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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 6, 1908)
TIIE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN, PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 6, 1903. GREAT IT YfTT1 CO TIRES O WM m FIRIGE JJo Call and See Us or Phone Main 6S59 PLAYERS OFTEN BY SHIFT Old Prejudice Against Change in Position Many Times Proves Fallacious. RESULT IN BIG LEAGUES Eastern Writer "Delia of Balltossers That Have Found Themselves Only by Trying . One Sta tion After Another. BT W1LXJAM A. PJTELONV (Sporting Editor ot the CbJcmio Journal.) Old superstition! and old Ideas still ellDg to modern baseball, despite Its all round progreselvenees. One of the firm est rooted theories of all Is the Idea that a man should stick to his fielding posi tion even as the cobbler should stick to his last. If a player begins bis big; league career at a certain position. It seems to be considered rank Judgment and actual heresy to shift him; the man who Is once a shortstop Is always a shortstop, while the man who comes In PORTLAND , r 7 .... ' IRS. LAWRENCE THERKELSE.V Gi A(0 TV i Size Round Tread Case Baily Tread Case All Tubes 28x3 $14.05 $15.50 S 3.50 30x3 $15.05 $16.50 S 3.75 30x3y2 $22.20 ' $24.15 $ 5.05 32x3Vo $23.55 v $25.60 $ 5.35 34x3vi v $25.70 $27.70 $ 5.70 36x3i2 . $27.80 $29.80 $ 6.00 30x4 $30.00 $32.50 $ 6.15 32x4 $32.25 $34.75 $ 6.55 34x4 $34.50 $36.80 $ 6.90 36x4 ' $36.75 $39.15 $ 7.25 34X4V2 $43.75 $46.70 $ 8.50 36x4V2 $46.35 $49.30 $ 9.00 36x5 $56.95 $60.65 $10.60 Regular Clincher and Quick Detachable, Same Prices ft as an outfielder Is supposed to stay In the garden till the end of his baseball days. If the generality of managers would take a glance through the list of stars and notice the men who have changed positions since they broke into the fast company. It might make them do a little solemn thinking. Incidentally, It might make them do some experimenting dur ing the Spring training season, and a whole lot of alterations might be made in sundry line-ups, with satisfactory re sults. There are probably 20 men now holding down certain positions, wsdded to those Jobs, and Imagining that they couldn't even make a front in any other territory. Tried in a new position, they might Improve Immeasurably and perfect the defensive part of their clubs In an immense degree. Collins Not Example. Critics who argue along the lines of Improvement by changing places usually point to Jimmy Collins as a sample of a wonderful third baseman, developed from an outfielder. This is wrong, for Collins was a third baseman at school and as a back-lots player. He' became a profes sional outfielder because there was no chance at third on the team where he first debutted, and only got a show to return to his proper sphere at Louisville. Collins, therefore, can be left out of the argument entirely. Here Is how some of the crackerjacks have shifted jobs since they cut Into good society: Hans Wagner came In as an outfielder, and covered three or four other positions before Barney Dreyfuas found that the great German was one of the most effec tive shortstops that ever lived. Tommy Leach, for many seasons considered the real works at third, has been shifted only lately to the outfield, and is showing as much class In the garden as inside the diamond. Dan McGann, a first baseman for the past seven or eight years, first broke in as a second baseman and was soon passed up, only to return and show better class at the Initial corner. "SI" Seymour, as all men know, was a pitcher Wes WOMAN WHO IS EXPERT AUTO DRIVER ,f 1 . if "I Vm; Hi Hlt . . "fciW T AT THE WHEEL OF HER FOl R-CVLIXDER. CADILLAC TOCRIXQ CAR t The Most Why Not Buy the Best When the Price Is Lowest? Coast 326 Burnside and about as crazy a wild hurler as ever heaved the ball. .And now, as an out fielder, look at him! Chance Began as Catcher. Frank Chance came In as a catcher, became a star behind the bat, then changed to first, and is there with 'all the needful skill. Fred Tenner's history is a duplicate to Chance's career catcher, then first baseman, and a perfect mas ter of the new position. Jimmy Sheckard came in as a shortstop and was a fright. His batting saved him till he could learn , outfield skill and now he has the angles of pasture work down to perfection. Abbatichlo, name and all, blossomed as a third baseman, went to shortstop, bobbed in and out of major leagues, and finally anchored as a second baseman, Murray, the redhalred youth, who shows signs of becoming a good nitter and last outfielder came In as a catcher, and went to the pastures because the Cardi nals had enough mask men already. "Clawed" Ritchey first showed In the- big smoke as a shortstop, and was good. but not as good as be has shown him' self to be on second. Roger Bresnahan was a pitcher, and able to twirl quite a game. He took up catching, and, after playing half a dozen other positions. stuck to the mask and mitten. Heine Batch, who capered In the Brook lyn outfield last season, came In as a third baseman. Roy Thomas played first at college, and tried to do the same for the Quakers. After a few games it was seen that he could bat, but was not up to big league requirements as an lnfielder. He went to the garden and immediately made good. "Kitty" Bransfleld first popped In with Boston as a catcher, but did not last. He came buck to the big league as a first baseman and never changed again. Jimmy Casey, who passes from the fast com pany this trip, was originally a catcher. and a peppery one, too. Hugh Jonnlngd was a catcher of some little quality, but caught onto the angles of the shortstop game with great rapid ity. J.