The Washington times., 1936-09-12

OuAhA4G VGnh4CN YEN
Named on All-Star Team
second or third baSemen. Leo
Durocher Of the Cardinals has
been having his best year with
the stick since coming into the
majors and his fielding has been
brilliant, as always. But his mark
is quite little under the 800 line,
while Appling has been well above
the $50 mark much of the season.
Bill urges of the Cubs, Frank
Crosetti of the Yankees and Dick
Bartell of the Giants have done
brilliant work. but the extra hit
ting of Appling gives the Chi
cagoan the call over these players.
THIRD BASE
There has been no Standout
player among the third baSemen,
as among the players of several
other positions. The grade of
third bas play has been generally
good, quite up to the average I
would say, but there has been no
third sacker who showed the all
around value of Pie Traynor
through several seasons, of Bill
Werber in 1884, of Fred LindStrom
a few years back, or the dash and
fire of Pepper Martin last season.
AS the vote of the All America
Board members clearly indicates,
there is a wide divergence of
opinion as to the merits of the
third baSemen. On ten ballots
seven different names appeared,
no player getting more than two.
have picked Odell Hale chiefly
on the long distance hitting power
which he possesses. because I can
see no great difference in the
fielding skill OF several players,
at least not enough to offset this
hitting strength.
Red Role of the Yankees and
Harland Cliff of the Browns are
other long distance hitterS Of merit,
and capable third basemen, as
we'll. Frank Higgins of the AS
is another. Buddy Lewis of Wash
ington has done brilliantly as a
first year player. Marvin Owen
has had a good season. Joe Strip
has been going fine for Brooklyn
but his hitting power is well under
most of the American LeaguerS
mentioned, and he was out for a
considerable time early in the
year. Other third baSemen might
be mentioned for worthy defensive
play, but the hitting power OF
Hale strikes me as putting him
in front.
LEFT FIELD
Left field, like first base, leaves
little room for argument as to the
seasons leading performer. Dur.
ing the early weeks it looked as II
Joe DiMaggio of the Yankees
would sweep through to top honors
with something to spare. Joe
Vosmik, the star at the position IN
the American League a year ago,
got away to a poor start and the
Yankee youngster was brilliant.
DiMaggio still ranks as an unuS-
ually fine performer for a first
wear man, and one Of the greatest
players to come into the majors in
many years. But as the weeks
rolled by the clouting Of Joe Med
wick became more and more i'm
pressive. Medwick dubbed his
way well above the $50 mark and
continued to battle Paul Waner
and Frank Demaree for the Ma
tional League batting leadership.
Medwick occupies the cleanup po-
sition in the Cardinals batting
order and he has been the main
cog in the drive which kept the
Cards at the top, or close to it,
during the season. His unanimous
choice for this position by the
members of the All-America Board
of Baseball merely confirms a be-
lief which generally prevails.
The veteran Goose Goslin has
had a good season with the Tigers
and Vosmik has come ba k
strongly after a poor start. Rip
Radcliffe, of the White SoX, has
been playing a grand game. In
the National League Johnny
Moore, of the PhilS; Joe Moore,
of the Giants, and Ethan Allen,
since he joined the Cubs, have
all been among the leading per-
formers at this position. But
Medwick's all-around play gives
him the call.
CENTER FIELD
The choice Of Earl Averill for
the center field position on this
All-America team is not likely to
occasion much argument. A year
ago the hard-hitting Clevelander
was entirely out of the competi-
ton, due to an accident early In