The Detroit times., 1913-02-24
SEARCHING FOR PLAYERS
is NOTHING BUT GAMBLE
Scouts Watch Man in Minors
Who Seems a Cobb or Speaker,
But Falls Down in Majors
CASE OF BRONKIE,
OF MAPS, is ONE
Idea of Fast Company Causes
Many to Lose Nerve When
They Should Make Good

The Lloyds are supposed to be the
biggest gamblers In the World. This
mighty insurance concern will nav a
shipowner $4,000 for his vessel lying
at the bottom OF tne sea, send out q
massive lighter and crew OF divers.
resurrect the sunken boat and clean
up half million. Oftea.imes they
lose, and lose heavily.
It's a far cry from retrieving lost
SHIPS TO baseball, but the national
pastlme has one phase OF its exist
ence In common with the work of 1he
Lioyds, except that the club magnstes
stahd bigger chance to lJse on their
investment. For, following out the
slmlle, 1t can be seen that tie cIuD
owners pay out a handsome sum for
player, with only an outside chance
OF pelng able 10 clean up a goodly sum
| for their work.
ASK magnate what the biggest
gamble In the world is, in his estima-
tion 4 and he will promptly reply.
scouting And, from his c.andpoirt
ne Is undeniably correct.
| The club that has COOL scouts "a
usually the club with the best PLAYERS
though this epigram does not always
bear the earmarks OF tru.k. man
might be a good ball PLAYER IT, the
minors, but take him within the shade
oil the big top and ne is worta!ess. We
seems TO feel that he is playing cut
OF his class and. for that resson. p,4ys
iar below his regular form. tfe .Grt
make good, Is sent back 20 rhe minors.
wnen he at once picks up aud staYtlcs
the bush league fans witt his scintil-
lating array OF plays.
The case OF Bronkie, Nan infielder
last year. is beautiful cese in poi..t.
bronkfe looked like woriI beater Il,
the minors. The SCOUTS were lcad III
their praises, and a dozen n. them
were looking at him every lay. CIore-
land grabbed him.
Then came the change Realizing
that he was in camp OF ball player
many OF whom were better thai he.
Bronkie lost his nerve. Hts celdiug
Was ragged, has hittiae nothing of
which to brag. He never opened his
mouth from the time the team took
the field to the time 1t retired tc tie
dressing room. Back to the minors
he went
The next day. Sunday. he was play
ing In the minor leagues, 1. was
reluvenated Bronkie. He covered his
position with the speed OF unfettere1
lightning. He batted VITA serocity
that landed him in me box scores with
about two triples and the sar,e num-
Der or doubles TO his credl:. And. won-
oeriul to behold, he yellel every min-
ute or the game, Raging the umpires,
panning out his opponents and en-.
cCuraging his own teammates.
Inc scouts marveled. They couldn't
understand H. But the soiuti1a was
simple. Bronkie was at home in the
minors. He felt confident, knew he
was the equal OF the best men in the
league and acted accordingly. In the
majors II was different. He was not
at home there and rhe feeling az. end
! ed itself to his work. He was afraid
he could not make good That's the
reason he is In the minors today.
Possibly he may come again 70 the
top OF the professioh, hrt If he does
he will have TO summon .ur. the same
aggressive spirit that he employs
I against minor league clubs. Other
wise he will fail again. And II Is the
same with host Of other players IN
the smaller leagues.
scout has to consider all these
things in addition 10 the Players me-
chanfcal ability. This is the hardest
Job In the world. IL Is IMPOSSIBLE for
man hunting talent 20 arhyze the
feelings animatlng the promis.ns
youngster. Lack OF nerve ard conf.
dence are qualities never revealing
themselves outwardiy, yet are the ones
} to be taken most into consideration
when 1t comes TO a matter OF landing
the player.
In consequence the job - the scout
is no sinecure knowing that the
man possesses the requisite natural
ability TO get him berth IN thn big
league. the other qualities mu"t be
taken for granted. And here is vnere
the magnate begins his gamble, which
ltoo often. alas, ends disas'ronsIy fer
him from financial vievpoip'
RI a magnate securesNa single good
player In the course OF 4 season &c
is more than satisfied. To get hold OF
lmore than open good man In a season
lis stroke OF luck. more thar one of
genius That Is what makes scoutir2
n profession akin q that CT prospect.
I ing. And that is what msxss the base.
| ball profession on par With thas Cf
taking chances. And, hna,'y, that Is
what causes the magna'e to answer
as he does when asked whar the
preatast gambling venture In the