Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 235, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1911 — GIANTS SHORTSTOP IS STAR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GIANTS SHORTSTOP IS STAR

Arthur Fletcher, Secured by McGraw From Dallas, Tex., Develops Into Brilliant Fielder. Among the star shortstops In the National league this season there are few possessed of the brilliancy and grace of Arthur Fletcher, Johnny Mc-

Graw’s dashing inner worker. For Fletcher to depose men of the caliber Qf Devlin and Brldwell he had to go some, but there is no gainsaying that Fletcher has strengthened the Giants considerably. McGraw was willing to sacrifice anything for speed, and in Fletcher he has one of the fastest inflelders in the National league circuit Fletcher is a natural infielder, if ever there was one, and the grace wjth which he fields his position has been a feature of New York's game since he went to short He has frequently been compared to Larry Lajoie as a fielder, in that he makes the most difficult plays with little effort. Last season Arthur showed lots of promise In the field, but did not loom up particularly strong with the willow. He was well down in the list and batted only .224 tn forty-four games. This season, however, Fletcher has been one of the most consistent clubbers In the McGraw ranks. He is now hitting .324, Chief Myers being the only Giant with a higher average. Among the National league regulars Fletcher stands fifth. As a base runner Fletcher fits In well with the other speed boys who compose McGraw’s team. He has stolen twelve bases, but has not taken part tn near as many games as Devore, Snodgrass and the other men much higher up. In many of Fletcher’s games he played only the last

few Innings, while in others he acted only as a pinch runner. Fletcher was procured by the Giants in the spring of 1909 from the Dallas (Tex.) league chib. The youngster made such a big impression on McGlraw when the Giants were training In the Lone Star state that he was signed and brought north. Dallas was Fletcher’s first professional engagement, but prior to that he played in a trolley league In St. Louis. He halls from Collingswood, Ill* which is across the river from the Mound City.

Arthur Fletcher.