The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-01
7RST PICTURES OFHTHE PLAYERS OF MILLER TEAM OF 190f
TO Be PITCHERS FIRST
AMBITION i Of PLAYERS.
Probably Half Of Major League
Men Started as Twill
-ers.

Probably over half Of the players on
the major league teams have started
out as pitchers, says the Philadelphia
Inquirer. There are several reasons
why this is the case. The pitcher is
naturally the kingpin Of the team, and
most youngsters have an ambition to
shine in that department. If they are
not good enough to pitch they take up
some other position. Now, a major
league player may have an arm strong
enough to pitch on professional
or amateur teams, but it may not be
good enough for even minor league
twirling. As result the pitchers be-
gin to fill other positions, and if they
have a good batting eye, soon develop
major league caliber.
Good fielding and batting pitchers
turn their attention to other positions
after they get into big league company
when they realize that there is an
overproduction Of average pitchers, and
unless one is star he can draw more
money for playing some other position
well, and also last longer. It is also
better from every standpoint to be a
star player off the slab than on, it.
Frst-fight players in other depart
ments draw as much, if not more, pay
than do pitchers of the same caliber,
and, besides, they last longer in the
game. Once the players reach the
point where salary cuts more figure
with them than heroics they naturally
turn to the points where they get the
most salary and. draw it theN longest. =
\ Most of the recruits drafted at the
beginning of last season have fallen
by the wayside, and what are still left
may be expected to stick. Taken as a
whole, the 1905 crop has proved a
fruitful one, and more than the usual
number of stars have been developed,
besides the players who have had but
average success. The National league
has been particularly fortunate in. this
respect. s.a
Three young pitchers who stand out
as the finds Of the year are now among
the most prominent of baseball figures.
They are Reulbach, the star even be
he youngster, Of the Chicago club;
Overall, Of the reds staff, who in his
present form is entitled to claim title
with the best Of them, and Young, the
Boston youngster southpaw. They have
won their spurs and are pitching finds
par excellence. - a., - : Il,
The number Of infelders who have
made good without doubt is fairly
large this year, and next year will
see larger returns from the expeditions
into the minor circuits. "a. ? p
There are Clancy and Mcbride of
the Pittsburg club; Hoffman, the elon-
gated cub; Doolin, who has caused
Rudy Hulswitt to be forgotten in
Quakertown; Lewis and Batch, Of Han.
Ion s staff, the former, tho, with
Owens, jumper to the outlaws;
Arndt, who was red and is now a
shade removed and a cardinal sue
cess, and Al Bridwell, who is lumi.
| nary that ever grows brighter.
Young stars in the National outfeld
are not many this season. Breaking
into fast company this year are Del
Howard, the hard hitting Western re,
| cruit, who has made Otis Clymer's pi-
rate job very questionable as steady
thing, and Schultz, the cub left fielder
Billy Mahoney, who is hardly entitled
to be called real youngster because
Of his services as a red and as St
Louis American, has for the first time
shone as a star under Frank Sclee
These names are the examples of the
ascendency of youth in the National
and next season probably will see a
longer list of successes recruited and
( installed as regulars.
| Probably in nc, other part of the
United States except at East Liverpool
Ohio, is there a baseball diamond from
which it is possible to bat a ball into
any one Of three states. Such a con
dition actually exists at the grounds
| which have just been leased by the
| Klondike club of that place.
The diamond is laid out on a lot
(which is known as the state line cor
liner. If batsman makes hit ove1
third, base, the ball will be. sent into
West Virginia. Should a foul tip re
suit, the catcher would have to chase
the, ball into Pennsylvania. If /:
straight lrive or bunt is made, th'
4 ball will bowl into the state of Ohio.
Taking advantage Of this freak O.
nature, the Klondike club is going t,
widely advertise the fact that it's clul