Arizona republican., 1914-04-20
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During theComing Three Months 'Varsities Will Put out Spring Teams - Center of Stage for Dia- mond Athletics.
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 NEW YORK, April 19.-During the next three months the college baseball player will hold a prominent position in the spring sporting program. Ills re2- ord will oe followed closely by Enivcr- sity alumni and with even closer scrut- iny by the professional scout, for major league club managers are fully aware that occasionally star may be plucked from the varsity diamond. Players or the calibre of Eddie Collins and Christy Mathewson are found but infrequentiE There always exists, however, the pos sihlity of securing players who. If not capable of major league %Heod at the outset of their professional coreers. can quickly be coached and trained to the point where they are a decided acqui- sition to a big circuit club.
 Under professional coaching the standard of play in college baseball has risen rapidly during the past few years. Veteran big leaguers have aided the natural player by advice and instruc- tion Little hints on how to bat; take the ball for a quick throw and otlie" points of technique in the game quickly bring players with natural qualified tions within the range of major league possibilities All those connected with the professional game today realize ! that the college baseball team offers one of the best recruiting grounds at the disposal of the big league mag mates. Billy Evans, the American league umpire, college graduate and close observer of every angle of base baH, said recently in discussing this phase of the game.
 The college ball player has become a big factor in the major leagues. Ten years ago collegian was q rarity in big league lineup A few years ago major league scouts. in search of prom l ising material, gave the college garics very little consideration. At a big game last summer between two strong 1 college teams, exactly twelve major ] league scouts were in attendance. Quite l q testimonial to the value placed on the college player, by the men whose duty 1 it is to pick up future big league stars 1 Connie Mack is the pioneer in the exploiting of the college player. The
 resourceful leader of the worlds cham pions saw the worth of the college i player long before any other major
 league manager looked on the varsity
 athlete seriously. l once asked Mack why he was always so anxious to look
 over the promising college players. His reply was brief, but characteristic Oi | the famous leader of the Athletics. ''l like players who can think. Four years
 of study certainly ought to improve g 1 fellows intelligence. If 1t hasn't, fl | doesn't take me very long to discover 1 the fact. Another reason why I favol 1 the collegian, is because he comes tc me free from any other style of play 1 It is much easier to get players ac- custOmed to your way of thinking, who have never been drilled in any othel system Another point in favor of tho
 collegiau is that he knows pretty wei
 the best rules for keeping in condi- tion 1 have no use for players who fail to keep m shape. He also has beer taught the real value of discipline b!
 his professor in the class room and hi:
 coach on the ball field