Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-24
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, July 2.-Marty O'Toole.
the young pitcher of the st. Paul club of
the American Association, is the latest
sensation in base ball circles. With prac-
tically every manager in the big leagues
seeking his services and with the Pitts
burg Pirates paying $4,000 for him, the
youngster is the most talked-of ball play
er of the day.
Big prices have been paid for base ball
stars but it remained for Barney Drey
fUez, the Pittsburg maenate, to set the
high water mark. The biggest price
ever paid before for player was when
the Philadelphia Athletics paid the Bal
gilmore club S12ODO for Lefty Russell
last year.
The New York Giants were only $1,000
below this when they purchased "Rube'
Marquard from the indianapolis club of
the American Association for $1,000.
Some years ago the New York club paid
s1o.GO for "Cy" Seymour, buying him
from Cincinnati. That figure stood as
the top notcher until Marquards pur-
chase in 1909.
Spike Shannon was another $4,000
beauty purchased by the Giants from ST.
Louis. Russell Blackburne. bought by
the SIlltdSO w liltS sun IlOIi Il ioNiOchNS,
and Jack Thoney, purchased by the Bos-
ton Americans from Toronto. were other
high priced stars. Big Chief Meyers,
the Giants catcher, brought 5000 He
figured in the deal that brought Mar
guard from Indianapolis.
OToole. like Marquard. developed In
to pitching sensation in the Amerl-
can Association. Early this month
O'Toole establ shed an American Assoc
citation record and tied the worlds
har ha CT
Milwaukee players. Immediately the
scouts for the big league teams got
active and the bids were boosted from
a few thousands to the mark without
a precedent in base ball history.
When the Giants got Marquard the
bidding was spirited, but there was
not as much competition as for the
services of the latest wonder. RUDE.
too had made a sensational record
against the la tsmen of the American
Association. Both men are big. strong
fellows, and are just what they look
to be. natural ball players
This season. when OToole establish
ed his League record for strike-outs
and followed ii up with uniformly SEN
sational twirling, there were two base
ball men at least who Were ready TO
kick themselves. This par was John
l. Taylor Of the Boston Red Sox and
Clark Griffith OF the Cincinnati Reds.
OToole was with the Reds and the
Red Sox. but his career with each
.eam was snort lived. Clark Griffith
tried him out and decided he couldn't
be bothered with the youngster. He
VAS sent 10 the Brockton (MassD club
and Boston drafted him. He never
had as much as a trial with the big
leaguerS. and Tia ylor turned him over
To Manager Mike Kelley of the st.
Paul team year ago last spring.
the wind up of the trade that brought
Steele and Ryan to st. Paul and sent
Hall and kaTSer BOSTON
OToole owing to lack of confidence
In himself, failed to get into the win
column as often he should have
liked. and. after blowing up" in sew
eral games. he asked Manager Kelley
IL send him TO some minor league
club. where he could work in his reg
ular turn and where he might over
come his nervousness. Accordingly
Kelley sent him to the Sioux City club
d. the Western League.
After Joining that club the red
haired athlete experienced but little
trouble in striking his gait and il
was less than TWO weeks after this
that he struck out eighteen batters
thus establishing a record. He won
game after game for Sioux City and
is credited with winning the pennant
for that OrganiZa alton.
Manager Kelley had sold him with
an optional clause in the bill of sale"
and the opening of the 1911 season
found him back with the Saints. He
started into pitch wonderful article
OF ball, and has kept this up. until
today he is considered one of the
greatest finds in the history OF base
ball.
OToole was born at South Framing
ham. Mass, and received his early
training on amateur teams in the little
Massachusetts town. When fifteen
years of age he was offered a position
on the Dennison Manufacturing team
OF South Framington. He pitched for
the tag company's team for four years
and finally broke into professional ball
He is twenty-one years old and is a
younsster of exceptionally good habits
He uses slippery elm instead of to-
bacco to moisten his spit ball and ad-
vocates the use OF the saliva furnish
Ing substitute for the weed