Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-24
BUYING BALL PLAYERS
IS LIKE A LOTTERY
Amount Paid for Youngster Does
Not Spell Failure or Success,
Says Robson.
SOME OF GREATEST
STARS COST LITTLE
Marquard, the Highest Price Minor
Lacquer in Games History, Has
Never Made Good-0thers.
Special Dispatch TO Tie Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ST. LOUIS, July 23.-President NJ
Stanley Robson, seasoned by many base
ball storms. refuses TO become enthusiast
tic over any promising young player that
Is signed up for his club. The Cardinals
owner has seen so many phenoms, that
were highly touted before entering the
big league. collapse completely after
short trial that he prefers to gloat only
after he sees the younGster make good.
President Robson has Just returned
with Manager Bresnahan from a brief
scouting trip. While away they signed
up two -Southpaw Zmch of the
Marion (OhioD State League club and
Righthander Hennis Of the Terre Haute
Central League) club.
Although both youngsters come highly
recommended and appear to have excel
lent chances of prospecting i'm the big
league. Owner Robson will not permit
the praise of others about his new talent
to get the better OF him.
This signing up of young players Is
all a lottery, said Owner Robson to
the Post Dispatch. 1T doesn't appear
to make any difference what price is paid
| for the players. If they make good,
YOU re lucky If they don't you're not.
good young pitchers. But whether they
make good is another question. That 5
something only that time will tell.
The price of a bail player NOWADAYS
doesn't spell his failure or success. lake
| RUDE Marquard of the New York club.
| for instance. The Giants are said To
have paid $1,000 to the Indianapolis club
| for his release That's a big price for
a minor league ball player, but he hash
been a bowling. success. Then Nj.
Hedges has just signed pitcher. RAY.
who didn't cost him nearly what Mar
guard brought. But Ray has got OF 10
| a good start and from all indications Is
| going to make a great pitcher.
SO simply because "A ball club pays
| big price for a minor league prayer
doesn't mean that he's going to set the
big league on fire.
President Robson gave some interest
| ing side lights on the bidding for Pitcher
Zmich of the Marion club. The young
ster was touted to Mr.. Robson about
| three weeks ago. Last week he wired
the Marion club owner to have Zmich
pitch on certain day. About Week
| ago Sunday was set for the day. Two
| days before that il was reported that the
| Browns had purchased Zmich's release
| Reading this, Mr.. Robson wired If the
| report was correct. Told that II WASH I,
| he and Bresnahan journeyed to Lancas-
| ter, where the Marion club played. In
| the stand were also Owner Hedges OF the
| Browns and representatives of other big
| league clubs.
| Before the game the Marion club own
er said that bids would be accepted after
the game. He promised that none would
| be made public. All made offers for
Zmich. AT the station, just before leav-
| ing Messrs. Robson and Bresnahan
were informed that their bid was the
highest. Mr. Robson refused to name
the purchase price, but it is said to have
| been a pretty lofty figure for a lpayer
coming from the Ohio State League.
| Bresnahan didn't see Hennis OF the
Terre Haute club work in a game. How
| ever he worked out with the youngster
| for a while and liked his work. Al
| though a late report from Terre Haute
| Tuesday stated that Owner Smith had
not sold Henns to the Cardinals, Mr..
| Robson said he had Smiths signature,
| binding the deal. AS the Terre Haute
club is shy pitching talent, Hennis isn't
| expected for a week.