The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-03-15
Former Union League Short
stop Impresses Critics as
Big League Material.
MODEST, BUT "NOISY"
AT Third Base He Was Cyno-
sure Of Every Eye in
Recent Game.

John McCloskcy was over from Ogden
yesterday and congratulated Dick Cooley
on the showing Leo Dresser is making
with the Chicago Cubs. Cooley feels so
certain that Dresser will make good that
he has already begun to spend the $500
the Cubs viii pay him IL Dresden stays.
McCloskey, too, was gratifed to read
the splendid notice Dresser got from the
Chicago Tribune for McCloslSey. who dis
covered Joe Tinker, was also tho man
who recommended Dresser 10 the Chi
cacoans After ne had finished reading
the article. reprinted in yesterdays Trib
une. McCloskey asked about Orr.
There's another one ] expect 10 see
make good. II he does the. $4,000 Dick
Cooley gets for the pair Will make Salt
Lakes first season a mighty profitable
one for the owner
Now here's the notice about Orr just
as McClcskey expected It Is written by
/. e. Ssnborn. the correspondent with
the Cubs at New Orleans and telegraphed
to the Chicago Tribune Of last Tues
day;
youngsters this spring wears the name
Of William John Orr. and has seen only
one season OF professional service; More
over, lie has attracted much attention
and favorable comment in the little work
the players have been able 10 get here
In the last week
"Orr was born In San Francisco in
1891 and is only little over twenty years
old. lie has had more than one year s
experience as an innelder. however, for
he played third base and shortstop dur
ing most OF his four years in college.
Nor is Orr one OF those collegians who
have studied baseball primarily and who
owe their scholarship standings TO their
ability OF the diamond. He was bona
flde student and played without interfer-
ing with his studies. orr was a student
for three years at Wilmerding college IN
san Francisco, and finished bis four-year
course in Sacred Heart college. He spe-
cialized in mathematics and probably
would have developed INTO an expert ciJiI
engineer " his love for the diamond had
not been too strong.
"He finished college in June. 1903. aud
started to gain practical knowledge or
civil engineering by entering the employ
OF the Spring Valley water department
He worked there for the rest of that wear
and all Of 1910. but kept Up his baseball
during leisure hours.
when tho spring OF 1911 rolled around
Orr was assigned 10 tile Salt Lake team,
where nc worked under Cliff Rlankenship
as manager. His performances at short
earned immediate recognition, and in one
year he jumped the intervening classes
TO get q trial in fast company.
Last sea son with salt Lake Orr pia we'd
In every game with his team. In us
games he piled up total of 832 chances
and accepted $50 OF them cleaniy. That
lett him ninety -lnie~ ellOES. Dnt ne dld
not make more misplays than any one
else In the league, although ne played in
many more games than any other short
stop The record book shows that he
went after everything within reach and
that has been Characteristic OF his work
mere even on the unreliable diamonds on
which the Cubs have worked out.
corr has strong wing. and throws
with n from any position under or over
hand. Just as comes easiest His pcgginG
has been accurate FOR so carly in the
year. and IN spite OF slight lamensss IN
his shoulder. which makes IL hurt Mt
tie TO cut loose that hurry throw he Is
fast on his feet and pouuces on hot
groun0evs or short, dUmpty bunts with
agility and certainty.
''Of n modest and retiring disposition
when not In uniform the kid ofrhe party
Is so full of natural pepper that he made
more noise In Sundays game than any
one else except Tom Neednam. orr
worked hard 10 win the game. displaying
natural familiarity with the demands of
Third base IN spite of the fact hc has
not PLAYED that bag since early In his
college career
"As a batsmau orr ranked In the first
division OF the regular players OF the