The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-17

New York, April 16.-(Special )-Few baseball fans probably appreciate the value of a scout, yet the man who digs around in the minor leagues unearthins phenoms is one of the most valuable as sets a club possesses. A few years ago scouting amounted to little, but today the foundation of all successful clubs is the scout And there is no better example or this than in the camp of the New York American league club. In 1908 Frank Far rell had two players, Outfielder Charley Hemrhill and Manager-First Baseman Hal Chase, who are still with the team. The others had outlived their usefulness in New York. but Farrell had no men he could lay his hands on.
 It was just the opposite over In Phil- adelphia. Connie Mack had at least two dozen players farmed out in minor leagues theat he could get to the Quaker City within a few hours Farrell owned a fran chise and two really first class players and that was all.
 He signed up Arthur Irwin, the famous old Providence infielder, to go out among the bushes" and try to dig up some new material. And in three years time Irwin las unearthed enough stars to put the Yankees on the baseball map again. In fact they appear to have a grand chance of winning the American league pennant this year
 Since 1908 the Yankees have secured such stars as Harry Wolter. Bert Daniels, Birdie Cree. Jack Knight, Earl Gardner, Wilbur Roach, Gene Elliott, Roy Hartzell. Ctis Johnson, Bill Bailey, Henry kauff, Alfred lube, Joe Walsh, Bob Williams, Walter Blair, Rap Fisher. Ray Caldwell, Jim Vaughn, Harry Ables Dutch Reveile, Jack Warhop and many others.
 And it was nothing but scientific scout ing that brought them to New York. The majority of them cost the New York club little above the drafting price from the leagues in which they were with before Irwin secured their services.
 This year alone Irwin unearthed bunch of youngsters who may never see New York, but who are within calling distance if they are needed. They are farmed ont, or as baseball owners would have you say it, are let out under an optional agree ment.
 Since Irwin has been with the club nc has earned his salary many times over by buying and selling players 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 thankless one. The gum-shoe artist is practically unknown to xpin the npnnapt no one ever sings the praises of the scout when really he is the one man above a'' others who deserves the most credit nine times out of ten.
 And the job is d hard one. The scout travels all through the hot summer months in little water tank towns all oy his lonesome. For weeks he doesn't meet any one he knows for when he lands In a place he never goes around to the club owner and introduces himself.
 It is up to him to keep under cover and watch the players perform. If 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 up his worst ex- hibition
 If the club owner thinks the scout is going to draft the player he will give n structons for poor work. If he believes the scout will buy the player outright then he sees to it that the man puts up his very Lest exhibition
 And there are many other disagree able things about the position. For in stance, Irwin last summer heard that q young pitcher named Caldwell wns twirl ing great ball for the Mckeesport club Irwin went out to see him work on q Saturday and found that he had per formed the day before. It was live days loter before the soungster worked again but the scout was forced to travel witt the club until he saw his man work. And Caldwell got away 10 a bad start and was knocked out of the box. But Irwin was confident that he possessed the makir6s .of star boxman and waited patientl,