New-York tribune., 1912-01-13
TIMELY BITS OF SPORT
Red Sox Pay High for Pitcher
They Sold for a Song.
JERSEY CITY THE GAMER
Little Chance That Epidemic in
Texas Will Change Plans
of the Giants.

Hugh Bedient, bought by the Jersey City
club, of the International League last sum-
mer for $3.50 and now sold TO the Boston
Red sox for $4,000 in players and cash,
has suddenly jumped from partial OBJ
scurity into a position Of prominence
among the pitchers Of the country
The deal leaked out yesterday as to how
the skeeters got five players from the Bos-
ton team. to say nothing of a fat check
in addition. The funny part of it is that
Bedient was on the reserve list of the
Boston club when sold to Jersey City for
! $3.50 last summer, and the club was forced
to pay dearly for letting him slip out Of
its fingers.
Bedient was drafted from the Fall River
club two years ago by the Red Sox, and
went to the coast with the team last
| spring. Later he was farmed out to the
| Providence club, Of the International
League, but did not do particularly well
until bought by Jersey City after Provi-
dence had tried to turn him back to Bos-
ton. Suddenly, however, he showed fash
OF his real skill and was allowed to play
out the season with Providence, with the
consent OF James J. Lllls. The more
games he pitched the more valuable he
grew, and when Jimmy McAleer bought an
| interest in the Boston Red Sox, he made
| up his mind that he must get Bedent back
at any cost. This cost approximately was
$1,000 as I'm the mean time Jack Dunn. OF
the Baltimore club, had offered Mr.. Lillis
as high as 5000 for the pitcher
BY this stroke Of baseball luck James J.
| Lillis and Hugh McBreen. the joint own
ers of the Jersey City club, were able to
strengthen their team materially, to say
nothing Of the money end. In addition, the
| Red SoX will give Jersey City the pick OF
all players not wanted in Boston, includ-
ing first call on Bedient II he fails to live
| UP to expectations in the big show.
There was no excitement around the
Headquarters OF the Giants yesterday over
the report from Texas that an epidemic OF
meningitis is prevalent in the Lone Star
State Representatives Of a railroad COM
pany the lines 90 which run through the
affected territory, called on Joseph ID.
O'Brien to say that while there was an
epidemic there was little cause for alarm.
The reports indicate that public gatherings
of all kinds are being abandoned because
Of the spread Of the malady, even church
meetings being omitted. Several hundred
cases have been recorded in various parts
of Northern and Eastern Texas. The rail
road men were disposed TO treat the mat
ter lightly. They said that the people OF
Texas were subject to hysterla and made
a great deal out of nothing on occasions.
Mr. O'Brien declared that no change has
been made in the plans OF the Giants &c
go South. and he did not think that any
alterations in the proposed schedule would
be necessary. Nevertheless. the affected
territory will undoubtedly be closely
watched, ms ball players these days are
too valuable to be exposed to avodablt
dangers.
The epidemic is raging around Dallas
the home OF Louis Drucke. which is 15l
miles from Marlin Springs. the spring
training homo OF the Giants. It is not
known whether the disease is prevalent at
the resort or not. McGraw has planned IA
send his first detachment 10 the springs
about February II, following along a few
days later with tho rest Of the squad. BY