The Detroit times., 1910-01-08
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Wifh the
Sporting
Editor.

Some awful lemons have been IN
loaded on big-.eague ball clubs by
the dealers In skin who make their
e---------~ headquarters in the
| Icoon mi minor organiza-
HE MAS tions. but IL was
ONLY SANE. generally supposed
that the limit had
been attained last year when the ST.
Louis Browns purchased for quite a
long sum a pitcher who was hope
less epileptic The scout saw him one
day and bought him that night. he
had terrific speed, good controi.
fine curve ball and excellent command.
Outside CT the TACT that he was likely
TO throw a ft any minute. he was al
right. As fortune would have IL. me
ritcher went through the entire spring
training season without falling victim
Ia his malady. and was already on "a
pinnacle where Mound City writers
were hailing him as the ind OF tns
season when-but why elaborate? The
poor unfortunate went back whence
he came and will doubtless remain
there.
But a certain eastern club of the
American league. the name. OF which
| am not at liberty TO divulge. has
actually gone the iuckless Browns
one better In giving up the sum OF
81, 500 for a man far more radically
incapable OF performing the duties Of
a big-league ball player than was the
poor ST. Louis epleptic. It's not
long story and IL can best be expound-
ed chronologicaily.
A scout for this club was roaming
the wilds OF the Ohio state league. or
words to that effect. last year. ana
heard tales OF q marvellous outfeider.
He went to see the man play. He
looked up to every one OF the speci-
locations. II ever there seemed to be
reason to herald the discovery Of that
lsecond Cobb for which all scouts are
Hooking. this man seemed to MI the
lin. Making no inquiries regarding
1.-The mans personality, the scout looked
Inn the owner Of the club and asked
him to put a price on his player.
"Thirty.five hundred. and not cent
less" was the reply. The scout
handed over q check and the deal was
made.
During the winter the manager CT
the club settled down To investigate
the new material which had been ac-
ouired while he was In the heat cf
the seasons fght. He wrote TO
friend in Ohio for dope" on this par
ticular possession.
your new man IL all right came
the reply, "only he's crazy. He's not
allowed cut OF sight Of his keeper
either on or on the field and he's win
Iteriug at his old home In the state
ASYLUM for the crimlnally insane. III
YOU want him to sigr contract, you II
| have to get the consent OF his guar
dian and give bond that he won't
break loose and knife up hotel fuli
| OF ball PLAYERS and other innocent
folks. They let him play on the asy-
II lum team a couple CT seasons ago and
he was such a wonder that the man
axer. of the league club there got per
mission to use him In his home games.
| Int his keeper went right with him
and eyery night they put him back
again. behind The harx or the Dug
house"
/ And all this Is a solemn truth which
is pretty sure TO become common prop
erfya proyided the club tries TO get
rart of its $500 hack by unloading
! the leader OF thu Lunatic league on
some Class A organization.
Interesting fact:--When II comes 10
auantitative battling there is no boxer
! In the world who can come near the
4O0-odd fights In which Abe Atteii has
taken part. And Abe Is now but 20
years old.
One little reform which bugs In gen.
eral would appreciate In leagues IN
which the double-umpiring system Is
In force. is one that would keep the
field ump outside the diamond.
Two months after Wahoo Sam