The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-08-24
TURNED BACK BY COMMISSION
At ONE TIME.
Was Sent to Montreal Without a Trial.
10 Native OF tho Sunny South.

PLAYERS In various ways. but few in
iced have great players thrust upo
them. Jan IS Sanford Lavender. alias
Jimmy. who leaped into world wide
fame By huttinE into the remarkable
winning streak OF Richard lie Marquis.
alias Narquard. was literally thrust
upon the cubs. The national com
mission is responsible for the mater
ial strength this young man has add
I'd 20 FRANK chances pitching staff.
Without the Intervention OF base
balls supreme court. Lavender would
now be pitching for the Montreal club
in the International league. to which
he was ccrsipned by President Muir
ply. Of the Cubs. without even a
chance to show what ne could do. y"
one knows how long ne might haVr
been sentenced to summer in Canada
In fact. ne might never have won his
place in the majors II the rules govern
ing the traffic. in players had not Civ
en- MIN the opportunity. For major
league scouts looked Lavender over
tor three different seasons in ProNid-
ence and not one Of them could see in
him n "fuhIre great
That is why the Cubs got him IN
the FIRST place. The Chicago Cubs
put in a draft for Lavender last fall
and was the Cniy team 10 do so. con-
sequeatly was awarded the pitcher.
PLAYERS whc are thought we'll Of by
the scouts usually are purchased, not
drafted. because the draft is no sure
way 10 get Il recruit. The ance are
about even against II. especially IA
the higher lass Of minors.
Lavender was not drafted because
the Cubs wanted him.. but because
Montreal wanted him on part pay
ment Tor the release Of Ward Miller.
20 Chicago. That was why Murphy
turn, ID the pitcher over TO Montreal
without trial. Good scouts had
watched him pitch. and tentative %
fers had been made for him, but the
price nxed by providence was consid-
cred out % proportion 20 his promise.
How much coin do O think II would
take to purchase Lavender nowe
The sort Of deal arranged by the
Chicago ard Montreal clubs does not
go" in baseball. Before a player can
be turned lack To another club IN the
league from which he was drafted
must be- given first chance To- deal.
and the commission remanded Laven
der % Chicago. with orders 20 keep
him or give Providence nrst claim -
his services.
Murphy Put Wise.
Maanwhil, some 81 the PLAYERS and
manag rs in the International league
had told Murphy IL was a mistake to
let Lavender out. and when he was
handed back to tho cubs II WAS de-
oided to Or, him ont. II did not takr
Frank Chance long Ca discover thai
h. had q good pitcher. As early As
the FIRST fortnight Of the training
TRIP. although 10 raiucd most II the
time in New Orleans. IA" Cub pilot
tod me he believed Lavender would
DO.
Tn. adtartag,s % sclow develop
m.ut ATE illustrated by Lavender =
case. iI.s rot 90 raw recruit that has
risen rocket like after "a few p'rotcoh-
ricaf performances have called at-
t.ntior To- him. H. has served h.s
time in Cif, r,ut strata cot the minors
and spent gears enough in the gam
90 ie+rn. o. 81. was % pitcher. not Tn
u-uscnooi.d |rh.uuin. when he came 90
chance. There rc.d Doe no f"1r THAI
b. Will fash in me pan and prove am
other Kin colo. re has came -
stay. although Jimmy j. too modest
o. say so himself H. only thinks a..
Southern born and southern hro'.
Lavender had up baseball aspIrati"rs
WHEN b. vls a kid. &C. started ont o.
make "a mechanical engineer of him
rsI, and entered Georgia Tech With
tLa. intention. He had progressed
far enough fY enter th. SOPHOMORE
,.ass AMI 0uflng rho thr'" years be-
fore De- wa7 graduated Lavender did
BE- b.