South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-30
Ed MATT, CLEVER
INF IELDER,. WILL
JOIN SOUTH BEND
Recruits Look Good and Add
tian of Ex-MiChigan State
Lacquer Adds to Bender'S
Class.

Two more recruits. one a star last
wear in the Michigan state league. and
drafted by the Chicago cubs. were
signed by Manager Ed Smith Monday
morning. The eX-State Lacquer -
none other than Eddie Matt, shortstOp
and the other Is "Cy'' Watt OF Fort
Wayne. an outnelding person.
Matt drifted into the state league
last year and hooked up with Manis-
tee lust in time to assist in winning
the pennant and in time To be OF great
assistance in walloping the Battle
Creek champs numerically IN the
pOst-season series. There's rea-
som f.. the defeat OF the champs OF
the South Michigan. as they would re-
mark in the Food city but a good part
Of the reason would appear 10 be the
Unfolding, running. throwing, SlugglnE.
lighting and playing Of AR. EdNFfd
Matt, now become the Eddie OF the
South Bend club.
Following Mats whirlwind trip
through the upstate circuit a scout
for the Chicago Cubs attached him 10
a contract. but Matt feared he would
suffer the fate of many Cub recruits
and be showed off the train At some
southern point and be left TO wither
and pine under heated skies in Dixie.
Matt has an aversion to D1Xte'S cline
and succeeded. in some manner not
clearly understood, in getting his free
dom from the Cubs Smith heard OF
this some months ago and the minute
he acquired a club here he started
after Matt The smuggling shOrtstOp
took his own time about making up
his mind but after cOyly listening 10
Smiths Inducements and murmuring
This is so sudden, he broke the news
gently by giving Smith a half accept
ance last week and his contract Mon
day. - kfAAz2
Looks Like Conner.
Matt looks like the best bet yet as
an infielder that Smith has picked up.
Eddie has ali the earmarks of a com
ing big Lacquer and il would not be
surprising to see him shipped 20 higher
company from South Bend this year.
Matt is ambitious both for himself
and for the club he is affiliated with.
and promises to play his very best this
year as a Bender.
Watt is an outhelder and halls from
Fort Wayne. He comes with strong
recommendation and will be careful
" watched. The BenderS are now
equipped with more Outfield material
than Smith really wants TO try out and
the bunch has enough known class 10
assure a fast trio Of gardeners.
The Pick of the Bunch.
There are about six men in the re-
cruits that should make good here
this year. according to Smith. These
include 'Whiff" Dolan, eX-Notre Dame
outfielder: Berkham. st. Joseph gar
dener: Moore local pitcher; Joe Nee.
third baseman; Matt, shortstop, and
Arndt first sacker. Among the re-
cruits must be developed or discover
ed a second sacker, a catcher, a
couple of good pitchers, and an out
fielder Smith expects to make good
i'm the box himself. and this VIII re-
lieve the situation considerably.
OF Moore. Smith has high hopes IF
that man fails 10 stick il means that
the team will have some pitching
staff Smith declared optimistically.
Murphy and Nutter. Of Indianapolis.
pitcher and outfielder, look pretty
good from a distance and may solve
some of the worries Of the magnates
here. other recruits seem 10 have
ability and perhaps one or two or
them will come through in acceptable
style If they don't Smith Will have TO
buy the rest Of his club.
spike IaF&OSs Signs.
Cricket fans were delighted with the
news that LaROss, known TO his fam
lily as Harry. and TO the ball world az
Spike. had affixed his name 10
1914 contract and would play with the
champs this year. IaROss has been
one of the three holdouts this year
and il was openly admitted at head
quarters here that his signing was
doubtful.
LaRoss is probably the peer Of any
of the old outfielders in the league
His work last year was excellent and
his playing was largely responsible for
the runaway fight the Crickets made in
coping the championship. LaRoss
has one Of the best arms in baseball
and by many his long fast pegs 20
the plate from deep center field. mark
him as the best throwing outhelder in
the league. Duncan, Green and la
Ross viii be the Cricket garden trio
Deny Erickets Weaker.
Incidentally Cricket fans deny that
their team viii be any weaker than
il was last year Sport critics all over
the league have taken the stand that
every team Will bee improved over
1913 except Battle Greek. This view
seems justified, however when the Pc
rusal Of the lineup is made. The
Crickets have gathered a likely look
ing bunch Of recruits but have nothing
that can compare To Niehaus, Gala
han. hewitt Badger. Williams. Hengcs
and Mcdonald signed vet 10 take the
place Of these stars. Niehaus, Gala
han Mcdonald and hewitt are lost TO
the team for certain. the rest being
holdouts. The Youngsters are mostly
from Cincinnati and vicinity and We're
personally signed by Manager McKer-
nan.