Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-08-31
BILLY
EVANS
--.-.) ---.- )atfe
Didn't Want Lazzeri or Koenig

Suu1U CIAG OIllCetSO CuD6 Use 4OI1y
Lazzeri and Mark KoeTiig, star second
sacker end shortstop of the New
! York Yankees?
can hear Manager Joe Mccarthy
shout, Eyes. Is there any way
can get them?" Of course there
isn't, but Chicago had chance to
get them before New York grabbed
Tony and Mark.
Bill Killifer, now of the st. Louis
Browns, but who for years managed
the Cubs, told me the story the
! other day It's probably good thing
for the National league that Chicago
didn't \buy the two rockies or the
present race wouldn't be as tight
an affair as it is. 4ss
Bobby Wallace, one Of the greatest
slortstops in the history of the game.
was the Scout who tried to have
Chicago buy Koelig and Lazzeri.
Wallace placed his o. K. on the two
youngsters before either of them had
made much noise in the minors and
they could, have been secured at
bargain rates. d
consider Lazzeri the most
NSS4uctl4C yOQllS 111I4CtCCIa Ill U1lC
American league. He has no peer
at second or short and can do
a fine job at first or third.
Yank Stars Praised BY Wallace
! Shortly after Wallace hal left on
his first scouting trip, he informed
me that he had seen two infielders
in action who were future big leag-
uers," said Ki1lifer, in explaining how
close the Cubs came to landing the
two Yankee stars.
Wallace stressed the fact that both
of the players were coming fast and
that inside of a year or two would
bring fancy figures He expressed
a preference for Lazzeri and said
not to pass him by.
Following the usual procedure, the
records and habits of the two players
were carefully gone into. The report
came back that Koenig was too high
strung player to stand up under.
the big league strain and that he
had tendency tc be erratic in his
play, The dope on iLaZzeri was that
he was none too strong physically
"As result of these unfavorable
reports the Chicago owners decided
to pass up bo.h players. What
mistake it Was!"
Had Chicago taken Wallace's
advice on Lazzeri and koenig,
the veteran scout swould have
earned his salary for some time
by acquiring two such classy
players.
Fred Hancy Missed Out On Luck
While on the subject of the Cub
infield, Fred Haney, former American
league player, enjoyed a big thrill,
only to be followed by bitter dis
appointment
Some weeks ago the ail-end Boston
Red SoX asked for waivers on Haney
and Manager Mccarthy, of the Chi
cago Cubs, claimed him. Going from.
o tailender of one big league to the
leader in another, was quite a jump.
1t seemed Haney finally had gotten
a swell break.
At the time, it struck me that
Hahey, q scrappy, aggressive player
of the Mccarthy type, would help
the Cubs, for little Fred is pretty
good man to have around.
Then followed the disappointment
The other day Chicago secured Voter
of Indianapolis, and Haney was sent
to that club as part payment Indian
apolis is flirting with the cellar in
the American association. Voter, a
third oaseman, had a chance several
years ago with Cleveland.
Could Joe Mccarthy use Tony u
Lazzeri and Mark Koenig? If
he had them in his. squad there
wouldn't be much doubt about
the 1927 pennant race. They
would add just the right amount
of reserve strength to the Cubs.
-----(---