The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-07-20
SCOUTS SAY THAT JOB rs RATHER
TiREsoME ONE.
Judgment In Many Cases 10 Not the
Best and A. Result Owner
Loses Money.

You. Mr.. Fan. did you ever realize
where all the new ball players come
from every year and how they are
discovered? Well. they are found by
the baseball scouts who travel the
country over in search of new talent.
And this same job of scout or gum
shoe man is n mighty important job
In these days of keen competition.
Every team with championship aspira-
tons employs a high class scout.
There are perhaps two score of
scouts regularly employed by the
teams OF the major leagues, but of
them all none stands higher or is
more widely known in baseball the
country over than the official Sher-
lock of the New York Americans.
Arthur Irwin. His specially Is not
spending large sums for men who
nave already made good in big com
pany. but rather searching for young
sters. helping them along by pointing
out faults in their styles and event
uaily handing them over to Owner
Farrell ready TO 20 out and perform
for New York.
Irwin first hung up his hat in owner
Farrells Office July II. 1906. There Is
to-day in the Higlander's squad Just
one man who was then performing in
a New York uniform. lie is Hal
Chase. Practically every other mem.
Der of the squad to-day is a High.
lander through the work of Irwin. and
so well has he built the team IN that
me new manager. Harry Wolverton,
Is showing very little disposition TO
make changes. Ills comment is IL
think we have a good bunch of hall
players. and I do not see why | should
begin peddling them arohnd to other
teams"
To begin with" said Irwin. 1T
seems sometimes as though scouting
Tor baseball club is nothing hut
travel saw somewhere the other
day detailed stateme>t showing thar
Bobby Lowe. the Detroit scout. travel.
ed over 10000 miles last year looking
Tor new material. and | guess nv
Itinerary was Just as long. That is
the principal disagreeable feature of
the work, Tor II is also very lonesome.
sometimes l have been forced TO stay
In town several days with no one
TO talk TO but the hotel clerk. and |
assure you longed for company.
That hasn't anything to do with
scouting. however. Like everything
else. there are various ways OF look
ing Tor good ball players. Some scouts
wander around trusting to luck to To-
cate 5000 men. Others content them
selves with paying big sums for star
performers. Charley Murphy. of the
chicago Cubs. locates candidates by
sending hundreds of circular letters
10 small club owners. sporting editors
and fans generally all over the coun.
Try each spring asking them To fur
nish him with the names Of PLAYERS
VINO might make good in big league
company. The system Mr. Farrell and
] think best. however. and which I
use. Is TO go through all the leagues
from the little city leagues up. with
no particular player I'm mind but siz.
ing them up impartially. Having been
IN baseball great many years. I am
usually able NJ tell whether man has
the goods even though he may have
g'arinE faults. which. 10 tho fans
make him seem an ordinary player.
watching a game I frequently 500
such man. His position and move.
ments IN batting may BE- wrong 10
may not run properly or effectively