[chucksabr]

Another Former Major Leaguer, And An Erstwhile Star

Yet another English-born baseballer makes his way to this side of the pond to profit from his experience at the expense of British professional baseball. Dave Brain has played for several teams in several American leagues, including both major leagues, the American and the National. The man was a starting short stop and third baseman, and he could really hit the ball. He did, in fact, pace the National League in home runs just four years ago, hitting ten of them for the Braves of Boston. He also holds a National League record, shares one actually, having hit three three-base hits in one game, and he in fact did so twice, and in the same season of 1905. So the man can hit, even if his fielding is somewhat suspect.

Brain is, however and for want of a better term, a used good, and this is a charitable assessment. Age thirty two years, his best baseball years are most assuredly behind him, and we do not expect him to start for the Burnley club that hired him on, since Reuben Allen is still quite serviceable at his own age of thirty two. Brain is, however, an intelligent man with ten years of professional baseball experience in the country that claims to have invented the game which, while disputable, also indisputably surpasses all others in baseball acuity. So he may have much to teach the young baseballers surrounding him. Clarets have him on £2 6s. per week, a reasonable fee for someone who will probably contribute much more off the pitch than on it.