The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-07-29

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Prospects for getting . winning
team improved, but luck deserted
Selee's banner In 1903. However, q
change was made which was of as
much Importance, possibly more, than
anything before or since. Selee per
suaded Chance after long resistance to
play first base and transformed him
into a great first baseman.
With Chance, Evers and Tinker in
position, the team began to be fornhid-
able, but Selee was sick, and really
unable to perform the duties of man
ager. His sickness forced him to rely
more and more upon the judgment Of
Chance. who suddenly developed a
genius for handling men. Selee de-
cided to try something unheard Of; to
submit the election Of a captain to the
vote of the players themselves. There
were three candidates. one especially
active. Selee's choice was Casey;
Killing and Chance both had admirers
among the men. The election was
held in the clubhouse, selee actively
exerting his influence for Casey, while
come Of the players were urging
Chance as the veteran of the squad.
The result of the vote was Chance,
II; Casey, 4; Killing. 2. selee was
dumbfounded and for a time annoyed,
but events proved the players had
made the wisest5 selection and the
vote was the turning point in the
career of Chance and in the develop
ment of the club. !.
Chance, although only adviser to
Selee, at once assumed the task of
building up the team. He seemed to
know Just what men he wanted, and
how to get them, as we'll as the weak
nesses OF his own team. His first
move was to get Mordecai Brown. The
Omaha management, desiring to keep
Brown, told Selee his arm was bad,
but Chance declined to believe it.
Chance had been watching Brown and
wanted him, but was overruled and st.
Louis filed prior claim and secured
him-but only temporarily. Chance
was persistent, and when Jack Taylor
fell into disgrace after the loss of the
city championship, a deal vas ar
ranged whereby Taylor and Mclean
were given to st. Louis for Brown.
who had not pitched well there.
Late that same season Scout HUFF
discovered three more men of cham
pionship caliber. The story of Huf's
work that season reads like a Sher-
lock Holmes adventure, especially the
tale of his pursuit Of three ghostly
pitchers. The story properly begins
three years earlier, when Ed Ruel-
bach, a giant youngster, was pitching
for rlotre Dame, Indiana, university.
Reulbach is as near a physically per-
feet man as possible. HUFF had seen
his terrific speed and wonderful curves
in college games and set watch on
him. The next year. while beating
the underbrush for young players.
Hun hsgan to receive reports from
Eedalia, No., of a pitcher named Law
son and finally went there to see him
pitch. The day before he reached
Sedalia, Lawson disappeared, leaving
no trace or clue. Hut wanted q
pitcher, needed him, and hurried to
find Reulbach, but imagine his sur.
prise when, Immediately after the
close of school, Ruelbach disappeared
as utterly as Lawson had done, leav.
ing no trace.
Then HUFF began to receive reports
from Montpelier, VT, of a young pitch
er who was winning everything in the
Green Mountain league and whose
name was Sheldon. HUFF disguised
himself as an alderman and went to
Montpelier to see the new prodigy
perform. The mystery was solved
Sheldon, Lawson and Reulbach all
were pitching and they were one man;
all Reulbach under assorted names.
HUFF Strengthened out the tangle and
returned to Chicago with n of the
greatest modern pitchers.
Hart had heard that McChesney Of
Des Moines was worth having and
sent HUFF to observe. HUFF reported
McChesney only a fair ball player, but
that Holman, short stop, was one Of
the greatest players in the country.
Both were purchased and Chicago
thus accidentally secured the best
utility man of modern times. Holman
played every infield and outield posi-
ton for Chicago during three pennant-
winning seasons, being 80 good q sub
stitute that Chance could not afford
to use him as q regular until 1909
when he went to center field. Two
seasons he saved the pennant for
Chicago by understanding every man
on the team who was injured, playing
almost to the standard of every man
he replaced. In one week he played
six positions on the inf1eld and out
field.
Holman came into baseball from
the amateurs of st. Louis. He played
with Smith Academy team for q time.
then with semi-professional teams in
st. Louis and finally got into the Troll.
ley league, where he became q con.
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