Buzz Arlett????

[steve B]

All good points why someone might only play one year in the majors but be that good in the PCL which was probably close to major league.

Another thing to consider is his personality. An oldtimer spoke to the club I'm in and commented that counting semi pro and industrial leagues that were scouted almost as much as a minor league there were about 175000 people playing organised baseball compared to about 17000 today. He said that guys like Cobb, Ruth, Williams etc could get away with being a bit troublesome. But if a player was merely above average overall - Like a guy who could hit but not field well- And if they had any issues like wanting more money or partying too much or just not getting along with a manager or star, they were gone. Replaced by one of the very many good but not great ball players that wanted the job and were pleasant and hard working.

Not that he had problems, I don't know anything about him. But it's another reason why some guys that look good in the books didn't last.

Steve B


Steve B

[FrankWakefield]

I used a little "y"....

And I reckon he'd have not thought much of the south, either. Nor Jamaica, nor Canada. But the 'majors' weren't in the south, nor Jamaica, nor Canada. They were up north.

It wasn't a dig, sorry if you took it as such. It's just that from what I've read about the PCL, the players made about as much playing the long seasons there as they did as a starting major leaguer back, wait for it.... east. And the weather was less pleasant. One time zone in the PCL, no heat of St. Louis in the summer...

[Exhibitman]

And would he rather be a big fish in a small pond (PCL .342 hitter) or a very average fish in a big pond (MLB)? Sounds like Buzz was made for the DH.

[Leon]

His hitting and fielding sound like a present day (or world series) Vlad..... ouch.

[FrankWakefield]

I knew I had a card of his somewhere...

1927 ZeeNut. And after reading this thread, we all knew that if a card were to be posted, it would show him with lumber, not leather.




It looks kinda like a fungo bat.

[prewarsports]

Here is an interesting photo I have. 1910 Elmhurst California League team photo. The elder Arlett (one from Zeenut set) is pictured top row and the young little bat boy is none other than Buzz Arlett at about 10 years old! Also interesting is that this was appearantly an integrated team in 1910!

RHys

[rhettyeakley]

Rhys, here are some cards of the elder Arlett (Alex Arlett) on his Zeenut cards...