New Britain herald., 1918-02-20
% 2 8 rM EHs % % THE M M MpP % o ox K s OF
BURNS WOULD MAKE
 FINE CLUB SCOUT
Local Mans Judgment Helped
 National League

The recent meeting of the major league magnates in New York pro- duced some dope on the coming sea- son, on trades and other details that absorbed the ime and attention of the managers and owners within the sanc- tum where the business was being con- ducted. But, outside in the Hobbies of the Waldorf hotel, where the players, newspapermen and fans hang around, and where some real live dope is often spilled, the various changes that will occur in the club scouts held the at tention of all. Who would be new managers, and various proposed trades were talked at length and also the names of several new scouts for clubs came in for little of the "chinfest."
 It is, well known that several scouts are to be deposed this year, but who will be their successors is a matter of conjecture. New Britain was not overlooked in this respect, and when the familiar figure of Patrick r. Burns hove in sight the 1 scouting talk became moro interest ! ing. How on all sides despite the fact he never took up the occupation a5 q means of a livelihood, MT. Burns lS considered q keen judge of young ! ball players, as his advice to club masnates concerning Walter J. Maran- vile, William L. kopf and Merwi;l Jacobson will attest All of this trio arc stars in tho big league and their work has stamped them as :-oung men with even more brilliant future ahead. In each instance, the three above mentioned men can thank r. r. Burns for their first start in the i right direction that landed them in 1 the Big Show.
 Discovered ''thc Rabbit Maranville, a Springfield Mass boy. { was playing with q mediocre team around his home town, when P. F. l first saw him in action. It was not l long after that a scout from the New England league also "lamped' his work, and soon Rabbit had affixed ! his signature to contract. One year in tho New England league was suf- 1icient to wear off the rough edges
 and the tBoston Braves landed Him.
 Right off the reel, the Braves won the
 league championship and the Worlds i Championship.
 And Billy Kopf.
 Billy" Kopf was willing away his | time around local diamonds, when on 1 out for bigger field. He landed with Fordham, and under the name ~6f- Brady he played stellar baseball. i His next stop was with New Haven
 and then the Athletics grabbed him. | He was shunted off to Toledo, O. in
 the American association and at the 1 end of the season, was recalled by the Athletics. When Jack Barry left the White Elcphants,' Kopf filled the gap, and remained with the Mackmen until Connie took his first
 step toward wrecking the team. and
 he landed in Baltimore in the Inter
 national league. This was in 1916 and at the close of the season. Cin- cinnati of the National league gobbled him up, where he displayed wonder full work last year, and is looked upon as the mainstay of the Reds infield.
 And Jacobson Also. Merwin Jacobson, content to play 1 with semi professional teams up to | few years ago. also needed tho advice given by MT. Burns, and Patsy noting l this tipped off the manager of thel 1 Brockton team in the defunct Colonial ! league. Jake's first start in fast company resulted in his leading the league. The Giants gobbled him up. He went to the Cubs by the trade route, and last year M1tcheH sent him 1 to Toronto where under Nap I.ajoie 1 he Wielded the willow for 2s9 and 1 was considered one of the stars of ! the Maple Leaf champions. Fred Mitchell. recalled Jake at the close 1 of the season, and it is expected that he will hold down a regular berth this year with Weeghmans clever club.
 Reds Could Use Him.
 Although the report has not gained much circulation as yet, there i is talk that MT. Burns may secure a 1 place with one of the clubs finishing l in the first division last season. Larry i Sutton, of the Reds has announced i that he will not return to the job this year. Garry Hermann and Chp4stY. | Mathewson would in the opinion of | wise baseball men, make a. fine selec- i tion of MT. Burns to succeed Sutton.