The Topeka state journal., 1905-08-08
FEW STARS TO DRAFT.
Number of Association Men Fit for
Big Leagues Small.

Big Leagues Small.
Milwaukee, Wis, Aug S.-The
drafting period will soon on and the
major league clubs will be looking for
the choice of the American association
players, although the list this season
will not be a large one, unless some of
the major clubs are anxious to have
large list to try out in the spring. All
| told, there are not ten players in the
entire association who are really ready
for the major league; that is, young
players who have shown the neces-
sary form to entitle them to a trial in
| the big leagues. There may be several
players in the association who are just
as good as many of those in the big
| leagues, but they have been up there
before themselves and are therefore
handicapped in getting back again.
Even with the usual handicap of hav-
ing once been up in major company
there are a few who will go back next
year.
Take the players who will be con-
sidered as having a chance to make
good in the major leagues and the
following list will come pretty near
| covering the field:
Pitchers-Feine, Toledo; Dougherty,
Goodwin and Hickey, Milwaukee;
Stoval and Ford, Minneapolis; Frantz
er and possibly Veil, Columbus; Fergu-
son. Kenna. Louisville.
Catchers-MarshalI and Schmidt,
! Minneapolis; Sam Brown, Columbus;
| lNOonan, st. Paul.
| First base-Freeman, Minneapolis.
Second base-Brashear, Louisville;
Aarcan, st. Paul.
Third base = Moriarity, Toledo;
Clark, Milwaukee, and possibly Wheel
er, St. Paul.
shortstop-O'Brien, St. Paul; Quin-
Ian, Louisville.
-, Fielders = Pickering. Columbus;
T,,7
kee; Charlie HemphiH, st. Paul; Cas-
sody, Toledo; Clay, Louisville, and
Coulter of Minneapolis and Frank
l HemphiH of Milwaukee for trial
For an all around player-B2te of
Milwaukee club. Dave Jones has gone
/ to Washington.
The above list shows those players
/ who are fit for a trial in fast company,
but there are only a few of them who
would make good, as is proven every
year when a string of them is sent
| back to the minors for more seasoning.
| or those who may be considered ripe
right now for the big league and
worthy of a good trial in fast company,
| the following list may sound better:
Pitchers. Dorner, Stovan, Feline and
Berger of Columbus for an extra man;
catchers, Brown and MARSHALL; first
| base, Freeman; second base. Brashear:
third base, Moriarity; short, O'Brien;
helders, Pickering, Jones, Thoney, G.
Hemphill and O'Neill.
The trouble is there are many of
! the players who are tied up with major
league clubs and cannot be drafted
without lot of red tape. Marshall of
| the Minneapol club belongs to the
New York Nationals
The Chicago White Sox are supposed
to have first call on Clark and Dough-
erty, while the Cleveland club had a
string tied to Thoney.
Among the pitchers Dorner has been
the most consistent performer. His
season and he deserves high praise for
the excellent article of ball he has
pitched. He is far ahead of many now
IN the big leagues. Stovan is another
who shows good form and of high
quality. Hickey of Milwaukee was
wild at first when he went with the
Brewers, but he has steadied down and
OF late has worked well. With proper
control he belongs in the majors. Feline
IS a big Norwegian who certainly has
the build and speed for a fine pitcher
and Comiskey knew what he was
about when he did not want to let him
go. Berger Of Columbus is another
strong youngSter who should come
right along. Martin of Toledo looked
very good last fall, but has been out of
shape all season. In condition he is
Mt Tor fast company. Frantz of Kansas
City not only pitches we'll but he is
batting around $50 and plays a fine
outf1eld game and can also play the
1nfield Isbell is another promising
youngster.
Freeman of MINNEAPOLIS is the best
hrst baseman, and he looks good of
| late because of his batting. He is only
a young fellow and big and heavy, and
should improve. Moriarity is by far
the most promising third baseman, be-
cause he runs well and bats stronger
than most of the others. Harry Clark
IS another good one. being a grand
nelder, and only fair sticker. That
IS all that keeps him out of the big
league Barbeau of Columbus has
been touted strong. His size is against
hlm- He is a fine fielder, yet, like a
boxer, the big good man is better than
the good little man. Wheeler is a
STEADY performer, yet, like Barbeau
he is only fair with the stick. Brasher
mas been putting up wonderful game
at second base and hitting over 400
He IS entitled to a try in fast company.
although he was at one time with
Philadelphia. StovalI, Dorner, Hickey,
Goodwin and Dougherty have all been
IN the major company. but they were
is the case with Brasher. Marcan of
81 Paul is also a clever infielder. just
as fast as Miller Higgins, but he lacks
little in hitting
Pete O'Brien of st. Paul is plenty
fast enough at short for better COM
pany. but he has been himself to
plane for not being up there now, as
ne mas been lax in keeping in condi-
ton, but this season he been doing
me Cu1nlan is another fine short
stop, but lacks the hitting power
Bateman of the Milwaukee club is a
1lne hrst baseman and good outfield-
er, besides being near the top of the
list in pitching. He has batted around
$40 all season and would make a fine
utility man for some club He has z
little weakness in stepping away from
the plate, but he hits all pitchers
ahke ana Keeps up his mark.