The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-07-02
Offer BIG MONEY
FOR EDDIE zM|CH
Numerous Big League
Clubs Bid For Him.
OFFER OF $4,000 REFUSED
Wires Are Kept Warm by
Managers.
Peerless Digger Southpaw VIII
Bring More Than Any Other Slater
Was Ever Sold For-wiII Probably
Be Sold For Immediate Delivery.
(By s. II. Godden.)

Hotter and hotter on the trail Of
Big Ed Zmich come the major lea
guers and the wires are being kept
warm by managers who are anxious
to land this jewel of the Ohio state
league whom critics pronounce as
ripe and ready at once for work in
the big show.
Today the Marion club received an
offer of $4,000 for immediate de.
livery of the big southpaw The Of
fer was refused and word was sent
to the club making the offer that
Zmich would go to the highest bidder
but the Marion club wants what the
pitcher is worth. Clark Griffth
manager of the Cincinnati club, who
has just paid $500 for South At
lantic league pitcher, Benton. is one
of those who Is chasing Zmich and
keeping the wires hot. The ST. Louis
American league club Is another and
the Boston National league club is
third one. other clubs in the major
leagues and two In the American as.
ISOLATION have asked for terms on the
Digger.
zmich will probably be sold for i'm
mediate delivery. This will doubtless
at first make 1t appear that Marions
chances for the bunting will be hurt
but in his place will come clever
twirler who will fill the gap, proba-
bly, not as Zmich might do II but
well enough to bring Marion home q
winner, Zmichs sale, should 1t oc-
cur, will probably be for enough
money to pay all of the present in
debtedness of the club and put base
ball here on frmer basis than II
has ever been. Be II known that
there are still notes and debts hang
ing from the first year Marion enter
ed baseball. The club has done fair
ly well since then and has been able |
to keep going on gate receipts and |
with the money contributed by few |
of the loyal fans and the directors |
and officials of the club. but there has |
been but little paid on the old debt
of the Ohio & Pennsylvania league
days. With this wiped out the future
should be able to take care of itself.
Zmich has been followed constant
ly by numerous scouts and for the
past two weeks the local club has
had correspondence with major league |
managers concerning him. Each tint
he has worked there have been scouts
watching him and his value has in
creased. Now they are talking bust
ness
The demand for the big fellows who
throw from the other side of their
torsos Is greater now than at any
time in the past, hence the price 10
that much higher when one who
seems to have all of the necessary
qualifications, looms up on the horl'
zon. Zmich has the speed, the |
strength, good curves and control; a
good head in critical times and what
is better still he Is not only willing
and anxious TO learn but is one OF the |
most faithful workers any club ever
possessed. Zmich's usefulness is IN
creased by his ability to hit and he Is
today regarded as mighty danger
Gus man i'm an emergency.
One reason why the club will agree
to Immediate delivery In Zmich's case
is that Zmich came here this season
after a most valiant service last year.
at the same money named In his 1909
contract He did this knowing that
he was worth more money to the
club and the club owners knew II
also. But the fact that he Is receiv-
ing a rather meager salary as Dig
ger has not affected his work. He
has given Marion everything he has
had at all times and no player on the.
club has the interests of the club
more at heart than he. This kind OF
service deserves its reward. 1t Is rare
indeed in baseball. Therefore the
owners feel that zmich, with chance
to go to major league club-the
lifetime ambition of every young
be allowed to go when
he is right and not be made to wait {
until next year when something might
happen that would hurt his chances
of making good, smlch vii have a
world of good wishes when he leaves {
and local fans as well as
those of the whole league will expect
him to make good.
They almost all believe that big {
Ed will do IT,"