The Perils of Using Player Reminiscences
From SABR member Dennis Pajot at Seamheads.com on September 15, 2011:
Many times we read stories told by players of an incident that occurred years previous. On occasion we use these in our research. But we should always be suspicious of taking these stories as the absolute truth. I would think there is almost always the basis of a true story there, but the details get blurred or mistaken over time.
Such is a story I found when I decided to take some time and look into a story told by manager Joe Cantillon to a Milwaukee Journal reporter on December 29, 1913.
<snip>
[It’s a] Great story, but is it true? … The story probably has some kernel of truth, but far too many names and facts do not add up to take it at face value.
Read the full article here: http://seamheads.com/2011/09/15/using-player-reminisces/
Originally published: September 15, 2011. Last Updated: September 15, 2011.