El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-15
SCOUTING BECOMES
IN IMPORTANT
ADJUNCT
Hunting Around For Base
ball Phenoms Is Now a
Science.
CBy W. S. Farnsworth).

-O~~0o-N0 N--CeSA lA4I4S UuSuOlQS Is one OF
the most valuable assets a club nos
sesses> A few years ago scouting
amounted to little, but today the foun-
dation Of all successful clubs is the
scout And there is no better exanpIa
OF this than in the camp of the New
York American league club. In 1908
Frank Farrell had two players. ont
fielder Charley HemphfI and manages.
Ilrst baseman Hal Chase, who are stfIl
with the team The others had ont
lived their usefulness in New York.
Dut Farrel had no men he could lay
his hands on
II was Just the opposite over in Phil
adelphia. Connie Mack had at leas.
two dozen players farmed out in minor
leagues that he could get TO the Quaker
CITY within few hours. Farrell OWL
ed franchise and two really first
class players and that was all
Irwin Goes Scouting.
re signed Up Arthur Irwin, the Ia
nous old Providence irfieIder. tn On
out among the bushes" and try to 5is
up some new material And In three
years time Irwin has unearthed
enough stars to put the Yankees on
the baseball map again. In fact. thew
appear 10 have grand chance Of win
ming the American league pennant this
year
Since 1908 the Yankees have secured
sucn stars at Harry Wolter, Bert Dan
fels. Birdie Cree, Jack knight Earl
Gardner. Wilbur Roach. Gene FJlio++
Roy Hartzell. Otis Johnson. Bill RafJev'
Henry Kauff. Alfred Jube. Joe Walsh.
BOD Williams. Walter Blair, Ray Fish
er, Kay CALDWELL. Jim Vaughn. Harry
AoIes. Dutch Revelle, Jack WARRIOR
and many others.
And 1t was nothing but scientific
scouting that brought them TO New
YORK The majority Of them cost the
New York club little above the draft-
ing price from the leagues in which
they were with before Irwin secured
their services
Th1s year alone Irwin unearthed a.
bunch OF youngsters who NAV never
see New York, but who are within
calling distance if they are needed.
Ihey are farmed out, or as baseball
owners would have you say it. are let
out under an optional agreement.
Since Irwin has been with the club
he has earned his salary MANY times
over by buying and selling nlavevsS
contracts For instance. he has dug
up some youngster. developed him and
sold him for twice the purchase price.
The job of scout is a thankIess one.
The Sumshoe artist is, practically I'M
known to the fan and IL q team wins
the pennant no one ever sings the
praises OF the scout, when really he is
the one man above all others who de-
serves the most credit nine times ont
of ten
And the job is a hard one The scout
travels all through the hot summer
months in little water tank towns all
by his lonesome. For weeks he doesn't
meet anyone he knows. for when he
lands In a place he never goes around
to the club owner and introduces him
self
It is up to him to keep under cover
and watch the players perform. II the
club owner knows that a scout IS after
a player he will tell said PLAYER TO
either put on full steam or to put I'D
his worst exhibition
II the club owner thinks the scoutsfs
going TO draft the player he will give
instructions for poor work IF he be-
heves the scout viii buy the player
outright then ne sees to it that the
man puts up his very best exhibition.
Requires Patience. Too.
And there are many other disagree
able things about the position. For
instance. Irwin last summer heard that
q young pitcher named Caldwell was
twirling great ball for the McKeesuort
club Irwin went out TO see him work
on Saturday and found that he had
performed the day before. It was five
days before the youngster worked
again. but the scout was forced TO
travel with the club until he saw his
man work. And Caldwell got awavno
a bad start and was knocked out OF
the box But Irwin was confident that
he possessed the makings OF a star
boxman and waited patiently five more
days before he saw his man pitch
again This time Caldwell won a il
inning game by a score Of to and
the scout signed him that night.
They Look Good.
During my trip south with the New
York American league club this sea-
son I witnessed the Cleveland. New
York and Chicago teams OF the Amer
lean league and the Boston team OF
the National league. In action. and
want to say that all four look I'm
mense.
Fred Tenney has a bunch Of young
sters who are going to cause a heap
Of trouble in the father organization
While do not look for them to finish
in the first division. I would not be
surprised If they ended the season IN
IIIh pOSlllOn-
The Cleveland club I saw perform
against the RedIegs in Cincinnati and
must say that Jim Mcclure has a cork
ing good club. He has a swell bunch
Of twirlers. his infield is fair. and has
an outfield that has been strengthened
100 percent by the addition of Joe
Jackson. the sensational outfielder who
was with the New Orleans club Of the
Southern league last season.
White Sox Wen Balanced.
The White Sex look to be a very
evenly balanced team Jimmy Gala
han. after many years absence from
organized ball. is as fast as ever in
center field and I look for him to
clout a 800 average all season
Duffy has a wonderful staff OF
twirIers and every man of them is IN
perfect condition. They are likely to
get away to a flying start because OF
their good condition and gain such a
lead that it would be a hard task to
overhaul them.
The Yankees have added much
strength to their pitching staff and
with either Elliott or Johnson at third
base they are much improved at that
station.
MANY WE'LL DRESSED MEN