The Washington times., 1932-01-02
RAPP F FOU D
FERRELLBY
ACCIDENT
By HENRY P. EDWARDS


Many a story has been writer
in regard TO the discovery OF
Wesley Ferrell. the record-break
ing pitcher of the Cleveland In
dams, but Just few days before
his death on December "a here IN
Washington. Bill Rapp, the dis,
coverer of the sensational young
right.hander. admitted that the
uncovering of the big hurler was
an accident.
Rapp discussed FerrellS dis
covery with the oversigned during
the recent major league meetings
in Chicago.
Rapp, who. by the way was a
boyhood friend of Earl Holt,
superintendent Of the Oak Ridge
Academy down in North Carolina,
dropped .in one day in March,
1927. 10 see if his old side kick
mad developed any more ball play,
ers. Oak Ridge having sent cut
q dozen or more big leaguerS.
Have a very fair pitcher.
Bill" said Holt. Hes got ter
rifle speed and a good curve
ball. In fact, he's got about
everything. i want you to look
at him this afternoon"
Bill was out to watch the prac-
tice that afternoon. He watched
Hollis great prospect, Henry
Chitty White, and he was Of the
opinion that White was every
thing that Holt had claimed. But,
while he was watching White, he
also noticed big red-cheeked boy
warming up some distance away.
There's the pitcher / have
been looking for ever since
started to scout for Cleveland"
said Rapp to himself but when
he asked about the big boy, he
was told to pay no attention to
him.
That's young Ferrell,' he
was told. "Just forget lin. He
is better Outfielder than
pitcher. White is the man you
want
"WiSh you would start Ferrell
In a game so I can get look
at him under fire." Rapp asked.
Holt was willing to oblige but
Ferrell was knocked out of the
box. Rapp noticed, however. that
the opposing team had seven eft
hand hitters in its lineup and.
figuring that was why Ferrell had
been So ineffective, hung around
to see Ferrell knocked from the
box a week later.
Rapp Was Confident
Still Rapp was not convinced.
He talked with Ferrell about sign
ing with Cleveland but Ferrell
did not quite think he Nad it in
him to make the grade in the
big league. Whereupon Rapp tolC
him he thought he was sure to
make a good hitting outfielder in
case he did not come through as
a pitcher. Rapp was confident
the boy would shine as hurler
however He went on one of the
teams trips and bought Ferrell a
couple of bats. That seemed to
tickle Yves a lot and finally he
told Rapp that if ever he Seeded
to turn professional, he would
give RI pp first chance to Sigr
him.
That same summer, Yves joined
the famous East Douglas team
up in Massachusetts, but as that
team already had such well
known hurlers as Haskell Bill
ings, Rufe Smith and Tim Nc
Namara, Yves found himself rele
gated to the roles of outfieldel
and relief pitcher. He did not
become discouraged. Just bore
down all the harder. The play
ers lived in tents in a camp out
side town and Yves spent ar
hour every morning pitching the
regulation distance to one OF the
catchers. q
One day Rufe Smith and Fer
IelI we 1T to Boston and worked
out with the Detroit Tigers, Bill
ings already having signed with
Detroit, The Tiger coaches coulc
not see Ferrell but gave Smith
bonus for signing. Perhaps
they would have been unable tt
induce Ferrell to sign anyway az
he had given his word to Rapp
Charley Piano Legs" Hickman
another Cleveland scout. visited
New England Saw Ferrell anC
tried to sign him.
Nothing DOING" replied Fer
rell. Il told Bill Rapp if l ever
turned pro would sign with
him."
AS a result, the late E. S. Bar
nard, then president of the In
dianS, had tH wire Rapp, ther
down in South Carolina. 70 hustle
UP to New England and sigl
Ferrell.
what about White?" you
ask. "0h. he had trouble with
his eyes and had to retire from
baseball
Bill Rapp always said White
had more speed than Lefty GROVE
CFwfSop, NJ. 9 Ds~,oou,