The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-05-18

or Owen Carroll, Holy Cross star.
When he joined the Detroit Tigers
at Boston in June of last season, it
was an event extraordinary. New
England folks fiockcd TO the ball ward
to see the young man in action.
AS college pitcher. over four
years of play. Carroll! had won some
think like 80 games and lost only
two.
A big sensation in "Rah, Rah"
circles, the supposition was that Car
roll would stand the big league bat
ters on their heads just as he did
the collcgians.
1t so happened that umprcd the
debut of Carroll as n member Of the
Detroit team in his so-callcd home
town of Boston. also his first ap-
pearance at Detroit
"rhcy were flops." as they say in
theatrical circles when an act fails
to 20 over, as Carroll did not finish
either game.
Big Handicap
While Carroll failed to 60 the route
in his first two starts, ventured
the prediction that he was great
looking pitching prospect.
In sense. Carrolrs failure TO get
away to good start in the majors
last season might well be attributed
to matter of finance.
Feeling that Carroll should have
a year of minor league experience,
Manager Cobb consented to let him
make his debut in Boston. few
days after he joined the club. rather
than nurse him along for number
Of weeks as is customary with re-
cruit pitchers.
1t was asking too much Of Carroll
to come through under the circum-
stances but. at that, he pitched as
The Tigers, anxious to help put the
youngster over in Boston, didn't play
up to standard.
About week later he made his
Detroit debut and it was no more
suspicious.
However, both games were played
to standing-room only. so that Car
roll soon brought back at the gate
much of the money tina. had been
paid out for him.
Plenty Of Courage
In some quarters the opinion was
expressed that the rather forced
starting Of Carroll. which result
ed in two defeats. might take some
of his confidence and possibly ruin
his career.
That thought never appealed to
me. Carroll wasn't quite ready when
he came to the majors. Pitching to
big league batters for the first time.
he had no knowledge of their weak.
ness or strength.
Having plenty Of courage. the Sc
we're test he had been put to, with
accompanying failures, in no way
Carroll.
at is all so different up here" re.
marked Carroll to me after his Sec
ond game. sit looks as if there is
q lot Of pitching that still have to
learn.
>"rhe battcrs wait you out up here.
They don't swing >at everything that
is near the plate. as do many of !
the college players, and: when they
get you in the hole, they murder the
cripple"
Going Great
This spring I watched Carroll for
q couple of days with the Detroit
Tigers at Augusta, Ga.
Manager Cobb had then practically
decided that year in some big
minor league would give Carroll the
polish he needed to be major league
star.
E He was to be sent to the Toronto
club of the International League.
Catching for that team was the vet
eran Steve O'Neill, for many years
the star backstop of the Cleveland
Indians.
what about Owen Carroll?" II
asked Steve. valuing his opinion
highly.
''He looks great" replied Steve.
"Has fine curve ball. good fast
one, and there is style to his every
movement He has the class. will
make great pitcher for Cobb"
Handled by Q'Neill, the collegian
Carroll won his first six starts in the
International League.
Which makes Manager Tyrus Cobb
of Detroit smile blandly.