Evening journal., 1916-05-19
KAUFF MADE HIS
Start 6 Years AGO
Played Professional Ball for
the First Time in Park
erSburg. W. Va.
NOW HE'S A REAL
NOISE IN BIG SHOW

Bennie Kauff. the best advertised
ball player in the business. celebrated
the sixth anniversary Of his rescue
from the coal mines and his debut
as a professional ball player on We'd
nesday. The renowned Benjamin is 2
native OF Middletown, little city in
southwestern Ohio but he got his hrst
league job in Parkersburg w. Va. he
played his first game for that city, on
May II. 1910. and did so well that he
was retained for the entire season.
Bennys dad was coal miner, and
Benny seemed destined TO follow tb~
same occupation The future famous
swatter had barely entered his teens
when he joined his father in the mines
and for years he toiled underground
for 10 or 70 hours a day, at the ILL.,
paid and hazardous job Of digging
coal. In his few hours OF leisure he
played ball with the other kids and
Benny made quite a reputation. For
years he entertained an ambition to
become a regular ball player, for even
a minor league berth looked mighty
soft 20 Benny. compared with the min
ing job.
Benny's chance came in the spring
OF 1910. when Frank Locke, the Par
kersburg pilot consented to give the
coal digger a chance. AS previously
remarked, Kauff got away with IT,
He was the batting marvel Of the cir
cult. and finished the season with the
snug little average OF .4l7 to his
credit
Such a performance naturally at
lrscted attention. and Benny wac
drafted by the New York Americans
then managed by Hal Chase. On the
southern trip Benny was a star with
the bat, and Arthur Irwin, the scout
who had dug him up. was elated with
his find. Benny not only helded bril-
liantly and batted like house afre
but no caught part OF a game in Rich
mond. Va, and in Petersburg, Va.
and was sent into the box and twirlet
several innings with great effective
ness. For some reason. however, Ha
Chase decided that Benny wouldn't do
and sent him TO Bridgeville, where h'
batted 30i in 1911
The next year Kauif was recalled
TO the Yanks. and he was used in a
dozen games. batting .37S. Harry
r Wolverton. who had succeeded Chase
at the Yankee helm. also passed M
Benny and shipped him TO Rochester
He wasn't given fair trial at Rochos.
ter. but was sent back to the Con
necticut League. landing with Hart
ford. He batted .321 in 1912. anc
in 1918 his average was 345. He lee
the Eastern Association in battling
that year and his big stick was largely
instrumental in winning the pennan
for the Nutmeg State capital.
Pittsburgh and other big leagu
clubs dickered for Kauff al the clos
OF the 1913 season. but the price wa
Too high. and Benny was sent to tn
Indianapolis club OF the American AS
sociation. Benny went to Indian
epolIs. all right. but IL was 10 ioiI
the Federal League club then in tha
city. He led the Feds with the sticl
batting .366. and was dubbed 9TH
lTy Cobb OF the Independents" Las
season with the Brookfeds Benny bat
ted .344. again leading the league.
Benny's future in o. B. is still IN
certain. but it is pretty safe to pre-
dict that he will be right up anon
'em at the close OF the season. Kauf'
own valuation OF himself may be con
siderably inflated. but there isn't an
likelihood that he will have TO n
back to the mines very soon. He /
only about %. and should improve 4
the next few years.