Clipping:Brotherhood claimed to be using a lively ball

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Date Saturday, May 24, 1890
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[from the Boston correspondent] It is very evident that the Brotherhood ball is much more lively than the one used in the League games. Inf act, many think it is a bit too lively, because it is almost an impossibility for clean and pretty fielding on hard hitting. Ont he other hand it gives more batting, and that is what we want. Captain Kelly thinks the ball is all right. He says:-- “We might put in a dead ball and keep the score down to small figures, but you can't fool the public in that way very long. Our boys make errors, try as hard as they can, because the ball is lively, but they are, on the other hand, giving an exhibition of batting never before seen in this country. The public have been crying for hard hitting and we are giving it to them.” The Sporting Life May 24, 1890

A test of the merits of the respective balls—the Spalding and the Keefe ball—used by the two leagues, was made yesterday at Brotherhood Park. Vaughn drove the Brotherhood ball fifty yards further than the most muscular of the Giants could rap the National League article, which proved conclusively that the Players' League ball is decidedly the most lively. The Sporting Life May 31, 1890

[editorial matter] The batting in the Players' League has been somewhat heavier than was expected, and it has been proposed that the ball be deadened somewhat. It would be a great mistake, however, to meddle with the ball, which should be left just as it is. The increased pitching [distance], the heavy-hitting strength of the new teams, the large size of the new grounds and the hard weather on pitches, have all had quite as much to do with the heavy batting as the ball, just as the new grounds were largely responsible for the low fielding average of the early weeks of the season. Later one, when the pitchers are at their best, it will be found that the ball and pitching distance are just about right and that pitching skill and batting ability will be nicely balanced. Then the batting will be of just the proportion to make games lively and brilliant, to hold do0wn strike-outs, keep men on bases, afford chances for others besides the pitchers and catchers, and make the games generally uncertain, and, therefore, more fascinating and popular. The Sporting Life May 31, 1890

Source The Sporting Life
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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