The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1937-01-08
FIELDING IS kept
AT STANDARD IN
AMERICAN LEAC.
One Major and Five A. L.
Marks Discovered Brok-
en- During 1886

CHICAGO. H., Jan. 8.-Fieldine
was kept at high standard of ex-
ccllence during the 1896 American
L -ague season, the circuit as a
whole fielding at a .97l clip, only a
point below the 1885 figure, and
only two under the all-time major
league high. Detroit, 1885 leader,
held its same place at the top of the
list, though dropping 1913 to .975.
The caliber of the leagues per-
Torrance is further exemplified by
survey of departmental figures,
which reveal the fact that one ma
'er league record and five American
League marks were broken during
the year, three major league stand
ards being equalled, in addition.
Inere was also one noteworthy per-
Torrance in a department for which
no records appear to exist; "a I'M
assisted double plays were turned
in by first basemen
II was in TINS uepartmcn. that the
major league mark fell-which in
dicates that the league total may
well be a peak of accomplishment.
Jim Bottomley, of ST. Louis, topped
by one the old record when he COM
pleted the season with eight unas-
sisted double plays at first. He was
co-holder with three others of the
old mark of seven.
The Americans total of seven tri-
pie plays ties the alltime standard
set by the junior loop in 1922 and
equalled by the National in 1929.
Zeke Bonura of Chicago partici-
pated in $50 double plays from his
first base post, tying the major
league record set in 1895 by Joe
Kuhel. The third major league rec
ord was tied by Billy Rogell, who
went without a chance at shortstop
for the ten innings of a game with
Washington on June Is.
Double plays offered the oppor-
tunity to set two new league marks,
the circuit as a whole turning in
1882 double killings to top the old
record of 1929, set in 1925, and
Luke Appling of Chicago going three
over Rogell's old record for double
plays participated in by a short
stop, 1l9 against Billy's 1888 total
of l16.
Sam West of st. Louis created a
new standard by making 460 put
outs, this being the fourth time he
bad topped the 400mark. He and
Johnny Mostil had jointly shared
the old record OF three games over
the quadruple-century figure Char
ley George of Cleveland broke the
league mark for the most putouts
credited to catch in a single game,
and later equaled his own standard.
He retired II in the second game of
IA double-header on September 7
and repeated in the opener on Sep
TENDER Is. The old record of 16
had been shared by three players.
The other record was in league as
sists, only 1925 assists having been
scored last season against the for
mer league mark of l4,247, posted
in 1890.
Among individual leaders, AL Sim
mons took major honors by topping
the outfielders with percentage of
1885, He also led in 1929 and 1880
and now needs but two more annual
titles to equal the league record for
domination by single player.
Bonura topped the first basemen
with percentage of 1896, with only
seven errors against him in 1914
chances. Charley Gehringer Of De-
troit led the second basemen with
mark of .974. Ossie Bluege, TAX
ing part in only So games for Wash
ington. turned in a brilliant string
by going 81 games at second base
without an error, handling 81 put
outs and ia assists, total of 205
chances, perfectly from June 4th
through July 16. Red Rolfe of New
York paced the third basemen with
a mark OF .957, and Rogell topped
the shortstops with a figure OF 1865.
Seventeen pitchers, all working 10
or more pannpc turned in perfect
records afield, with Ted Lyons OF
Chicago leading. He appeared in 26
games and handled so chances.
Catchers were led by Rick Terrell
of Boston, whose average was .987
Gehringer, Rolfe and Rogell are
repeaters, but the crowns in all 9TH
er departments changed hands.
Foxx led the first basemen in 1885,
West the outfields, Auker the pitch
ers and Dickey the catchers.