New Britain herald., 1916-02-15
LOOK THEM OVER
 IS IRWIN'S IDEA
'OrIner Yankee Scout Uses "Silent
 Bennie' Kauff as a Criterion

@ New York, Feb. 15.-Arthur Irwin # eteran scout and discoverer of Ben
 TN Eauff, recently purchased by the M Plants, is one of the few recognized I uthorities in baseball who takes is- a 10 with the system of quick tests @ 1T recruits, now rather general N mong major league managers. Dras- # ic roster limits and club treasury s roubles of late years have about done s or the gradual development of young $ sters by big league teams.
 M '.The difference between $500 in # ash and a higher-priced ball player 8s what the New York American a league club might have saved II my Theory that a busher is entitled to Gradual polishing instead of a quick #ire test of his ability had been worked Bout in Kauff's case" argues Irwin. N Late in the summer of 1910 first &struck Kauff's trail. He then was pas Filming in the Virginia Valley league #with the Parkersburg team. l watched #aim slam the ball in four or five &rames and I then was ready to stake #ny reputation on his ability to hit. #That fall we drafted the player. He Ncost us only $500. The next spring &he went to Athens, Ga, with the Yan- #xees. With Parkersburg the previ- #pus season he had batted .417 against #all sorts of pitching. We'll he pelted agood and bad serving on the training #iaunt. I don't say he was a good 8neIder or used good judgment in his &base running, but he could hit. And &the other qualities usually come in stime under proper coaching.
 Does Some Freak Running T remember some freak stunts $Kauff pulled on day on that trip. The sYankee Yanigans were on their way north I was managing them and Eve were up against college team zdown in Virginia. The first time. up She poled a single and was out trying sto stretch it. Next time he hit to cen Rter for a double and was thrown out Sstriving to reach third On the fourth Eattempt he hit one over the center Fielder, and was tagged out sliding fhome. His one idea was to keep go- ling until the ball reached some base aahead of him.
 That of course was kid stuff-he 5 was only 1 8 at the time-but he was an unpublished star then. His ability to hit the ball on line to any field was due to his unusual muscular de- velopment. He has exceptionally powerful shoulders and arms.
 'sWhen it came time to cut down the squad Hal Chase had no room for Kauff We then had Daniels Wolter, Cree, Hemphill and other veteran out fielders, and we had finished second the previous season, so Chase cannot be blamed. Kauff went to the Con necticut league and did we'll. The Yan- kees failed to recall him, and h. dianapolis bagged him.
 'I repeat, Chase was not to blame. The quick-test system was I contend that any young fellow who shows un- usual promise should be nursed along for a season or so. If he cannot be developed under the immediate tutlagt of the manager who is to become hi: mentor, he should be sent to a strong minor league club and recalled at thu end of the season.
 Cites Case of Giants. That in the main, has been Nc Graw's system of recruiting Giants can illustrate with two players nov
 starring for him. George Burns
 Joined the Giants late in the 191.
 season. He sat on the bench all thu
 next season, getting into games oc
 casionally and soaking up McGraw'
 style of game all along. In 1915 h.
 blossomed out as a regular and mad
 good from the start.
 Jeff Tesreau was not a big league
 when he joined the Giants. He wa
 carried for a short time and the1
 shipped to Toronto, where he got tn
 work he needed. When he returne
 he was a success, for the year in tn
 International league had given hir
 the needed polish.
 Had Kauff been nursed along tn
 same way he would now be starrin
 for the Yankees. A youngster wh
 breaks into a big league and goes t
 trial immediately seldom can do him
 self justice. Burns, Tesreau an
 many others I can name could nc
 have done it.'' .-
 Irwin now is manager and pal
 owner of the Lewiston (New Englan
 1eague) team. Scouting is only a sid
 issue with him now. It is Irwin wh
 is scheduled to take two picked team
 like the Giants and White Sox, wh
 made the famous worlds tour--t
 South Am erica next winter.
 TINKER MAY BUY CLUB