The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-02
FIELDING AVERAGES.
The National Association Of Minor

The National Association Of Minor
Leagues has decided to begin open war
fare upon the outlaw Pacific Coast league.
The coast organization Is the only league
outside Of the national association, and
the latter body proposes either to bring
the league into the fold or drive it out Of
existence Secretary Farrell Of the Nat
ional association has issued the follow
ing circular, inviting clubs to retaliate
upon the coast league, which has induced
dozens of players to break their contracts.
All previous claims are waived by the
clubs from which men have jumped, and
they may now be signed by any National
association teams:
ITO all members Of the National assoc
citation:
''Gentlemen-Negotia for the affil-
iation of the Pacific Coast league with
the National association having failed,
and in view Of the fact that the Pacific
Coast league Is not a respecter of Nat
ional association contracts, 1t has been
decided to inaugurate concerted action to
compel respect Of our reservations and
of the desirable players Of the clubs Of
the Pacific Coast League is herewith
handed to you. Your club members are
at liberty to negotiate terms and sign
any of the players, and it is hoped that
a vast majority Of our club members will
secure one or more Of these players
Following is the official list Of players
sent out by Farrell:
2; Hodson,- p; Pabst, il; Burns, 81; irwin: Sd;
shsy g Ting II lynch ST. Meansy e.
aga e. boyle Cannon 81
p saha E HSPeGE sn Ii
Los Angeles whee1sr p Gray
If; Hay, CT.
:, Portla9d-Engle. p; Shields, p: :, Smith, p;
S.; Van Buren,, eff; Nadeau, II.
p Hcksy
CT; Hemphtll,, IF.
Manager Kelley is not believer in
players getting down to exactaweight and
perfect condition before the season opens
He advocates player working just hard
enough to allow him to perform freely
early in the season without being down
to. exact weight or up to perfect strength
Players who get into perfect trim before
the season opens" said Kelley, ARE al
most certain to grow weak and stale when
the hot days come on. In my opinion II
does not hurt a player to be few pounds
overweight when the season opens, just
so his muscles are in good condition anC
his eye properly trained. On a real hot
day, such as we experience from about
the middle of June to the first Of Septem.
Der. q player will take off from two tt
three pounds in a game Now, if he has
no surplus flesh for that reduction to
work on, it means that he will be weak.
ened just that much, and while he may
take on a pound or so before the mex,
day, his reserve strength will have beer
deprived Of just so much substance, and
in time this will tell on him. 81
Such cases as those of Billy Keller and
Patsy Donovan and the big salaries they
will draw, not to mention several other
| outfelders, call attention to rather an
onalous condition existing in professional.
baseball That condition is: Outfelders
of the class Of Keller, Donovan, Stahl
Fultz and Kelley are SO scarce that they
command salaries as large. II not larger
than obtain among the crack pitchers, and
therefore strictly frst-class outfelders
| which includes ability to bat and run base.
as well as field, are harder to find thar
first class pitchers. This condition exists
now, and to a more or less extent Away.
has existed. It is accounted for in
measure by the fact that every team car
ries at least four pitchers, while there ar,
only three men playing the outfield; vet {
club considers itself fortunate to hay,
three good pitchers. The pitcher is tn,
central figure of ball games. He is tn,
most conspicuous figure in the strife, il
considered the most important, and around