- Mugs McGraw was a shortstop when ho dawned in the big league, and had .54- X . ssj.i.r j iuunsjv II t f K 1 t i i i ' ? v . I 1 ti 1 o i im i U:.'iv, lhZ ' 'rid Reliable Automobile Tire Made Soipply Coinni' shoal Vc Street, Bet. Sixth and Seventh some little worrlment Jn learning third base doings. Billy Maloney was a catcher, but was passed up two or three times In that capacity. When he settled down to cutflelding be proved a star. Billy Dahlen first broke in at third for Anson in 1891. and staid on third for several years after displacing the veteran Bums. He was shifted to short to give c-name Irwin a fair chance on third, and has been a shortstop ever since. Napoleon Lajole was a great catcher In the little leagues. For some time arter he came Into the big company he was tried at different stations before resting for keeps on second. Harry Nile now playing second fairly (well, came In as an outfielder. Olddring, Connie Mack's strong out fielder, came In as a third, baseman, but was shaky on tha Job. Delehanty, who win cover second for Cantlllon, was a third baseman for years, but nothing remarkable. The peppery shortstop, Z.I berft ld. first cut In as a third baseman, and was much on the useless order when holflng down that bag. Jimmy Williams was a third baseman for soma seasons, and quite a good one. too, but fits Just as well on second. Dave Altlzer, who came In as a shortstop and was then tried 'n the field and on first, wll! play third base this season. Jiggs Donchue, the sensational first baseman of the Sox. was a catcher and a horri ble frost thereat. First basing saved his bacon. Herman Scbafer, now an excellent sec ond baseman, covered third when tha Chicago Nationals first gave him work. Bobby Wallace was a pitcher with Cleve land and his Infield skill was discovered by chance. He was a grand third base man, but shifted to short with grace and ease. TJnglaub was a catcher In his first whirl and then a third baseman. Frank Isbell pitched for the Cubs when they first brought him Into the limelight, and ran the gamut of positions before he left the Sox. Bobby Lowe came in as an outfielder, hut soon developed Into fine lnfielder. Lee Tannehtll, who plays a grand third for. the Sox. was a shortstop for a single season, and was not successful. Joa Teager, who can play a corking good Infield game, was a pitcher when Hanlon had him. George Davis, an lnfielder of skill and craft equaled by few, came in as a center fielder back In 1890. Willie Keeler, who can play right field to the king's taste, butted In as a third baseman, and was unspeakably bad in that position. Lave Cross was a catcher for .many years, played five or six other positions, and finally became a great third baseman. Tom Daly, a great catcher, likewise ran up and down the scale of Jobs before settling down on second. Jack Doyle was a catcher, and capered In several other places ere pick ing up the first baseman's glove. Tom McCreery came In as a pitcher and grew to be some outfielder, as well as a fine batsman. Mike Donlln came In as a pitcher, but his hitting made him a regular and he was sent to the outfield. The story of Jesse Burkett Is Identically the same and ditto of George Van Haltren. A long list of others, heroes of the past. could be cited, showing how much more valuable they became to their clubs, and, financially, to themselves, and all from changing Jobs. What's the answer? Utah Desert Once Populous. SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 6. That the great Mesa cliffs and canyons that now form a large part of the desolate region Included In San Juan County, In the southeastern part of Utah, were once the homes of an extensive population that had reached some degree of civilization Is the opinion of Professor Byron Cum- mings, of the University of Utah, who has Just returned from a three months' exploring trip of that region. It has al ready been established that this desert stretch was once inhabited, but through the efforts of Professor Cummlngs and his co-workers It is shown that not only were these desolate cliffs and desert stretches once the center of a consider able population, but that the people had. arrived at a remarkable degree of clev erness In building and the making of USEM SPIT GALL DOOMED Three American League Man' agers Active Against It. DEMAND CHANGE IN RULES Mack, McAleer and Jones