Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-05
By J. G. Morse.

1t may we'll be doubted IL the scouting
business is worth the powder. Clubs pay
large sums Of money to men to go the
rounds and pick up material, and 1t Is a
gamble II the men turn out to be good.
There was no scout to pick up young
"Cy' Young of the Boston Nationals, who
has proved to be one Of the biggest finds
in base ball. He was drafted in the natural
way and cost paltry 800. The Boston
Americans secured one Of the best avail
able catchers in minor leaguedom in Albert
Shaw and appear to have added a jewel in
Pitcher Prueitt, with st. Paul last season,
and il he does not turn out to be as good
a player as came from minor league ball 1t
will be a wonder indeed. Two Of the Bos-
ton American League Club pitchers-Young
and Winter-have been with the club since
It began operations and are still standbys.
Dineen came a year later and he still ranks
with the best there are in the country. No
other club can show a similar record of
three pitchers with the team five consecu-
tive seasons who have done nearly as good
work as this trio. Then the Boston Ameri-
cans have not been called upon to make
any considerable change in the infield for
six seasons, and that Is a remarkable
showing. During that period the outheld
has been completely changed and now We
have two infielders of last seasons team
playing in the outfield.
On the other hand, take the Washington
club. 1t has been simply full of changes
Patten Is the only player left OF the team
that started out in 1901, and he is as puz-
cling now as he was at that time IL not
more SO.
Manager McGraw of the New York Ma
tionals has always run to seasoned ma
terial There was many howl when he
replaced much younger man in Gilbert,
but he was far ahead of the younger man
in almost every department except that Of
running. and Corcoran made up In judg-
ment what he lacked in speed.
Jake Beckley was a man turned loose
by Pittsburg and Cincinnati, and has never
been improved upon by those clubs even
to this day. He certainly Is better man
than either Nealon or CANCEL without any
disparagement to those players. Beckley
Is great man for team Irrespective of
his batting and his fielding, for he is al
ways in the game for all he Is worth, and
he Is a rarity in being a first-class coach
and Is very popular with the patrons. A
game is always lively when he Is IN it. A
team composed of such veterans as Young
Mcclure, Beckley, Gleason, Cross, Corco-
ran, Clarke, Beaumont and Keller could
give any other q very warm argument.
Connie Mack picked up a fine young ball
tosser In Knight. Last season the lad did
not come up TO expectations, but this sea-
son he has shown excellent ability to cope
with the situation, and his work has been
very satisfactory. 1t did not cost Mack a
penny to secure this ball tosser, and all of
the boys experience had been gained in and
about Philadelphia
The ST. Louis Nationals have done a lot
of experimenting with youngsters and ex-
pended whole lot of money to secure a
club that could cut some figure in a race.
but thus far all efforts have been to the
bad and the club has all 1t can do to keep
out of the last position in the race.