The Washington times., 1938-05-19

boys 1ound
themselves in
the same
posi- tIon as
Frank Buck" OMEN the old timers
who argued over whether Jack
Dempsey was a greater fighter
than John L. Sullivan. Each
chung to his own opinion.
Simmons has a lifetime bat
ting average of .342 for Is years
In the major leagues. He led
the league in total number OF
hits, total bases and in percent
age two years in each depart
ment. Once he scored more
runs than any other player. No
need to apologize for that
record.
For five consecutive years,
Simmons hit better than $50,
with {. peak Of 1892 and a second
highest of 800. In four years
Simmons hit $50 or better.
Comparing Averages
It may be sheer presumption
to press any claims for DiMag-
Eio, great as he is, in the face
Of these figures. DiMaggio has
an average of 1886 for his two
years in the American League,
with a peak of .346, made last
year. He made 215 hits last
year for o total Of Alb bases,
which is q greater total than
Simmons ever compiled. d.
Maggie hit As homers last year,
q record which Simmons never
bettered.
DiMaggio is hitting now with
out benefit of the sacrifice fly
rule. This rule, which credited
q batslnan with a sacrifice any
time he scored a man on a lily
ball. was abolished in 1881.
A glance at the records will
show that Simmons never
euualed DiMaggio's 1897 rec
ord as a batsman in percentage,
total bases or runs batted in
after 1881. AS q matter Of fact,
simmons never batted in 167
runs in one season. HIS peak
was 1855 in 1880.
Simmons Best on Defense
Defensively we will have to
take Simmons over Di Maggie,
although the latter is not nearly
as bad in the field as the rec
ords tend to establish him. d.
Magic has been charged with
errors on throws which intield.
ers should have caught. But
regardless of that, Simmons at
his best had better hands and
covered more ground than the
New York italian youth. AL
never could throw as well as d.
Maggie, but with the exception
Of a selected few, who could?
It took q lot Of courage and
q lot of common sense on the
part Of Sam Chapman, foot
ball star Of the Pacific Coast,
to Join the Philadelphia Ath-
letics. It is true that he re-
ceived q bonus Of close to $10,-
900, but the New York Yankees,
who were hot on Chapman's
trail, would have matched that
offer, or maybe bettered 1t. The
temptation to be with a win
ner must have been strong.
Less Competition
But Chapman has a chance
to prove himself with the Ath-
letics. Competition for the jobs
Is not as strong. Chapman will
win his way to the big money
brackets with the Athletics II
he has the stuff, just as Sim
mons and Foxx and Cochrane
won their way to the top
brackets.
The way to the top with the
Yankees, unless Chapman has
exceptional talents. would have
led through Newark or Kansas
City, and then might have fol-
lowed a period Of bench sit
ting, waiting for something to
happen.
As it is, Chapman is playing
ball IN the big leagues every
day. He got two bases on balls
off Teller yesterday, which
proves that he has a keen eye,
and that he is not flustered by
regulations, however great they
may be.
All Star Scramble
There will be a fine scramble
for the honor Of playing third
base for the American league
team in the all-star game at
Cincinnati, July 6.
Here in Cleveland the fans
critics rate Ken Louis with Har.
land Gift. and Washington with
Buddy Lewis.
With all managers voting on
the all-star team. anything can
happen. but right now this
writer can name no one worthier
Of the honor than Lewis.
.Ortnick Faces Bar
= UI-~sA1S Do-I