The Detroit times., 1910-02-11
COAST LEAGUE MAN
NOT SMITTEN WITH
TIGER PURCHASES
Says Big Jim Wigs Had 1t All Over
Browning and Vance, Who
Were Drafted by the
Detroit Club.
Nayin Hears the News Calmly But
Will Turn the Pair Over To
Jennings Just the Same.
BY PAUL HALE eRUsKE.

II is commonly considered good
form 10 speak-aud write-nothing but
good OF the young men about 70 De
tried out by the big-league oaseoaIl
clubs IN the south but a peculiar mix
ture OF the two elements has come 10
the writer In the testimonial OF vet
eran Pacific Coast league player who
participated in all the 200 or SO games
of the 1903 season and Is consequently
I'm a position 10 speak with intimate
knowledge OF Pitchers Browning and
Vance. drafted by Detroit at an aggre-
gate expense Of 81 300. from that cir
cult.
I'm pulling strong for the Tigers
and | wish Mr. Navin JOY OF his new
players" said the Coast Lacquer who
was recently in Detroit, but l hardly
think that either Browning or Vance
will show Manager Jennings enough
stun 10 warrant retention in fast COM
pany.
Both Of them are a good deal be-
low the blg-league average In size, in
the first place. Browning probably
weighed less than 140 pounds at the
close OF the season. Vance probably
scales somewhere between $50 and
100
Locked silly. But Won.
"Rrowning's pitching We all regard
ed as silly. That little kid would walk
out there and. without enough curve
to really fool you badly at any time,
or enough speed TO drive even timid
man away from the plate. he'd keep
the other club hitting right al the
fielders or popping the ball up In the
air in the endeavor TO lace the cover
OF II. | think the main reason why
he won SO many games was because OF
the wild. hectic swings everybody kept
taking at the easy-looking stun he
handed up. When he was hit hard II
was awful But he had champion
team behind him and won a big per
cent OF his games.
Vance looked like lot better pitch
or than Browning to me. But he Is
pretty raw yet His curve ball is a
real peach and reminds me some OF
the work of Manning, OF the New
Yorks. But he's wild and untamable.
The big-leaguers will wait them out
on him and have him in the air for
sure. II he pitches as he did on the
coast. At least. we learned TO wait
and walk there. and / guess they don
overlook any bets of that sort where
the fastest and wisest men in the
country are playing.
Jim Wigs Again.
you'll probably laugh when | tel
you who was the best pitcher in oul
| League last year. but almost any Other
man who played there will agree with
me. I'm sure. II was Jim Wigs, the
veteran Tiger.
! They said when Jim came wes'
\ that his arm was gone, but. II he evel
had anything more in the line OF speed
and curves. than he had last summer
! / can't imagine how any catcher coulc
| hold him. As for hitting the ball II
simply wouldn't have been possible
Jim was with a club that was down in
/ the race and he lost some tough ones
! that he ought 10 have won.
odd Jim has no idea OF ever get
! ting back into the big leagues, for he's
been tried out there so often and sem
back, that he just grins when anyone
! tells him how good he Is. And he's
\ lust as lazy as ever when II comes C
! fielding his position. He would never
/ take more than one step TO get bat
( ted ball and as far as backing up was
concerned he simply kept the other
/ fellows of the bases II he could and
! left it to his support 10 get them after
/ thcy got on.
! Il hear that Montreal has Jim FOR
/ next season Well mark my words II
f he gets with "a manager who viii make
him pitch often enough, the big league
clubs viii De trying To buy him neXi
I fall. just as they have been doing of
/ and on for the last 10 years
The news that Browning is one Of
/ hat type or pitchers who wins with
out having anything did not greatly
Fdismay President Navin OF the Tigers
who admits that he had received sim
Itar reports himself At the same
! time. it Will be recalled that. but for q
/ Pittsbure pitcher ~ this variety. De-
/ troit would have had walkaWay FOR
I the last worlds series
Buying pitchers is an gamble
commented the local sage u don {
stand TO lose much on the California
pair. anyhow In fact. | know thaf
can dispose OF browning for more than
paid fu both men ID We r., one
drst.ell5s pitcher out OF the seven re-
cruits He are trying out this spring We
will have 40 Kicks coming
SHIPS TRUCKS ABROAD.