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Show GREAT BRACE OF MASKMEN Bresnahan and Archer Unequalled on Any Team in Big Show By Harry Glaser. Now York. Jan 18 Now that Rog-fcr Rog-fcr Bresnahan has affixed his Mna-ture Mna-ture to a Cub contract. Majiagei Even Ev-en ha tlie best staff of backstops in tho majors under his charge, an asset as-set that should so a long way toward making up for other deficiencies incurred in-curred by the release of Chance and Tinker Jimmy Archer and "BreS ' form a brace of maslcmeu the like of which cannot be found on any one team in the big show-Both show-Both are sterling, aggressive players, play-ers, who possess, besides the wealth of ability, the Fighting spirit that forms an important part jn the success suc-cess of every big leaguer. Like Bresnahan, Bres-nahan, Archer Is a native son of the Emerald I&le. Roger was bom at Tra-lee, Tra-lee, County Kerr , while Archer first saw tho Upht of day at Dublin Besides getting a splendid catcher in Bresnahan Murphy draws in him a baseball general of tried ability, and should Johnny Evers' effort In a managerial man-agerial role result in failure why Chubby Charley will only have to promote Roger from the rank of player play-er to that of leader. As a lieutenant to tho brainy little Cub manager, too, Bresnanan will be Invaluable. Two heads are better than one at times In directing the destiny des-tiny of a big league outfit Charley Char-ley Murphy no doubt had this In mind when he outbid Barney Drey-fuss. Drey-fuss. among others, for tho services of the deposed Cardinal chief. Bresnahan k worth on the field is bo generally recognized throughout the baseball world that it hardly needs to be repeated. The Giant fans valued him highly and heaved many a sigh when the noted backstop was passed along to the St Louis club in tho spring of 1909. after he had aided aid-ed the Giants in more than half a dozen pennant fights that included one for the world's championship. Roger's appearance in St. Louis caused as much joy as his departure did regret in New York. Missouri fandom took to him like a duck to water, and It was not lone before he waB established as firmly on the pedestal of popularity there as he ever was in Gotham. And well he might, too, for "Roger showed era" in short order that he was there. He I took hold of tho Cardinals, a sev-1 enth place aggregation, in 190$, and I in a short time made a first dlvl- j si on foam of It, and for a time in 1911 held a prominent position among the front runners 1 Ouly last year St Louis fandom was slnsl&J his praises and remark-' Ing the jroat good fortune that placed him In tho Mound City. And just when he thought he was soon to realize real-ize hla ambition of moldinn a pennant winner cumo the unfortunate turn of affairs that cast him adrift in the baseball world 2 Need Not Beg for Job. v. Naturally a man of his ability need m not go begging for a job in these prosperoJs baseball days. So there la little cause for him to regret ha -lng had to beek pastures new. He is said to have received a sum oi raon- tcy that should be balm a plenty for any disappointment he may have suffered suf-fered by the breach of contract, and after all a job as subordinate under Charley Murphy may be preferable to that of leader under the St Louis regime. Back on the Old Team. By an odd turn of fate Bresnahan finds himseir today back with the team on whoich he played more than a decade ago It was in 1900 that he joined the Chicago club as pitcher, pitch-er, but he remained in the Windy City only part of a season, and the following year became a member ot the Baltimore dub, then managed by McGraw. Archer Is at present classed anions the "holdouts 1 for be has made It known that unless Charlev Murphy gives him an increase that would bring his salary up to that of the best paid backstops in the league he Mil devote his time to other things than baseball next season Sut it is more than probable that ,limm will change his mind now that Murphy can bet-tei bet-tei afford to part with his serices. The signing ol Biesnahan will douht- i less influence Archer In his determination deter-mination not to sign Archer a Great Backstop. Archer Is balled by experts the country over as a backstop without a ! peer He has been with the Cubs since 1909 and he has steadily im-proed im-proed 3 ear by year Tne next few seasons should see him in his prime Archer in a wonderful backstop He squats behind the bat on his toes and throws to the bases with that swift snap of the wrist that takes many a napping plaer unawares Jimmy has all sorts or speed ana 1 is a rorkine good batter besides. He was with the Tigers in 190", but l nnings failed to recognize the latent lat-ent ability In the youngster and let him go to the Buffalo club of the In-! In-! ternational league, from where the i ( ill s subsequently got him Before his big league debut Archer ' wae a memher of the Atlanta club in the Southern league He played In ; the oul field One day the manaper ' asked him to go behind the bat. Never caught a game in my life," replied Archer Tr it,' retorted the manager He did, and that marked the turn-am turn-am point in his baseball career. He has played there ever since While with the Tigers he could not I be taught to take the usual step toward to-ward the base. He was known as a 'flat-footed thrower When Chancel I got him he allowed the oungster to throw naturally and he made good. Archer is 29 years old and his homo I at present is in Toronto Roger is his senior by four years1 having been born In 1880. but both are still young ! enough to put In many more years of usefulness on the diamond. Each should be capable or catching 75 games throughout next season, and that will mean that the Cubs will have first class service Dehlnd the bat all the season round |