The Washington times., 1925-02-17

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Epgle was not to be argued out
Of the nervx kid at second base and
vas so persistent, that Griffith took
the train that night Tor Buffalo.
The next day the two washington
men sat in the stands and watched
Bucky nursing broken finger.
slam out six safe hits in q doubles
header. Griff was Immediately
"solds on the scrapping second
baseman.
An interesting feature is that
WfItse. manager of buffalo and
scouting Tor the Giants. told Nc
Graw to pass UP Harris.
with Harris ii tow, Griff and
EnrIe went 20 the IroquOks Hotel
affer the game and signed him.
eve didn't have any agreement
hlanlss' EugIe was telling me,
seo we lust signed the kid on the
back Of 3 hotel envelope. The
Buffalo Club received $500, and
one player for Harris.
AS the three men ssfe10 49, Wis
the clubhouse, after the game
Engie picked up the bat with wien l
Bucky had made six hits and re-
married.: boy, you'd better take
that Old hat with you.
eHeII- I can hit with any bat
Buclxv snapped back. with 9 Kid =
confidence. And just to show there
was no b1uffing, he played with
washington the following afternoon
AGAINST the Yankees and got g MT
Oft Carl Mays, his first time at bat
a. the major leagues.
Seven consecutive hits the ltrst
time Griff saw Harris in action
made him satisfied and he was
satisfied right down to Ethe day
Tie scfaDpy 27.year.old kid manag
"a WASHINGTON through victor
ious World Series
Enele's scouting experiences with
Earl McKesley Is interesting In
anofl1ef SVsivs On Washington,e
second trip west In 1928, Griffith
sent for Engle and q conference
was held in q Cleveland hotel
Griff told Engle that, i Washington
hoped to. win the pennant, they'd
have 10 get hold Of e. good E1glls-
handed hitter WITHOUT t1elay y ASH.
InKLOn IA
There's good one out on the
coast Engle told the boss. but
ffa nrice is too high. Earl Nc
Medley. then with Sacramentos WaA
fise. niayer they discussed. Sacrae
u6e4,fo demanded 500, 900 which
vaa out OF the question. sEHgse
boarded 4 train and went to CALI
forr,fa. where he watched McNeeiey
FOR = week. He got Griffith on the
long distance phone and urged inn
mediate signing OF McNeeley, who
he described as being young, fast.
q good fielder and possessing p good
throwing arm. Hes hitting around
$50 and IL we can get him at the
right price. I say grab him quick, !"
Engle reported to Griffith.
The result was. that Sacra-
mento received S35 900 cash and
the services of Wild Matthews,
Washington OutfieIder. Nc
Nicely Joined our club at Chicago
and his pep and punch immed-
lately helped ms In the pennant
fight. Pittsburgh had tried to
land him but doe Engle a. usual
was on TO his job. believe
McNeeiy IS entitled to "a fair
share Of credit for Washington
winning the pennant.
But the big story about McNeeiy
a this-l1e never played organized
ball In his life, previous to 1923.
And in one short year. he was
helping win major league pen
nant.
It would be easy to 90 on telling
incidents like these. know that
In one season, Joe Engle turned
down eighteen players, who were
later bought by other major league
clubs. All Of them failed to make
good. A scouts job just as much
in rejecting poor players as it, 81
IN signing good ones. Pittsburgh
paid Tulsa $35,0oD ror George
Boehler and he failed. Pittsburgh
also paid $4,000 and players for
Kuntze, who could not make good
! in fast company. Both men were
Connie Mack paid $4,000 for PAN
Strand, after Engle had passed nm
up. know of one player IN the
coast league who Engle went out
TO watch on five occasions In n
single season. He covered 80 900
miles just to inspect this player.
Club owners are tipped off to a
good looking youngster In many
ways. Managers and players on
other clubs are always ready 10
boost>a young fellow. In washing
ton, it is a regular thing to have
Senators and Congressnlen tell OF
some good prospect In their home
district. And are very much in
earnest. Young boys frequently
write letters telling OF some good
player. Tips come from people, by
letter. who are unknown to any
member of our club and we always
give them every consideration. Jack
Bentley, Of the Giants, was frs;
recommended to Washington by q
stranger. At the time Bentley was
with a team at Sandy Springs, Md
He was asked TO work out at oul
ball park, where he later signed 9
contract. Washington sent him Il
Minneapolis. and after playing Z
Number Of years at Baltimore, h
went to the Giants. But the poin