The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-09-26

Larry Sutton, dean Of baseball
scouts, who tours the wilds and the
bushes for the Brooklyn club, reports
that the Robins have annexed their
share Of promising material. 1t Is the
opinion of Squire Ebbets and Man
ager Robinson that it Is useless to bag
a ball yard full of prospects and not
have the opportunity to give them
real test.
Therefore 1T has been Sutton's job
TO look over selected stock with an
eye to the needs Of the Robins for
next year. Sutton says Robby will
have several youngsters who will be
ripe for the big show next year.
He prizes Art High. at present
third basing for Memphis, flag win.
ner Of the Southern circuit, as the
gem. High, who Is hitting 1928.
plays shortstop as we'll as third base.
He'd be a mighty useful man for the
Robins either at third or short when
have shot their bolt.
Talent Hunting Hard.
Talent hunting is not the easy
proposition 1t once was. Small
leagues feel the pinch of depression
that is abroad in the land and organi.
zation of bush circuits is not going
forward as rapidly as 1t might. Then.
too, with 100 paid scouts and 1000, 900
volunteers looking for embryo Babe
Ruths, the life Of the hunter Is diff.
ficult.
Scouts are humping over one an.
other in the sticks and as soon as q
club owner realizes there is q scout
Ia fttKr fI.A 80 h.
player up to the new minimum of
$500, and Ty Cobb, now in his six.
teenth year. cost just $3.50.
Hunting players tor the club that
employs him is not the only job of the
scout nowadays, for frequently he has
TO bolster up a minor league team by
getting players for it. AS an ex-
ample. Larry Sutton went into Flint,
Mich, recently. He asked the clerk
In the leading hotel If there was a bail
game in town and the clerk was IN
able to supply the information.
By chance Sutton met a newspaper
man, who promptly told him there
would be q game that day, but not
thereafter unless Flint got a ball club.
Underground Information reached the
club owners that Sutton was in town.
The club had nothing in the way Of
salable playing talent. The owners
had no money to buy any that might
bolster the club. Sutton saw the diff
ficulty and wired East for a couple Of
sandlotters. One was q lad from Boon
ton, N. j., who had never played pro.
fessionally. He arrived and was put
in an infield Job. His sensational hit
ting has helped cheer the Flint fans.
and Brooklyn will get this youngster.
who appears to be pointed for the big
show.
Pat Moran, regarded by many as
the best developer Of playing material,
sharing the honor with Robby as the
topnotch coach Of pitchers, is attempt.
ing to build the Reds up for next
season. Whenever the club has a day
Off several Of the players are sent on
scouting tours. Moran does quite a
bit OF ivory hunting himself. He re-
ports that some of the clubs that have
been drawing big gates have simply a
blanket claim on all the minor league
talent in the country.
Could Not Sign Minister.
They tell q story In Cincinnati Of
Pats efforts to get some pitching
talent that is worth repeating, as II
will give an idea Of the difficulties OF
the scout. Pat saw a wonder boxman
In little church league. He watched
him work and was delighted. How
do they get that way in a church
Lacquer" asked Pat of himself.
Pat hurriedly put fine looking con.
tract to the pitcher, who informed
Moran that his job was saving souls.
Saving souls" replied Pat. "why,
man, you'd save my life II you'd Join
the Reds"
The pitcher looked at the figures
Pat offered for six months work He
thought Of his own salary Of S1,400 a
year and then said to Moran: ira like
to Join you, but I am a minister. and
they say that the Cincinnati club Is