The Washington herald., 1911-10-22
Finds George Jackson
Merely by an Accident
Boston Scout Found Red Sox Recruit While in
South to Look Over Another PLAYER.

George Jackson, the newcomer with
the Rustlers, who caused a sensation
by jumping into the big show from the
minors and taking the lead in the bat
ting race, is another baseball accident
Jackson's life as a ball PLAYER is one
| big accident anil his advent into the
big show at this time of the year is an
other accident, SO we may justly call
George the Accidental Kid even
| though he is generally known by the
name of Hickory"
! Jackson, who. by the way. is not re-
lated to the player bearing the same
name and now with the Cleveland club,
has been in professional baseball but
! three years and needless to say his rise
| has been rapid He is native of
Blum. Tex. and in that town owns a
small farm, which took up the most OF
his time. However, George was a lad
who liked athle;Ics. and often in spare
moments would toss the ball against
the side Of the barn and catch it on the
rebound, and then would get one Of the
other farm hands to play pass with him
He displayed wonderful ability to
catch the ball, and when using an
old club for a bat he discovered that he
could hit the pill also Every Saturday
at the town center two amateur teams
were wont to play ball, and George heard
Of it, so beat It to town one Saturday
afternoon to witness the contest. He
thought that lie could play as we'll as
most of those stars" he had seen in ac-
ton. and laborlng with this impression
on his mind, sought a chance to play.
jackson Gets n Chance.
The local manager decided to give
Jackson a chance and offered him car
"a infa To- !
was tickled with the chance to wear a
baseball uniform and so the salary ques-
ton was forgotten.
Jackson was playing but a few weeks
when the management received the
touch and George was placed on the
salary list at 50 a game. This was
raised to IS a week later
Jackson was the sensa ton of that
county, and the management of the Dali
las team, of the Texas League, read lit
tie jottings in the town sheets which
told of this wonderful ball player the
management looked him over and asked
him to join the club. Jackson was signed
up, but was sent to the Lake Charles
team, OF the Gulf League. While there
he made such a hit that he went back
to Dallas and finished the season of
1903. He reported in the spring of 1909
to Dallas. and during that year played
a good game. He played in % games,
scored IS runs, made At hits. stole SO
bases, and made II sacrifice hits, which
gave him an average of .271. In 1910
he was again connected with the Dallas
team, and in IA games batted for $50.
his record averaging a hit a game. He
pilfered 3 bases, scored so runs, and
made 81 sacrifice hits
Last fall he wRs purchased from Dali
las by the Memphis team, of the South |
ern League, and just through an acci- |
dent is now holding a major league |
berth.
Here's the Story.
The story of Jackson's discovery is as !
follows: A brother of Otis Crandall of |
the Giants, is playing shortstop for |
Memphis, and has been somewhat of a |
in the Southern League this |
season. The owners OF the Heps were
quietly tipped of to this ball player, and !
Billy Hamilton was sent down South |
TO look him over. While down there |
Hamilton was not especially impressed |
with Crandall, but noticed a lad by the
name Of Jackson doing some good work /
n the outfield.
The Hep scout liked his looks and fol-