New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-26
Kauff Arrives
And Can Say
II Told You So"
Out6elder of Giants Never
Doubted His Ability to
Make Good
By w. !. Macbeth

he is more endearingly known TO fan
dom, never had mean opinion Of him
self as ball player.
Kauff got his first chance in 1911
with the Yankees, who could make
room for him very nicely now. He
was a ruddy-faced little chap then, but
who carried terrific punch in heavy
set shoulders and arms. His strength
had been developed in the coal mines.
MAKE good" said Benny to the
writer during a tanning bee one night
at Athens, Ga, during the training trip
Of 1911. "Sure I'll make good. And
I'll make good right in little old New
York, which I've never seen, but where
/ belong.
Supreme Confidence
"You fellows are all talking Iy
Cobb. Well, some day I'll be better
ball player than that fellow. feel 1t
in nv bones. Nobody will ever con-
vince me that am wrong in my
opinion of my ability"
That srring, and the one following,
when he again made training trip
with the Yankees under Harry Wolver-
ton. Benny KaufT was regarded rather
in the spirit Of indulgence by his fell
low players.
"You should have kept on pitching
Benny" one of his associates bantered'
"You belong in the NUT class, all
right" To the profession southpaw5
are regarded universally as nuts
"ITl show you where belong when
I get up in trent Of you this after
noon" Kauff replied. an hit the ball
clear through you
And he could hit the ball. He was
not ready for fast company then,
though he displayed every evidence OF
coming greatness. He could run like a
deer, range far and throw like a bull
let. But neither on the field nor on
the bases did he display the sound
judgment that comes only of long ex-
perience.
Benny KaufF was severely handi-
capped when inst called to fast com
pany. He had played ball only two
years up to that time. lie did not have
the advantage of most of the young
men who graduate to the big show.
His early youth was passed in hard
work in the mines.
Runaway Colt"
With the Yankees away back in 1911
KaufY earned the sobriquet of 'Runa-
way Colt" His main purpose seemed
TO be to hit home runs. Nobody could
possibly get him TO bunt.
al don't have to learn to bunt," he
told Wclverton. Bunting for me is a
waste of time. | hit them
And he did. He made life miserable
for the Yankee pitchers-veterans and
rockies alike. But he lived up TO his
sobriquet. Next best to hitting the
ball Benny loved to display his speed.
No one ever could accuse him of fall
ing to run out his hits. He'd just keep
going till he scored or ran into the ball.
In one practice game against the
University of Georgia Benny simply
ruined a couple of college pitchers.
Every time he came up there were
plenty Of runners on the bases. Benny
knocked these home religiously. but
he himself suffered through lack OF
control of his speed.
The first time up Kauf singled, but
was caught trying for second. Next
time he doubled and was nailed at
third. On his third appearance he
tripled. only to be snuifed out at the
plate. 1t was this afternoons work
that earned for him the nickname Of
Runaway Colt
A mistaken impression Of Benny was
given baseball patrons prior TO his re-
turn to New York as a member Of the
Giants. Kauf is not lf-opinionated
but he is unusually enthusiastic. He
does not underestimate his personal
ability. That is just Why he is so good
player. He gives all he has all of
the time.
Benny Misrepresented
Kauf spent the winter Of 1876 in
New York. lie had had a wonderful
season with the Brooklyn Federal
League club. When peace was declared
with the outlaw circuit, the syndicate
which controlled the Federal League
players sold Benny to the Giants. KaufF
naturally became the object Of lot
Of newspaper notoriety.
Friends Of his who hoped 10 exploit
him IN vaudeville prompted the little
fellow 10 make lot Of ridiculous
statements about himself. He was
quoted as comparing Ty Cobb as a
ousher alongside of himself and with
other declarations equally nonsensical.
Kauf had 20 pay dearly for his mis-
guided utterances. No major league
player. with the possible exception of
Fred Merkle suffered 80 hard q Grid
ing from the fans OF other cities. The
fact that Kauf got away very poorly
as hitter his first year with the
Giants left him open TO picking fan
dom. Benny took his medicine like a
little man. He has turned the laugh
the other way.
kauf always was possessed Of excep-
tonal hitting skill but not until this
season did he convince the skeptics OF
his real worth. Until he Joined the
Federal League his fine batting aver.
ages had been compiled in comparative
~ obscure company. With the Indian.
spolis outlaw club he batted 1866 in
1914. but u WAS generally believed the
pitching he faced did not begin 20 com
pare with that of the majors. Also, /,
was said that the Federal League used
far livelier ball than the National
and the American, which naturally
would increase hitting.
Perhaps IL is true Kauf's Federal
League record gave no true line on hi'