Ron
Some years back, I researched all 389 (or is it 399) players in the T206 set. I am not about to type in all this info.
It looks like Tim has done the same. So, you are left to trust our data or check it out yourself.
But, I have to differ with you regarding your....
"Almost all the major league franchises were in the NE and Midwest U.S. So it makes sense that most players are
from those states."
Back then, and over the years, there have been some great players from Texas and California. In California's case,
it is very understandable, because of the PCL. Now, let's get back to Shoeless Joe. From the Connie Mack biography,
that I alluded to in an earlier post, I'm paraphrasing some quotes with respect to Joe......
As a teenager, Joe was a ditch digger at the mills and developed powerful muscles. This translated into his powerful
hits and the ability to throw a BB about 400 feet.
According to Connie Mack, the sound of the crack of the bat when Joe hit the ball was something he had never heard
of before.
Connie Mack once said that Joe hit the longest HR that he ever saw, it traveled over 500 feet as it cleared the roof of
the stadium.
Connie Mack, who mainly recruited Collegians (Mack always contended that College coaching was better than any Minor
Laegue coaching), had a lot of hope for Joe with the A's. However, Joe wouldn't "toe-the-line" with the A's policies and
he hated being in the big city of Philly.
TED Z
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