36-4,p15

As mentioned above, pitchers and batters will improve by roughly the same amount; so the first conclusion is not incompatible with Gould's data for a stable average batting average. The second conclusion is in agreement with Gould's data on a shrinking standard deviation. At this point, I return to the assumption that the number of major leaguers has been constant with time. I realize that the number of major league teams has increased since early baseball history (so the shaded areas should not be equal), but if the number of available players increases by a greater percentage than the number of major league baseball teams, then both of the above-stated conclusions remain valid.

A probable answer, or at least a partial answer, to an earlier question is now known. Talent improved due to an increase in the number of people playing baseball. Although the population of American males has continually increased, there are more significant factors which have influenced the current number of available players. Sports magazines, television coverage, and higher paid players have created a greater interest in baseball. The number of little league baseball teams is much greater today than it was four or five decades ago. Also, black athletes, who were not allowed to play in the major leagues during earlier years, are a significant contingent in today's game.

All of these circumstances have led to improved talent. But what does this have to do with juggling?

I know some feelings are going to be hurt if I make negative comments about the talent of present-day jugglers, but the conclusions I make are not meant to belittle anyone. In the preceding paragraphs it is shown that talent improves as the number of available players, or in this case, jugglers increases. Without the graphs, most people know this through intuition. So my claim is as follows:

Most of today's well-known jugglers would be unknowns if juggling was as popular as baseball. What is the percentage of people who become involved in juggling? Although IJA memberships have increased tremendously during recent years, there are many more kids running around on baseball diamonds than kids juggling in backyards.

In my opinion there are many Anthony Gattos in this country. How can a kid know if he is good at juggling if he does not learn to juggle? And of those who have learned to juggle, how many of them juggle seriously?

The greatest juggling potential in America is more than likely possessed by someone who does not juggle. This person may live in a small Wyoming town. He may be a shoeshine boy in Manhattan. He may be a Detroit factory worker. On the other hand, she may be a businesswoman living in the San Fernando Valley.

Who knows where this juggler lives? Who knows where many great jugglers live? There are probably numerous juggling stars from Walla Walla, Washington to Kalamazoo. How can we find these great jugglers? Only with a tremendous boost in the popularity of juggling can such superior talent be revealed.

So in the meantime, consider Albert Lucas to be the Ty Cobb of juggling and not the Pete Rose.

(Paul DeMoulin is a Ph.D. candidate at Purdue University in W. Lafayette. Indiana.)