“Money will not buy a pennant winner;” so said William George “Billy” Murphy, the sports editor of The St. Louis Star. In 1914, he set out to select a team that not even “John D. Rockefeller… (With) all his wealth could buy a club that would win a World’s championship from the one we have picked…The Billion Dollar Team.”
Murphy said:
“You fans of towns that have never won a flag, how would you feel to wake up some morning and find that Dame Fortune had so arranged matters that this club had suddenly been picked to represent your fair city.”
Jimmy Archer, catcher
Behind the plate he acknowledged “There are many who would doubtless pick (John) Chief Meyers…but considering the Indian’s slowness of foot and propensity for clogging up the bases and stealing when the bags are full, we must remark we cannot see the “Chief” for a minute with Jimmy Archer, who, although not so good a hitter, is faster, a quicker thinker, greater fielder and better pegger.”
Jimmy Archer
Murphy was in the minority questioning the baseball intelligence of Meyers, who was widely considered one of the most intelligent and articulate players of his era. He also rated Ray Schalk and Wally Schang as superior, saying:
“In the writer’s humble opinion they are much more valuable men to their team than Meyers.”
Walter Johnson, pitcher
“There will hardly be a dissenting vote cast against Walter Johnson. Unquestionably he is the greatest of all the pitchers.
“(Charles Chief) Bender and (Christy) Mathewson are also great—great when they should show class—in championship games. Every nerve, every fiber of their brains, every muscle necessary to their craft, is at its best when big games are being fought.
“Wonderful as they are, we must pick Johnson, who also has class and is game to the core.”
Hal Chase, first base
“For first base, there is only Hal Chase. He is a great hitter, marvelous fielder, can run the sacks, and is a brilliant tactician.
“(John) ‘Stuffy’ McInnis, Jake Daubert, Eddie Konetchy, Fred Merkle, and Jack (Dots) Miller are all stars, but they are ‘also rans’ in the class with Prince Hal of the White Sox.”
Prince Hal of the White Sox
Eddie Collins, second base
“At second base, Eddie Collins in the potentate. Johnny Evers, Larry Doyle, and Larry Lajoie occupy seats in the second sackers’ hall of fame, but Collins rules over the roost.”
Honus Wagner, shortstop
“At short, notwithstanding his age, the palm goes to Hans Wagner. Taken all in all he is still the greatest man at the position in the game. He can do everything and does it better than any of his contemporaries. When will we look upon his like again?”
Frank Baker, third base
“At third base, there is that wonderful silent son of swat, Frank Baker, the conqueror of the wonderful Mathewson and Richard (Rube) Marquard.”
Joe Jackson, right field
“In right field we have Joe Jackson, the young Southerner with the Cleveland club. He is one of the greatest batsmen in the game today and is a fielder and base runner of unusual ability.”
Joe Jackson
Ty Cobb, center field
“In center, there is Tyrus Raymond Cobb, the Royston, Georgia marvel, who is the greatest player baseball has ever known.”
Tris Speaker, left field
“And in left field, there is Tris Speaker of the Boston Red Sox—second only to Cobb.”
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Tags: Billy Murphy, Boston Red Sox, Chief Bender, Chief Meyers, Christy Mathewson, Cleveland Indians, Dots Miller, Ed Konetchy, Eddie Collins, Frank Baker, Fred Merkle, Hal Chase, Honus Wagner, Jake Daubert, Jimmy Archer, Joe Jackson, John D. Rockefeller, Johnny Evers, Larry Doyle, Napoleon Lajoie, Ray Schalk, Rube Marquard, Stuffy McInnis, Tris Speaker, Ty Cobb, Wally Schang, Walter Johnson
Baseball History Daily 