Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1917 — BRAVES TO MAKE HOT FIGHT FOR FLAG [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BRAVES TO MAKE HOT FIGHT FOR FLAG

(BY JACK VEIOCK, International News Sports Editor.) The Boston Braves have somewhat of a reputation as a fightin’ ball club. The Braves are fighters on the field of play, and in this year’s campaign they may be counted upon to make a hot fight for the rag. But whatever may be said of those Braves, one thing stands out as an unusual feature: They have more temperament and nervous energy anchored around second base than any club in the two big leagues. With the veteran Johnny Evers on second and tha| little pepper box, Walter Maranville, at short, it can be truthfully said that there is more energy and fighting spirit to the square Inch represented by these joint guardians of the keystone cushion than any other club can boast of. Evers is entering' upon his sixteenth year in baseball, and he hopes to make 1917 one of the best seasons of his long career. Nervous temperament on the field of play Is a characteristic of Evers, and no doubt his high-strung nerves have helped to keep him in the game this tong, although last season a breakdown threatened to put an end to his career. Maranville is a little cyclone of energy. He Is tjie ranking shortstopper of

his league when it comes to all-around ability, and like Evers he will fight for a point at the drop of a hat on the field of play. If Evers has a good season his presence in the Braves lineup day in and day out will mean much to Boston. It will also mean much to Maranville, for With Evers on second the little Rabbit Is said to play a snappier brand of ball - because they work together with ma-chine-like preciseness. During the winter Evers attended the National league meeting, and at that time he looked to be in good health. He said he had high hopes of a banner year, and if he succeeds in keeping his health all season he may make this his last year in the majors. C. Evers is the last of the grand old dub infield. He stands alone as a landmark of one of the greatest infleld combinations ever got together, for Tinker, Chance and Stelnfeldt have passed. Evers and Frank Schulte are the only members of the Cub champions of 1908 who played in the memorable game in which Fred Merkle pulled his famous boner in New York by forgetting to touch second. Evers’ presence of mind in that game marked him as a brainy player and today there is no smarter man in baseball than the little Trojan

MAINSTAYS OF BOSTON NATIONAL LEAGUE TEAM.