The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-05
MINOR STARS THAT
QUIT 1W|NkL|NG
o'Toole, Marquard, Russell
and Blackburn All Fizzled
at Start

without dealing With the Veractty
of the statements that seemed to
the interior as we'll. in the spots
where big league baseball is discussed.
the talk about Marty O'Toole. the
highest-priced busher in captivity,
gives rise to a little cogitation.
Also arises the query: Why do the
pastiming birds in the gilded cage
always fall down when they fly from
Should it prove a fact that Marty
price tag $22.500-proves a tizzle
next season he will make the fourth
of the highest-priced minor leaguers
to v fallen by the wayside. though
n has since redeemed himself and
the others are to have an opportun-
ity.
Gaze upon the list: Russell Black
burne. cost 5000; RUDE Marquard,
cost $1,000; Lefty Russell. cost $12,-
900; Marty O'Toole cost $22,5O0; total
price of quartet. $55,500. Truly an
appalling figure when mi thinks of a
Collins that cost nothing, a Barry that
meant no expenditure of money. n a
Baker, whose cost was we'll within
$4,000.
Strange about these chaps-how
they slump. 1t seems as If some evil
genius pursued these boys, admittedly
splendid ball players. once they hit tho
big show. Look at their histories;
Teamed With Paddy.
Here's RUDE Marquard. A wry-
necked southpaw born in Cleveland,
he drifted into Hoosierdom n trail
ed along with Indianapolis. Had a
backstop named Paddy Livingstone,
also a Cleveland chap. and they were
a grand pair. Paddy caught every
game which he pitched and the skinny
southpaw won a pennant for Charlie
Carr.
Rube's york attracted the attention
lad. Paid 1900 bucks out OF an opu-
lent treasury and RUDE struck New
York. Reams of copy went through
the mill about the southsider, and
then-bing. Largely was written on
the personal diary of Bush after
Rube's name-stung.
He failed dismally for two years.
Had the stuff-wasn't the slightest
question about that. But no control.
Went along for two years and had
other reams of copy rolled through
the mills. But all about a lemon.
Marquard went down south last
spring with the Giants. In the Nc
Graw encourage was Of the brain
lest catchers who ever wore a glove
sonal charge Of his Rubelets: put
him through a course of sprouts:
nursed him like a mother would q
babe. And there were more reams
Of copy sent through the mill-won-
der.
Rube led the National league this
season. and has arrived. The rind
has been removed from the lemon"
n he.has come to stay. .as
Here's Another.
A few years ago there was a chap
playing for semipro teams in Pal
myra. N. j., who set the world afire.
He was a shortstop. and such a short!
Russell, but called LENA" by his
friends.
1t only took a short time for that
chap to reach Providence, in the then
Eastern league. Blackburne proved
a dazzling sensation. His work
around shortstop reminded the old
timers Of Hughie Jennings and Her
man Long. He was fast on his feet
and a sticker.
Charlie Comiskey purchased the boy
and laid out 10000, perfectly milled
dollars for Blackburne. Reams of
copy went through the mills-peach.
Blackburne started the season. He
rankest sort of in~-and-outer.
More reans of copy, etc. This time
fizzle. Last season he did not play
many games. His leg, which had
been broken. went back on him. and
he was a star hat had shot across
the baseball sky into oblivion.
Rescued.
Now Jimmy Callahan has rescued
him. He is going to give Blackburne
a chance. And if history repeats. as
in the case of Marquard, the White
Sox will have of the finest short
stops in the land ley season.
One year ago last summer there was
a southpaw pitching in Baltimore who
had more scouts on his trail than any
player in the land. His name was
Clarence Dixon Russell, and he wa
certainly r great southpaw. No doubt
about that. Had the stuff, had the
nerve. had everything.
Connie Mack. went over to Jersey
City and watched him one day. Rus
this occasion. But he cut so much
CONCEALED fluid wiGh the wise man.
ger that Connie bought him on the
spot. Twelve thousand beans. too,
went for Lefty.
Reams of copy written about him
greatest. Came to Sh ibe park at the
end Of the last. season, and shut out
the Red Sox. More reams. etc.
wizard.
Failed Ignobly.
The season started last year. Rus
sell failed ignobly. Not only had no
stuff, but seemed to lack any ambi-
ton. Wa said to have been i'll, and
probably was. but he fell down woe
fully, Before the season was two