Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-08
A MISTAKEN NOTION
About the Minor Leagues Ex-
planned by AL. Pratt.
SOME COMPARISONS MADE.
Poor Prospects of a Paid Club at
SteubenVille.
GOSSIP ABOUT THE LOCAL TEAM.
Kilrain Will Rather Fight Sullivan Than
Go to England.
SOME COMPARISONS MADE.
GOSSIP ABOUT THE LOCAL TEAM.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS OF THE DAY

1t is surprising to know of the mistaken
opinion that to large extent prevails re-
garding the quality of ball playing to be
found among the minor leagues as COM
pared with that of the larger organizations.
OF course the general idea has been for a
very long time that good players in either
the National League or American Associa-
tion would have what is commonly called a
picnic in the lesser organizations. There
are, however, some good authorities who
contend otherwise. This contention, doubt
less, appear strange to the vast majority of the
enthusiasts but it is this feature that makes it
exceedingly interesting.
During conversation on the matter yesuer-
day Al Pratt said: 81 confess that for long
time / was fully convinced that nothing ap-
preaching good ball playing could be seen in
the minor leagues. A few years ago there was
some truth in an opinion of this kind, but
lately things have changed considerably.
SOME OF THE FINEST.
state emphatically that last season wit
messed as fine class of ball playing on the
grounds of minor leagues as / have ever seen
on the Pittsburg grounds. have been forced
by the clearest evidence in the world to change
the opinion held few years ago. l have no.
uced that as a rule players in the small leagues
are considerably more fearless than those in
the big leagues. There is q reason for this and
it is found in the fact that the young men in
the small organizations arc extremely anxious
to make reputation at all hazards. Besides
Young players are becoming more numerous
every year, and this means that there are more
good men at command. 1t is really surprising
TO learn the great number of young players
who apply for engagements now. Certainly I
do not wish to be understood as saying
that the minor leagues are entirely as
good as the larger bodies, but do contend
that there is not that great difference in the
quality of playing as is generally understood.
How do our best League or American teams
suffer defeat at the hands of the lesser lights?
Many Of us are disposed to attribute these de-
feats to luck or flukes Such is not always the
case, however The result is caused by better
class of playing than the big people generally
expect"
on the question. Il was never more deceived
in my life" he said, than was when Joined
the International League.
HE EXPECTED A PICNIC.
II really thought that would have a picnic
in holding my own. / was badly fooled, how
ever, and it keeps me hustling for all / am
worth to keep anything like even. l can say
without fear of successful contradiction that
have seen as good ball played in the minor
leagues as 1 have ever seen in the National
League or American Association. For instance
baseIunner in the National League, and he
was a good runner. When he Joined the
International League there we're several better
men than he was in that respect. Young Keefe,
the pitcher whom Washington bought from
the International League, puzzles many of the
big hitters of the National League, and when
he pitched in a minor league he got worse
drubbing than he has ever gotten since. 1
venture to say that if Rowe and White were to
play in the International League they will not
be one whit more successful than they were IN
the league they want to leave. I can mention
numerous players who were considered
good in the big leagues and who
barely held their own in the small
organizations. The players in the latter are
more enthusiastic as a rule 1 know clubs
the members of which spend hours a morning
in learning TO slide. They will make a mark,
Say about u feet from the base, and then
practice to slide that distance. When they can
accomplish that they make the mark Is or l6
feet away from the base, and by this kind of
enthusiastic practice they soon know exactly
what they can do in game, and they can do it
well. Ball players are becoming so numerous
that the big organizations cannot take all the
good men, and they must necessarily play with
clubs of lesser note. The opinions have Just
expressed are the result of practical ex-
perience. There is no theory about them"