The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-05-16
MENKE SEES DEMAND
FOR YOUTH IN MANY
ROCKIES ON DIAMOND
BY FRANK q. MENKE

A rather unusual number of base
ball fledglings are disporting on big
league diamonds this spring.
Something like 40 have been tagged
regulars" by the managerial folks,
which means but one of two things.
Either the crop of 1922 is unusually
good, or the chieftans, in desperate
need of young blood, have decided to
keep every rookie who shows any
possible promise.
Not so many years ago, the kid 60
ing up to the majors for a, trial, had
no real chance. There were too many
good regulars around to waste leisure
hours on the rockies.
The result of that practice was ap-
parent in 1921. The baseball ranks
notably those of the American league
became clogged with grizzled old
veterans. Speed became a lost art.
Dash and fire were gone. The daring
plays which youth used to execute
as an inspiring feature of the game,
were made no more.
The leaders, alive finally to the per-
IL, made frantic searches through the
fading days of 1921 "for any kids that
look even fairly good
Get Different Treatment
When those recruits reported this
spring, they were accorded far differ
ent treatment than the novices of
other years. Instead of being wall
Powered and then shunted back
whence they came, they were given
every opportunity to make good-and
lot of help. Managers, alive to their
need, went the limit to fit the kids for
big league play
The Giants speared potential star
in SINNERS, an outfielder. Also they
seem to have grabbed good finger in
Vorgil Barriers. The Dodgers are dis
playing, with sense of pride, De Ber-
ry, catcher, B. Griffiths, an outf1eld-
er, and .High-not Hughie = another
outfielder. The Reds have Couch, a
pitcher, and Caveney, Pinelli and Kim.
| mick, infelders, who look rather nifty
Cooch, catcher, Rohwer and Tray.
| nor, infielders, and Mokan, an outfield-
er, are the Pirate pickups. The Cubs
have two good-looking gardeners in
Miller and STATE, promising pitcher
| in Osborne and Hartnett, a catcher.
Best of Year.
The sweet cookie" of the year is
Charlie Robertson, a rookie White
Sox pitcher, who, on April so, flung
one of the most amazing games in
baseball history. Not only did he shut
out the smuggling Tigers without allow
| ing hit, but no man reached first
base-the absolute ultimate in pitch
ing perfection.
i Robertson originally was secured
| from Sherman, Texas, three years ago
for $4,000. He was farmed to Mime.
apolis, returning to the Six this
spring.
! he Tigers are hopeful that at least
two of their four good looking kid
pitchers come through The four
| Oleson, Stoner, Johnson and Mohardt
looked very good in the training
camps. Rigney, an inflelder, also was
retained
The Senatorial pickups include two
good singers in Gleason and Phillips
The Red Sox have Chaplin, catcher
and Pittenger, an infielder Scheer
infield, Miller, outfield, and Hauser
i infield are the Athletics best recruits
The Yanks are hopeful that Murray, g
pitcher, will develop into stardom
! If only half the rockies stick whose
spring work was impressive, it will
mean at least 10 percent new blood
in major league baseball And they
certainly need it-five times over
! Copyright 1921 BY King Features
Syndicate. IDc.)