The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-30
All Rights Reserved

When the scout returned bringing John
J. Evers almost every one laughed
Evers was then not 10 years of age. No
one suspected that he was destined to
become the greatest second baseman
that ever lived and the foremost expo
nent and developer of the ''inside
game for neither his appearance nor
his experience indicated any great
promise. He began playing ball when
$ years of age, with the Cheer Ups at
Troy. After playing on school and
amateur teams, he was signed, in 1902
to play shortstop for Troy, the oppor-
tunity with Chicago coming before he
had played season in the minor league.
All there is TO Evers is a bundle of
nerves. lot Of woven wire muscles,
and the quickest brain in baseball. He
has invented and thought out more
plays than any man Of recent years.
He went to second base to Gil Lowe s
place the first day he reached Chi
cago, played twenty-five games to the
became the baseball idol of Chicago.
Overs wanted that left out.)
Prospects for getting a winning team
improved, but luck deserted Selee s ban.
ner in 1908. However, change was
made which was of as much importance,
possibly more, than anything before or
since Selee persuaded Chance after
long resistance to play first base and
transformed him into great first base.
man,
With Chance, Evers and Tinker in
position. the team began to be formida-
BILE, but Selee was sick, and really un-
able TO perform the duties Of manager.
His sickness forced him to rely more
and more upon the judgment of Chance,
who suddenly developed a genius for
handling men. Lowe was out of the
game and a captain was needed. Selee
decided TO try something unbeard of; to
submit the election of captain to the
vote Of the players themselves, There
were three candidates, none especially
active. Selee S choice was Casey; King
and Chance both had admirers among
the men. The election was held in the
club house, Selee actively exerting his
influence for Casey, while some of the
players were urging Chance as the vet.
eran of the squad. The result Of the
vote was: Chance, IL: Casey, I; King
.. Selee was dumbfounded and for a
time annoyed, but events proved the
players had made the wisest selection
and the vote was the turning point in
the career of Chance and in the devel.
opment of the club.
Chance. although only adviser to Sc
lee, at once assumed the task Of build.
ing up the team. He seemed 10 know
Just WnaI men ne wanted, ana how 10
get them. as well as the weaknesses of
his own team. His first move was to
get Mordecai Brown. The Omaha man
agement. desiring TO keep Brown, told
Selee his arm was bad, but Chance de.
clined 10 believe it. Chance had been
watching Brown and wanted him, but
was overruled, and st. Louis filed prior
claim and secured him-but only tenn
porarily. Chance was persistent, and
when Jack Taylor fell into disgrace
after the loss Of the city championship,
a deal was arranged whereby Taylor and
Mclean were given to st. Louis for
Brown, who had pitched well there
Late that same season Scout Huff dis.
covered three more men of championship
calIber. The story of Huff S work that
season reads like a Sherlock Holmes
adventure, especially the tale of his
pursuit Of three ghostly pitchers. The
story properly begins three years
earlier. when Ed Reulbach. a giant