The Key West citizen., 1940-12-17
IPytlak Set New
Major Errorless
Fielding Record
Handled 571 Chances
Without Miscue; Dickey
Ahead In Most Games
Behind Plate
CHy AsSoGIafed Press)

NEW YORK, Dec. 1.-THE out
standing fielding feat to crop up
in the American League during
the season of 1910 probably was
the performance Of Frank PVT
lax. Cleveland catcher. in eStab-
fishing a new major league rec
ord for most consecutive chances
without an error In games from
September 10, 1888, to September
18, 1910. inclusive, Pytlak handled
571 chances without a slip. This
eliminated the former record of
452 consecutive chances without
an error set by Charles Leo Hart
nett of the Chicago Cubs.
Pytlak's clean-cut work served
to keep him at the head of the
catcherS in fielding with figure
of 1896 for 58 games in which he
accepted 265 chances with only
one error. In 1899 he played er-
rorleSs ball in 81 games while tax
ing care of Isl chances. For the
100-game catchers. Rollie Hens
ley of Cleveland was the high
man in fielding with an average
of 1894 for 1T games-a mark
that was equalled by Bill Dickey
of the Yankees for 102 games.
Dickey's fielding PERCENTAGE in
1899 was .989 in 126 games.
Dickey's count of 102 games in
1910 broke tie he held with Ray
Schalk and Mickey Cochrane for
II straight seasons of catching a
hundred or more games.
During the season of -1940,
George McQuinn of St. Louis
equalled the major league record
for participating in most double
plays as a first-baseman with 157
"a record he now holds along
with Lou Gehrig of New York
who had the same number in 1888
McQuinn participated in five of
his twin-killings at first base
against Boston on July ga
stunt which was equalled by Joe
Kuhel of Chicago against New
York on July IA. In this same
game. Luke Appling of Chicago
equalled the major league record
by taking part in five double
plays in a single game at short
stop.
Although hitting 81 points less
in 1910 than in 1939-with a bat
ting average of .316 in 1899 and
.279 in 1940-McQuinn retained
his lead in fielding among the
first baseman in 1910 with an
average of .992 for $50 games.
which was just a point under his
1899 figure. In 1899 Hank Green
berg of Detroit equalled Nc
Quinn's league-leading percent
age. only to be switched to the
outfield in 1910 to make room at
first base for Rudy York. York
finished fourth among the regu-
lar first basemen in fielding in
1910 with a figure of $50 for 155
games.
Bobby Doerr of Boston rose to
the top among the second base
men with a fielding average of
.977 for Isl games-a figure
eoualled by Don Heffner of St.
Louis for 125 games Joe Cor
don Of the Yankees was only two
points lower. with Charlie Geh-
ringer of Detroit. the 1889 leader,
carried on with a figure OF .972
despite the handicap Of ailing
legs. Doerr led in double plays
with 1I8.
The sensational first-year man
Lou Boudreau of Cleveland. SCI
the pace among the leagues
shortstops in fielding with thC
splendid average of .e66 for the
full run OF 155 games 1t took
this superb work to displace the
steady Frank CroSetti Of thu
Yanks. who lost the lead while
: fielding -954 in las games CroSet
Il set the pace IN 1889 with al
: average of .96S for 152 games
Dick Barteu helped Detroit VII