Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-07
DIAMOND STARS
HARD TO LOCATE
George Huff, Veteran Scout, La
ments Dearth of Talent
for Big Brush
DISCOVERED MANY PHENOMS
Men Working in the National and
American Leagues ReSpon-
SibIe for Good Players
DISCOVERED MANY PHEN0MS

CHICAGO, Aug. 6.-High class
shortstops are scarce these days, ac-
cording to George Huff, veteran scout
and chief picket for the Chicago Cubs.
Likewise there is a woeful dearth Of
classy first t-basemen eligible to advance
from minor to major league society.
The big man from the University OF
Illinois is authority for these asser-
tions, and he should know WHEREOF ne
speaks, for he travels all summer,
year after year, ever on the lookout
for available talent.
Stars galore have been crowded into
the national pastime by the guiding
hands of Huff. The veteran perhaps
leads all the leagues in this respect,
and l. is his boast that he never paid
more than $1,000 for a young ball play
er. Bear in mind this statement ana
pause to consider some of the stars
who owe their present rating to the
activity of Huff-Reulbach. Lundgren,
Speaker Pfeffer, Falkenberg, Holman,
Stahl, Beebe ana Lobert-these are a
few of the brighter lights who at one
time or another attracted the atten-
ion of the ubs pilgrim.
Chief among the short fielders dis
c. erred by Huff is Charley Wagner
of the Boston Red SoX. The pride Of
New Rochelle has long maintained the
reputation given him when Huff ten
dered his report, and just now is put
ting in some sturdy whacks toward
keeping his team up in the American
league scramble. But the Thinkers,
Wagners, Bushs and MCBrides are
growing to be conspicuous by their alb
sence at this stage of the game, ac-
cording to Charlie Murphy's adviser,
Huff has his own method of watch
tfE.TR nf
the lesser circuits. In a way he is the
man of mystery, descending, minus
the blare of trombones, on some Sc
questered hamlet or minor league com
munity, always after hearing glowing
reports of the prOwess of the towns
diamond idol. On the first day Huff,
sitting in an obscure section of the
stand or bleachers, makes mental
notes of the "phenoms" batting. The
next day especial attention is paid to
the fielding endeavors of the athlete
in question.
MAY LEAVE STAR ALONE
If the youngster scores a hit the
chances are Huff will hustle off mes
sage notifying Murphy of his discov-
cry. Otherwise the hopeful, unaware
that he had been under the keen scru-
tiny of a past master, will continue
a terror to the trolley or minor league
slab artists, perhaps till some later
date when fresh repors send Huff
scurrying back to that town on anoth-
er tour of inspection.
Among baseball men Huff is known
as the dean of scouts. His closest rival
for this honor, perhaps, is Tommy Nc
Carthy, who formerly looked about for
Connie Mack.
To Mccarthy 6 IS the credit of hav-
i.g unearthed such artists as Frank
Baker, Eddie Collins, Harry Krause
and Jack Barry, four yOunsters VINO
have been instrumental in keeping the
Athletics on top thus far in the 1910
American league flag pursuit. After
digging up this quartet Mccarthy S
fame scared. Then th-re is Sam Ken
nedy, another hero of the olden days,
now engaged as chief scout for Cleve-
land.
In Cincinnati, where Louis He'll
broner has long been the leading light
among the scouts, scores of promising
youngsters have been found. Hebron
er, together with Mccarthy, Tommy
Corrigan and "Bid' McPhee, has been
credited with finding Bescher Mitchell,
Paskert. HOblitzel and Downey-all
headliners on Grifith's trOul
Arthur Irwin is the boss scout for
th3 Highlanders, having Duke Ferrell
and Gene Mccain for assistants Twen-
ty-fVe years ago Irwin was the star
shortstop / the old Providence and
Philadelphia clubs, while Farrell car
ried the banner as backstop for the
Washington, Boston and New York
clubs. Many Highlanders of the pres
ent season owe their berths to Irwin
Farrell and Mccain. Among the men
thus acquired are Ford, Vaughn
Roach. Foster and Mitchell.
Charlie Barrett and Harry Howell
together with five men Of mystery, dc
the bush league inv--ions fo" Presi-
dent Hedges of the 6. Louis Browns
John J. McCloskey and Billy Murray
have pushed several present stars into
their positions. Billy Gilbert teamed il
with Roger Bresnahan in the scouting
duties for the st. Louis Cardinals and
whipped a lot of likely men into line
for the championship race. President
Comiskey of the White SOX carries an
expensive corps of scouts. and last sea-
son it was reported that he spent moro