Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-25
HOW DIAMOND STARS DECLINE
Stories Of Decadenoe in American
Associations Figures
WHERE OID-TEERs LNgER
Brirht Lights % ME Leaaue- 60
Back 20 Tralning Ground Of
Youth ~ They Pass Their
Prfnae.

Prime.
II YOU wonder what becomes % the big
league base ball stars when they cease
starring. where they drift 70 after they
have slowed up Just enough TO keep them
out OF the two big rings, take squint az
the American association averages, You'll
find the has-beens IN punches.
The American association serves az the
dollhouse wherein are ripened the un-
seasoned youngsters Of some OF the West
ern American and National leagues mainly
but In also a dumping ground for the old
timers. Cleveland IN particular, has
penohant for sending discards to the
American association and st. Louis and
washington are also closely affiliated
with the organization that has for long
time considered itself OF major class
Some OF the old-timers-this term is used
IN connection with men who are still
young, but who have seen service in the
big leagues, ~ we'll as the real veterans
Of the game-ars doing right we'll Some
Of them are finding the pace too hot.
Jimmy Barrett manager OF the Mil
waukee team and years ago an outfielder,
tops the batting averages this year with
1853 for fifty-one games Barrett goes
along playing a smashing good game both
at the bat and in the field, but is very
susceptible 70 injury and does not play
half the time.
Figures ON "Gabby."
"Cabby' Cravath. who used to draw his
monthly envelope from Charley Comiskey,
and, still later, the Boston Red Sox was
the actual leader. batting 326 for 1884 games
Close up to Cravath was Hickman, a
Cleveland discard, who batted .Si7 for l67
games.
Heinie Peitz, the old Cincinnati Red
pitcher who now leads the Louisville club
was another 300 performer. gaining a
record of 500 for twenty-three games.
Clymer, whose last American league en-
gagement was with washington, hit .3OS
in 1Ss games. Dare Devil Dave Atizer.
who was one Of the worlds champion
White sox, who comes back to the big
show next year. batted an even 800
Six or seven clubs were after Altlzer last
fall. some OF them offering as high as
$500 for him. The Minneapolis club turned
down all OF them, only TO lose him In the
drafts, which cost the Millers just 5000 in
cold cash, for the draft price In only $1,000
Altizer played six or seven games with
the Reds at the end OF the season, and,
though his name does not appear in the
records, led the National league In bat
ting. He cleaned up at the rate OF about
900 for those few games.
Outside OF the 800 circle you cant stick
a pin in the American association averages
without scratching some old big Lacquer.
Congalton, who went up from Dies Moines,
once a Cleveland Nap, and that not so
long ago, hit .2s1 for Columbus. Mailman,
another ex-Nap, who batted .Z7s for Kan
sas City and Toledo.
Mailman is Just ahead Of Hayden of
Indianapolis, once on the Cub payroll;
Claude Rossman. another former Des
Moines player, who was with the Detroit
Tigers during their winning cam
paigns, and Frank Bowerman. the old New
York Giant, who wound up his National
league career by making a mess of the
management OF the Boston Doves.
PerrinE in List.
little further down the list came Per-
ring, once Of Omaha, the old Cleveland
shortstop, who now pastimas with Co
lumbus and bats .S71. and Rube Ferris,
once one OF the flossiest third basemen in
the American league. In the American as
ISOLATION he bats 2S7 for Minneapolis
Right under Ferris in the record table
is Al Orth. who won a lot of games for
the New York Yankees a few years ago.
Smiling Al" continues as steady, con-
sistent hitter. His .2s7 was better than the
Indianapolis team mates.
Harry fIinchman, the old Cleveland out
fielder, and Lou Ritter. once a catcher
for Brooklyn and Philadelphia, are in the
.26Os. while Jap" Barbeau, former Pirate
and present Kansas City infielder; Lelivelt,
who saw service with both Detroit and
washington. and Danny Shay, once
Giant, are in the .250s.
Below that mark even is old Spike shan
non, brought here by MeGraw in the hope
that he would bring back' the Polo
Grounders after the old worlds champions
OF 1906 had gone to pieces.
Spike played with Kansas City last sea-
son, but the fans out there are not over
anxious that he be retained another year.
They say he has about reached the end OF
his rope and that another year will see
him down in the bushes.
Pickering. a veteran OF the days when
Louisville was In the National league, and
one OF the most sensational fielders OF his
day, Is another who has found the pace
too swift In the near-majOr league. He has
slowed up woefully in his fielding and
base running and batted only .2ll for Min
neapolis and Louisville. He's another who
stands rafting good chance OF having a
Kid come along and Hwipe his job. He was
with Washington in 1905 and with both
Minneapolis and Louisville last season.
Long Tom Hughes. graduate from
Omaha. who goes back to Washington next
season. tOuted a. really ready for picking.
did not hit much for Minneapolis. but his
.225 was a lot better than most pitchers
do. At any rate. a is as hieh as tho aver
age turned Ia by little Bunny slagie. the
old Chicago Cub. Only a few years back
slage was one % the most valuable men
on Chances team. but lost his batting 1
eve and dropped out % the bag show
Dave Brain. once Of ST. Joe ard ossie 1
shreek. the former star fielder for the
Cincinnati Reds years ago. and a Giant
Tor a short time, and tho latter one Of
Connis Mack's stnndhys only a couple a. 1
seasons hack. each haitsd 80. pne faF "a
Past and ths ether for Louisville
There are other oid hig ieaEusra stIu 1
further down TIE nst but thsy are au /
pitchers aud their batiinE records d. zoe
prove anythinE one eaF or another