The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-31
MURNANE,S BALL CAAT.
Explains Why American League Per-
centage Ts'Low.


Cincinnati, Aug 31.-T. H Murnane
says: Comparing the two major
leagues by the clever manipulation Of
figures has been the pastime of bright
Cincinnati statistician. who has conclu-
sively proven. so he says, that the Ma
tiohal league is stronger in playing ma
terial than the American league. The
National league. he says, has more 300
batsman, has stolen more bases and
turned in a greater number of sacri-
hce hits.
Of this line of figure Juggling the
Southern league last year must be given
credit for something more than a sec
ond-class minor league, and at least
three other minor organizations beat
out the National league with the stick,
viz: Leagues with more 300 men than
the National: Southern, Al; American
35; Western, "a. The league having "a
men in the 300 class, 10 of those players
jumped to the American. including such
remarkable batsmen at Delehanty, Bur-
kett, Heidrick, Anderson Hartsell, Wal
lace, Davis, Greene and Flick, while the
men who took their places were in most
cases weak batsmen.
IF base running, or at least the num-
Der of bases stolen. is any indication
of the strength of the league. here again
the Southern and other minor organiza-
lions have the best of the National and
American leagues, as they have a bet
ter per cent of stolen bases to the num-
Der of games played. HILL a Southern
league player. with Dan Murphy, for
half the season with the Athletics had
the honor, last season. of leading all the
batsmen in the country. And vet who
would claim for these two youngsters
superiority over Lajoie and Wagner?
Sacrifice hits tell little. as the strong
er clubs change their style of play, and
will go weeks without a sacrifice 1t is
good deal like the "Old Home week
ideal of playing a close infield to get
the man going home from third with
nHnL
Good generalship will size up the bats
men and play accordingly, while the
leader following a beaten path will call
his infield in at every opportunity
Sacrifice hitting or, better still. clever
bunting, is a strong card with a clever
ball team, but when overdone, from a
sacrificing point. will prove a losing
game.
find more sacrifice work in the
minor leagues than in the big leagues,
and look on this feature of the game as
unsatisfactory to the patrons of the sport.
The game would be much more attrac-
tive if the batsmen were all forced to
hit out.
Why has the American league less
than 20 batsmen IN the 800 class az
the present time? The answer is simple
for those who have attended the games
of the organization. Phenomenal pitch
ing and wonderful inhelders have made
big batting averages next to impossible,
Burkett and Willie Keller who led
the National league for several seasons,
find the 300 mark hard to pass. Such
third basemen as Collins. Cross, Cough
lin. Conroy and Bradley; shortstops like
Paren. Wallace. Monte Cross, Long and
I1lberfeld. and second basemen like
Lajoie Ferris. Williams Murphy and
Padden are very likely to Kill or base
hits until weak-hearted man VIII quit
looking for an average. Base running
fe made rnGEible mostly nv the weak
ness of the catchers in throwing 70
bases, and it's a losing game to try II
on the clever catchers of both leagues.
Batting and base running averages
tell very little as comparative figures
but give a good idea of players work
in his class. A reckless baserunner Will
lead in number of bases stolen often al
the expense of the club. The clever
base runner viii only take long
chance when the batting is light and
not when his opponent is laying FOL
him.
It is no difficult task to take yearly
averages and show by figures that tbs
Class b New England League, is 9
faster organization than the Nationa
League.
The National League figures prove
how misleading averages are. Clncin-
natl has five men in the 300 class, while
New York has one: yet New York IS
in the race and Cincinnati is hustling &c
keep in the first division. Team play IN
all departments of the game is the win
ner of baseball.
The Boston American players never
tire of praising the splendid fielding OF
Hobe Ferris. especially on the last west
ern trip His fielding in the game here
last Wednesday was about the finest
ever saw by a second baseman. He goi
in seven assists in the game. four were
of an extra fine quality, and the last one
of the game. a running pickup of a
fierce drive from Lave Cross which he
turned into winning double play. was
the limit for ground covering and per
lection in trapping ball Jimmie Col
Inns saws he is the surest man on E