Show Koenig to L Greatest Route n I l 11 urn r i u i ilium wim u a i 1 M U I U L kv I w vt mu mui t i ia w nui r m nii u mS u y m ii uw t rw m M nn un viiu T V. V a mu V iu mim n m iV V Ss i W i n u tt i iv I u u u. 1 M l. i M i l SS aP 1 11 m i f mn Vi um tv tf v li jf l I TET J w r OE J p.- p. S y k VS' VS X i i v J K BS V s sHere's sHeres Mr II I I II Heres Here's a real double play trio in action action Koenig to to Note the ball bali getting away from Koenig to and the whirl of Lazzeri in the small panel to 0 toss it to and how Gehrig stretched to meet it The Lazzeri Koenig-Lazzeri combination should have a similar rating to the Tinker to Evers and Barry to Collins duos In Ina I a L few seasons I By y BILLY EVANS NEW TEW YORK June Juno 18 1 N to Lazzeri Laz eri or Lazzeri to Koc Koe- nig There is a real play double combination if It you please The and the are area an ana a great pair around second base basc In To a a. few years ears they will get a similar gb Tinker to Evers Earry Barry to Collins Turner to Lajoie and others of oC that Ilk When Manager Miller Huggins Huggin of oC the New York Yankees started the 1926 season with two rookies Mark Koenig at short and Tony Ton Lazzeri at second the experts pre pro predicted predicted dire disaster for tor the team Realizing Re the great Importance attached to the play around short short- shortstop shortstop shortstop stop and second it seemed Impossible Impossible Impossible sible that two recruits rc would be beable beable b bable able to perform In a satisfactory manner without blowing up The veteran Yankee team of o 1925 conceded co to be of oC great grea strength had failed badly bad I finished seventh sevc nth and Manager HUl realized hia hi club had huid passed the th peak of ot its game and needed new net blood It took nerve to bench the vet vet- veteran veteran veteran eran Scott at short and Aaron Ward Yard at second two stars who had ha given good service to the tho Yanks but who w-ho had outlived in the opinion opinIon ion ton of ot their usefulness In New ew York However Huggins Huggin had the courage of ot his convictions conviction and went through with his Judg judg- Judgment ment mont The acton aeton of the mite manager manage of the Yankees was all the moro more drastic when you recall that Laz Las zerl zen had made nis reputation in inthe Inthe ii the Pacific Coast league at short short- shortstop stop The intricacies of ot second base play were wera all new to him hIm During the spring training seaton sea sea- season season son ton of oC 1926 19 Lazzeri didn't look so at sowell sowell well welt around second base Not r be ho being beIng hong ing ng accustomed to the trick of ot the tho trade around second his chances to tc fill the bill Ul ill seemed none too Ja- Ja Javora fa a. a coca vora ble The possessor of ot great natural ability and a II keen mind it didn't take ake very long tong to famil familiarize anize himself with the secrets of ot second Once he got the hang tang of ot the he job he began to show constant improvement I believe I am conservative when I say that Tony Lazzeri did didas as u much to help the Yankees win the he pennant In 1926 19 6 as any other member of ot the team In making hat statement I am mindful oC oC of the he round all excellence of Babe Ruth's Ruths play and the super-pitching super of or if Herb Pennock as well as the the- valuable contributions of the many other then stars on the club This year the wisdom of ot Mil MIt- Miller MIter ler er Huggins Hugins In building anew Is making Itself Itsel all the more ap ap- ap- ap parent arent Mark Koenig and Tony Lazzeri with a year ear of ot major league eague experience behind them are re much improved ball bali players I 1 would say that each is UI 25 per percent per percent cent oft better than last year and constantly developing Lazzer hit last season o 1 o nig tour four points less a tine fine stowing bowing s for two rookies two rookies making their heir major league debut This year car both are certain to be far more lore dangerous at the plate be be- because because cause ause of added confidence I know of no two greater In- In Infielders Infielders tn fielders among the younger play play- players ers rs In the majors than Koenig and They promise to go down downIn In ri history as one of oC the stellar keystone combinations of ot all time In developing these two play play- players ers ra Miller Hugging Huggins has for lor or the future because no team teaman can an aspire to a pennant without plenty lenty ot of class around short and second |