The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-04-26


I've been asked to explain the duty
of baseball scout. baseball scout
is a man who during the playing sea-
son Is constantly on the lookout for
promising material for the club that
employs him. For many years | have
been connected with the New York
National league club in that capacity
and in my time have recommended
many youngsters who have turned ont
to be stars.
Within the last few years scouting
has become q business. Every club in
the major organization has man en-
ployed whose business it is to keep
close tabs on a young ball tosser who
gives promise of developing into a
crack. In fact. the scout plays an i'm
portant part in a winning ball team.
It is on his judgment that the major
club league owners buy up the cream
before the drafting period comes
around
What does a scout do? Well, one
day he may be watching a minor
league player and the next may be
looking over some semiprOfeSsiOnal
player on the lots who never has play
ed with league. but who has so much
baseball ability that somebody has
seen him and reported him to the
scouts employer or to the scout him.
self. The following day he may be
with some Glass B league. and week
from then he may be in some other
part of the country getting line on
the material in that section.
The position of scout Is not an easy
one by any means. First Of all, he
must be a good judge OF what there
is in a young ball tosser. If the pre-
sumably future great star has a bad
arm, is slow on his feet or can dc
nothing but bat, the scout must be
able to tell whether he is worth trial
or not. If he sees a youngster who
can field like a big Lacquer he must be
able to make up his mind whether the
youngster will ever be able to do any
thing with the bat against the pitchers
Of fame.
If he is sizing up a twirler who is
wild he must be able to form an Opin-
ion as to whether this fault can be
cured with coaching. And, another
thing, he has to form hasty estimate
as to the ordinary amount of brains
which the youngster possesses.
This reminds me of a little incident
fhot bappopad soma vaarS 400 in one
of the trolley leagues. A youngster
had been recommended to me as flu
ture great For weeks this fellow had
been doing wonders with the willow
and in the field. One day l decided to
take peep at him. Shortly after my
arrival some one informed him of my
presence in the grand stand. I could
see by his actions that he was nervous.
The first time up he famed. He re-
peated this in the second attempt. The
third time. however. he managed to
work the pitcher for a base on balls.
There was a man on second and an
other on third. with two out. The
youngster began prancing around first.
trying hard to get the pitcher ratified,
as he thought. The twirler looked him
over and then started to warm up.
Then Mr.. Bonehead started for second
base at full speed. and, thinking that it
would be a close shave, he slid for the
base. After he picked himself up and
was Informed that his bonehead steal
had retired his side he quit the game
and made for the clubhouse. Perhaps
IL some one had not Informed him Of
the presence of scout from the major
leagues in the grand stand he would
not have made such bonehead play.
But nevertheless 1t proved that he
1ackad hrafpa