The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-13
American League Notes.

American league teams will be hard
to figure this season owing to the num-
erous changes in the personnel Dope
viii count for little and all viii depend
upon the ability of the youngsters who
are breaking into fast company for the
first time in making good" In the
eight clubs Of the league there are
about forty youngsters who have never
rest of the incomers, Of whom there are
nearly ten more, are recruited from
the various National league teams.
New York, the latest addition to the
American league circuit, will begin the
season with the greatest number of
players new to the league. Out of a
total of eighteen men that Manager
Griffith will have under his charge ten
of them have never before worn an
American league uniform. OF course
eight of these ten are old National
leaguers, and therein the American
league expects the strength of the new
club, but it makes the true and rela-
tive strength of the club, compared
with the others in the league, a prob
lem difficult to solve. The men new to
the organization in the New York club
are: O'Connor, Beville. ChesbrO, ].
TannehiH. Wolf, Camel, Long, Lefty
Davis. Keller and Courtney
This new club in the American league
viii be strong in the pitching end Of
the game and good in the catching de-
ought to be above the average. and that
will hold true in regard to the Outfield
also. providing Griffith holds on to
Keeier. Whether the club viii be cap
able of developing team work, however,
is another problem that cannot be
solved until after the season has run
some length.
Looking at the infeld which is the
mainstay of every pitcher-and botn
Griffith and Chesbro are men who de-
lii
game-there is much talent and abil-
ity. but whether it can be welded to-
gether into a unit in the work TO be
accomplished is hard to surmise.
At first base is John Camel who
three years ago played with the local
National league club but could not
make good" because his stick work
was too far below par. The next year
he was traded to New York and last
year led minor league in batting.
Now he is again in fast company His
fielding is always good. but his stick
work and base running are not above
criticism.
Jimmy Williams is scheduled for
second base, a position he plays per-
functorily and not above the mediocre.
Williams is a good sticker and batted
over 300 last season with the Balu-
more club. but he is known as an in
dividual hitter, who can hit hard when
there is no one on base but is not to be
relied upon to bring home man on
second. His natural position and the
one he likes best is third
Herman Long of the Boston Nation
ais is slated for shortstop. Longs arm
is said to have gone back on him and
that he is no better than Tom DAILY he
proved last year for the White Stock
/ fnEs. though his fielding is strong
/ Placed at second he might be able to
aid the team greatly.
Conroy, once a member of Connie
Mack's Milwaukee aggregation in tbs
/ American league, is put down for third
base. He is good with the willow ane
can play either third or short
BY switching the infield Of the club
about the team could undoubtedly be
strengthened, putting Camel on first
Long on second, Conroy on short ane
I Williams on third.
When the ability of Beville behind
the bat. Adkins and Wolf in the pitch
ers box and Courtney as an outfieldel
are thoroughly known the RELATIVE
strength Of the newest acquisition t
Ban Johnson's organization, compared
with the seven other clubs, can be est
mated.