Will Urge legislation Next Winter by Magnates, Abolishing Sa liva Delivery. Agitation against tha spit ball has as sumed a concrete form, with Managers Connie Mack, of the Athletics; Jimmy McAleer, of St. Louis, and Fielder Jones, of Chicago, as the leaders of the oppo sition to the spltter. While Jones has been opposed to the use of the dampened sphere for two years. Mack and McAleer have only reoently filed thlr objections. Mack was quoted recently as saying: "Mark my prediction. This is the last year of the spltter If the managers of the American League clubs have their way. The opposition to the spit ball has grown, and I certainly look for It to be legislated against next Winter at the annual meetings of the American and National leagues. While some doubt it. I am firm in the opinion that a rule can be made against the spltter which can P SI .'if CHAMPIONS OF PACIFIC COUNTY, WASHINGTON. ASTORIA, Or., Sept. 8. (Special.) The Chinook baseball team played the decisive game for the championship of Pacific County, Washington, at Long Beach on last Sunday, defeating the Raymond nine by a score of 14 to 4. The Chinook team, which Is managed by W. E. Clancy, has played a total of IS games this season and lot but thras. be enforced. The best judge of a spit ball Is the umpire. No twirler can fool the official when he Is using a spltter. Charley Comlskey, owner of the Chi cago White Sox, Is not as strong against the spit ball as his manager. Ed Walsh, who Is the mainstay of the Sox In the pitchers box. Is a spit ball artist of high degree. Many good Judges consider Walsh the best pitcher in the American League and as good as any In the Na tlonal. Fielder Jones recently voiced his opposition to the spit ball to Comlskey. "Why," said he, "if all the pitchers were to use the spit ball, after a while there wouldn't be any base hits made." To which the "Old Roman" answered: "Well, when the time comes when there are no more base hits, then the White Sox will win the pennant every year." Harry Howell, of the St. Louis Browns, who beat the Highlanders last Friday, Instead of being one of the most -persistent users of the spltter in either league, now claims that he only uses the wet ball In pinches. While Howell be lieves the spit ball will be used next year the same as in the past, he is tak ing no chances of Its being abolished. Barney Pelty, another one of the Browns' pitching staff, says that it would be Impossible for the umpire to detect a pitcher moistening the ball, as It would only be necessary for him to wipe a little perspiration from his arm, and in that way dampen the ball. "They've put something on the ball. said Chesbro to Umpire Billy Evans, so the story goes, when Happy Jack was being slightly bumped In the eighth In ning. 'If they've put anything on It, give it to me and take this new one," was the response. Chesbro looked at both balls, then threw the new one back. "No, I guess I'll stick to this one." he said. "Maybe It's Just my Imagination. I can't get my spltter working, though." This ended the subject, Evans thought. but a moment later Tyrus Cobb sent the crowd mad by his slashing triple to right THE CHINOOK BASEBALL TEAM .if-' r r i. " -r u Agents for Harris Oil The most-used oil In every bis racing and touring- event In Europe and America. center, winning the game. Taen Jack started again. "I tell you they put something on that ball," he said. "I tasted it afore I pitched it." The ball was brought to Evans, who gingerly tasted the cover to see if those tricky Tigers had put oil of mustard or some other "dope" on It so that the spit ball couldn't work. "Tastes all right," he ssld. "Tastes funny, I say," argued Jack. "Lemme taste it," said Elberfeld. "Tastes like lemon pie," solemnly de clared Herman Sehaefer, holding his fin gers In his mouth. "Kind o' nutmeggy." ruminated Bill Donovan, "like spice cake." "Do you think the ball has been doc tored?" demanded Evans of Elberfeld. "Well, Jack says It tastes funny." "Give It to me, then, and I'll have It examined." So a new ball was put Into play and the other was carefully guarded. . It has been sent to Ban Johnson and he can taste It himself. Maybe they will send It to Dr. Wiley, at Washington, to have it carefully looked over. Evans, however, hasn't any great be lief that anything was put on the ball except Ty Cobb's bat. The combination , of the ball and that stick was enough to put a bad taste In Chesbro's mouth. The New York manager did not claim the ball was a rabbit, or extra lively ' one. The only kick made was that the cover had been doctored. Ish Goes to Los Angeles. Things do not seem to be entirely rosy with regard to the proposed club 1 In Southern California. Frank M. Ish, ' president of the local club, has been ' called to the South to look over the situation, and, If possible, straighten out the tangle. It seems that there Is Internal dissension, and Henry Berry very diplomatically has washed his hands of the matter and has refused to interfere. it T I: 7 w y 4 W yt-
