with
their increased batting power and de-
fensive strength the club viii win more
Of the close games. The Sox have not
finished better than fifth since the eloer
Comiskey wrecked his club in 1920, but
there is fine chance they will top the
second division or climb into the top
four this Summer
What 1882 first division club do
you expect to displace?" Louis Comiskey
was asked.
Let the other fellows worry about
that. don't care what team we shove
down so long as we finish in the first
division and that's just what we are
going to do" snorted Comiskey, who k
one Of our best snorters.