Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-23
COAST LEAGUE IS
! SHORTSTOP SCHOOL
Heinie Sand Is Only One Of
Many BrilIiants to Be 4,
Croomed There
BANCROFT IS A GRADUATE

WHEN Art Fletcher was rendered
w the skippership of the laundering
Phils he accepted with the understand
ing that his work would not take him
of the bench. In spite of the success Of
playing managers like Cobb and Speaker
the brass. jawed Fletcher had no de-
sire to enact the dual role. It is
probable that he realized. as well as
every one else did. that his playing days
were about over. anyway. He still
held place as dangerous hitter. but
his fielding was not tho fielding he was
capable Of In days gone by.
Whether or not he had been ap-
pointed as boss ot Bakers club it
would have been necessary to get nn.
other shortstop. When the president
asked his new pilot who he wanted to
play that position. Fletcher didn't
hesitate.
He said. "Heinc Sand''-and Sand
was purchased. though it was necessary
10 give MP Singleton. Peters. Jimmy
Smith Leslie and some thousands Of
dollars in exchange. But Sand is
toutcd as the cream of the Coast League
shortstops--and the Coast League has
always been the home OF great short
stops.
Four National League shortfielders
made their minor league reputation
in the balmy Pacific atmosphere. Bnn-
croft became famous there. so cd
Charley Hollocher, and these two rnte
as the best men on the senior circuit
In addition to them. that grand old
veteran. Ivan Olson. and Jimmy John
ston (who made a. Coast League record
for stolen bnses) came from the same
soporific cline.
There is almost as heavy tinge of
const atmosphere in the lineup OF
American League shortstops. Joining
Mitchell. Ernie Johnson and Roger
Icckinpaugh were all luminarics out
that-a-way.
IL Is rather peculiar that league
should SO consistently furnish brilliant
stars in that single field. There are
few great pitchers in the big leagues
who had their grooming on tho coast.
Only two outstanding stars among the
catchers came from thpre--Walter
\rhmidt and Johnny Bassler.
Most of their first basempn are of
the slugging but heavy. footed tyne,
like Shcely. of the White Sox. though
1.u Blue. OF the Tigers. is notable
exception. Their Second buSrmen--
REPRESENTED by Pep Young. Cutshaw.
Rohne. Fonscra and Terry-arc not
brilliant. bu, they are good. The third
sarkrrs-~Pinelli. Bobby Jones and AInl.
ligan-might he rated in the same
class.
Though there are some outficlders Of
i" stamp of Joe Evans. Jack Graney.
Harry lleilman and the two Meusels,
who came from the Coast. the principa,
nlaying strength Of the league did not
Il" there. II is At >hor. field that
the most brilliant luminaries shine
and because Of that the Pacific Coast
League has we'll earned the title of
being tn" school for shor,stopS."
The Pacific Coast League j. not n
haven for youngsters. rs personnel is
made up principally Of players who
have seen long terms of service IN fast
company. Consequently. when youth
does have the opportunity of playing
on that circuit he learns baseball AZ il
is played in the big leagues. The wise
old heads who surround him drum the
value Of inside ball into his youthful
Uranium. Consequently. when hn does
TiSc ie HccuS llttle ScNoOlng. lie
has had il IN his. days on the Coast.
The old timers last for years out
there. Harry Krause. the Athletics
soulhraw sensation Of 1909. is Il t,,,c in
point. Harry ha4 been winning on an
nverag" ~ about rwenty-iive games
every season. and age does not seem TO
wither or the passing years to stale his
infinite variety.
That is the big reason why Ihe kids
out there are SO good. That is why
the big lenguers will pay more than
enc hundred thousand berries for the
kamDls and almost as much for the
lIalcs and Dumovichs and Ieine Sands.
\ fight has been waged to keep the
player limit down. Some Of the eco
nomical on,s demanded a limit OF four
tepn--ridiCulon in Il league Of that
class. Finally. it was decided TO carry
no more tlan eighteen who had ma jor
Dr Glass IA experience. hut each club
will also BE- allowed TO have SIX or seven
youths who haven't had that expe-
icnc".
The move j. II wise one. for il only
fourteen p,dIrrS are to be carried they
will all BE- veterans. and the Youths
and the consequent high purchase
priccs---w i'll fall into decay.