Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-19
ED PFEFFER FOUND
IT HARD TO BREAK
INTO BIG LEAGUE
Ebbets Only Magnate Will
ing to Give Present Star
Twirler Chance


Edward CJenf'D Pfeffer had hard time
breaking into the majors. II wasn't be-
cause no one thought him good pitcher.
put because the magnates who heard OF the
doings OF Pfcifer in the minors confused
him with the ancient Prefer, who passed
beyond the big league pale some years ago.
Back In the latter part OF 1913 Jim Can
ney, then owner OF the Braves. got lettcr
from friend In Grand Rapids
Grab this fellow Prefer who is pitching
for the Grand Rapids Club" advised friend.
Hes wonder: been pitching real baseball
ana ought TO be n sensation in the biz
leagues"
rhereupon Gaffney laughed
why should sign up Pfeferg' he said
10 one OF his associates. Hes a hss-been,~
You see, Jim had him mixed up with
the old hurler by the same name
while later n became nolsed around In
big league circles that n chap named Pfefer
was doing great things In the Central
League. But all OF tho magnates except
G. Hercules Ebbets figured II was Pfener
the veteran. SO they passed up the chance
TO snare one Of the best moundsmen that
has busted into the big tent In many years.
Took No Chance
G. Hercules, however, had scout some-
where in the Grand Rapids neghborhood.
G. Hercules wasn't sure whether the pfefer
was the old boy or younester. But he
dtont take any chances. He wired his scout
TO take look at that bird" which the
scout did. Pfeffer was drafted by Ebbets
because Il wasn't the old Pfeffer but
young one who was setting the league on
nre.
Pfeffer won 20 out OF s5 games for the
Dodgers In 1914 and 10 out OF 3s last year.
This season he was their most dependable
pitcher--the boy who put them in the fight
early In the year and who. barring one
slip-up, helped 20 keep them there.
one OF the biggest baseball bargains on
record was Zach Wheat. &. Hercules kh-
bets bought him from MOhilo In lou4 for
$780, and at the time figured that maybe
those Southerners were slipping little
something over on him. But Ebbets got
n surprise-and an agreeable one.
Wheat has been n major league player
for eight seasons. and finished with club
bing average beyond 800 on hve separate
and distinct occasions. Oddly enough. he
never hit 800 In the minors. yet In his
first year in the big leagues he clubbed 'em
for .30i. In 1912 he hit for SOS In 1919
II was .S0i; In 1914 for Sl9. He slumped
10 .25s last year, but came right back this
season with something like $40.
More Lucky Ones
Another brace OF lucky guys" are Dick
Hoblitsel. first saclSer for the .Sox, and
Larry Cheney, the spitball performer for
in" by their former club owners. No one
| wanted 20 buy 'em. So waivers were asked.
The Sox needed first baseman just
/ about the time the Reds wanted TO get rid
| OF Hobltze and lney took him for $500.
| The next son-l91b-Hoblitzel busted
| into the world series and took unto himself
| a large portion OF the world series spon-
/ dulles. And now he gets another big share.
| Cheney failed mserabiy with the Cuba
| during his last year or two in Chicago. II
! looked like the minors for him. but at this
| last minute lsbbets picked him up for $500
| And now Larry can have the pleasure OF
| spending-or saving-a nice big sum OF
money for his share OF the world series
spols.