TIIE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN, PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 6, 1903.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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