Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-14
By Percy H. Whiting.

IT HE marvellous pitching per
Torrance Of Bill Lelivelt when
he hurled a shut-out for Min
neapolis against Toledo has brought
up the old question, How much
faster is the American association
than the Southern league2"
Bill Leltvelt, you win recall, had
plenty Of chances in the Southern
league. He was a fine big fellow,
with cheerful disposition. But
great snakes. he couldn't pitch. If
they'd paid him $500 for each vic
tory in the Southern instead Of a
regular salary. he wouldn't have
made a living And then, after
short spell down in the Virginia
league, he turned up in the vaunted
American association and pitched
perhaps the greatest game ever
seen in that league The no-hit per
Torrance was all the moro remark
able because the Minneapolis team
is one OF the slowest fielding teams
in the world. and several Of the
PLAYERS don't cover any more
ground than lies under their shoe
heather.
OF course, the mere fact that Bill
Lelivelt was joke in the South
ern and a hero I'm the American as
eoCiation doesn't prove anything
about the relative speed OF the two
organizations. But when you think
Of the number of Southern league
cast-offs who have gone to the
American association and made a
big hit, the thing is somewhat sug-
gestive.
Another failure in the Southern
who went from the Montgomery
team to the American association
and made good was Doc" Thomas,
Atlanta can furnish a couple OF
samples IN Al Buemiller and Bill
viebahn Al is playing In Louis
vile. and is rated one OF the best
shortstops IN the league Viebahn,
after failing IN Atlanta, went to
Nashville and ala likewise. Then
the big lad went to the association
and made good Examples could be
multiplied all day.
THE real proof that the American
association Is a vastly over
rated organization is the fact that
It has sent so few good players TO
the big leagues.
The players who we're sont mp
last fall and who are still being
tried out aren't considered here.
Many OF them, like Marty O'Toole,
gill have us In doubt They may
be good but II can't he demon
strated But counting out last falls
crop the American association
hasn't sent anything notable to the
big show since RUDE Marqua-d. Do
ME Bush, Joe Wood and Chief Mey-
ers went UP.
In 1909 the association sent up
only two worth mentioning Jim
Vaughn and Amos Strunk. And Jim
isn't so much, while Amos had to
attend Cornelius McGnicuddys
School for Deserving Young Ath-
letes for several years before he
really learned the game.
In 1910 the association sent up
mass Of players. But Hunter failed
with Pittsburg, Dave Altizer
couldn't show enough to interest
Cincinnati land, goodness knows.
the Reds aren't particularly, Kaler.
who went TO the Maps. didn't prove
any wonder; Hartly, who was sent
to the Giants hasn't been heard
from since; Schardt. who went to
Brooklyn. could win but five Of
twenty games; Richter and Doyle
went to the Cubs, but Richter was
not used except as relief pitcher,
and DOYLE, after showing promise,
died.
In two years. therefore only four
American association players even
partly made good. and today Suunk
is the only real star of the lot and
he has just barely arrived,