Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21

You never can tell by the looks of a
recruit how much base ball ability he
may have stored up ready to deliver
when he gets the opportunity and the
proper encouragement.
Pat Tebeau once said that Billy Bradley
was so awkward he would never make a
ball player. while the same clever IIaG-
ager turned Tommy Leach doW6-because
he was SO little.
Billy Nance at the time in question
captain Of the Kansas City club, orde1ed
George Stovall off the field. George was
only an amateur and Nance said the
field was intended for real ball players.
Walter Johnson once signed with
Tacoma for SO a month. but was re-
leased because Of ineffectiveness. With
In a year he was a member of the WASH
ington club and one of the pitching
marvels OF the decade.
Matty Mcintyre. twice a member Of the
American League champions received a
scanty trial with the Athletics. but was
turned loose before the season opened.
The Cleveland magnates and scout
could not see Rube MarQuard. but their
lack of judgment in this case may be
demonstrated.
Detroit once had Pitcher Cicotte. but
discarded him and the young Frenchman
last season.
The Boston Nationals once regarded
Jimmy Collins as a base ball lemon and
Shipped him to Louisville, but were mighty
glad to be able to get the great thlrd-
sacker back again.
Harry Howell was Of so little account
that Griffith threw him I'm Ito boot" when
he bought Jack Powell.
Harry Davis was canned by several
managers before he became one OF the
best first basemen in the land.
Topsy HartseI. still regarded as one of
the very best outfielders in the business
was regarded as a joke by Cincinnati
and shipped TO the Indianapolis farm.
Lancaster was the first club to give
team scored nine runs off him in one in
ming and his release came mighty quick.
Three years later New York paid $1,000
for the same pitcher.
Some ten years or more ago Fred
Clarke went up to Dayton to look Elmer
Flick over. Flick famed three times and
Clarke designated him as q lemon. A
year later Clarke would have been willing
to pay FIVE times what Armour had
asked for Flick.
Ty Cobb could run when he first re
ported to Augusta. in the South Atlantic
League, but could do little else. He
was farmed out a couple of times before
he was finally counted a regular. Toledo
let Mig Clarke go few years ago. Strobel
not considering him worth three postage
stamps About the same time Addie Joss
was farmed out to Tecumseh by Toledo.
The other pitchers. however, went bad
and Joss got his chance.
Kid Elberfeld had trials with Phila-
delphia and Cincinnati and was placed
in the discard twice before making the
most of his opportunity with Detroit.
, Lou Criger. another star. was farmed
out by Cleveland to Fort Wayne prior
TO his becoming a regular with the old
Spiders.
So 1t goes. A manager may never
know when he has diamond in the
| rough in some youngsters just off the
lots or out OF the bush leagues. You
! cannot blame the managers, however.
| If recruit fails to show at the outset,
the manager cannot afford TO retain him.
The manager is hired to win games, not
run kindergarten for recruits who may
make good at some time in the distant
future Consequently the farming sys-
| TEN was adopted. so that club would
/ not lose the services entirely of re-
| crlit who seemed to have some promise.