The Washington times., 1933-09-07
ALL Of BIG 4
DISCOVERED
BYSCOUT
By GARRETT WATERS

Lie GEl11S nave QdQ many an
item feature their winning path
to the pennant this year, but still
another must be chalked up when
the history of their successful bat.
tie is reviewed again.
In this instance we point with
pride to the prize manner in which
the Unfolding department Of the
club has handled itself since the
opening of the campaign.
There's no doubt about it, the
boys have whooped it up a-plenty
this season and this takes in not
only Manager Joe Cronin, who, Of
course, has been a shining light
because of his inspiration to the
team in general, but Joe Kuhel,
Buddy Myer and Ossie Bluege as
well.
An unusual story can be re-
peated here-a story that's prob.
ably familiar to those closely
connected with the records Of
baseball. It brings none other
than Scout Joe Engel into the
picture.
Today, Engel is a busy man
down South what with presiding
over his Chattanooga Club, Of
the Southern Association, but sew.
eral years ago, or when Cronin,
Kuhel, Bluege and Myer were
discovered" Joe was one Of
Prexy Clark Griffith's busiest
scouts-his duties, Of course,
being to scout ball players and
nothing else. :
Saw BIuege in '22
Well, Joe did just this in re-
Spect to the four infielders now
starring with the Griffmen. Yes,
he was the guy who discovered
Bluege 'Wav back in 1922 when
Ossie was then a quiet little
youngster playing short stop for
the Peoria Club, of the Three
Eye League; also he was the guy
who saw future possibilities in
Buddy Myer when that performer
was playing a great game for
the New Orleans Pelicans, of the
Southern League, back in 1925.
Engel calls the cases of Cronin
and Kuhel as his prize bit Of
scouting work, as both men were
showed on the Washington club
when the Griffmen didn't need
either at the time. But they were
signed by Prexy Griff just the
same, because Engel figured they'd
develop later on and become so
valuable to the Griffmen that
only an earthquake would move
'em out of the picture, once they
grabbed themselves regular posi-
tions and we're allowed to branch
out in all their glory, etc., ETC.,
etc.
Today, the quartet Of Kuhel,
Myer, Cronin and Bluege is rated
as one Of the strongest infields in
baseball. It's quite a fact that
they have had a great deal to do
with the GriffS' success as poten.
tial champions this year, and it's
quite fact that all have played
the best games of their respective
careers. And does Engel smile
broadly every time he thinks OF
his part in their successes?
Kuhel Leading Batter
Right now, Kuhel is one of the
five best batters in the American
League. Myer is not far behind
Charley Gehringer, of the Detroit
Tigers, as one of the best fielding
and batting second sackers Of the
league, while Cronin-well, it's q
conclusive fact that he's the great
est hitting and fielding Shortstop
either league has seen since the
days Of Hans Wagner.
AS the Bluege, there's very few
third sackers who have been able
to match his play at the hot
corner this year while very few
have ever been able to even come
near his high standard of play
during his long reign as regular
third baSeman of the Griffs since
his starting year of 1923.
And so you have another Of the
many reasons why the Griffs
have been so very successful in
their efforts to grab the pennant
away from the New York Yankees
this season. They're hot quartet
that foresome of Kuhel, Myer,
Cronin and Bluege, and they
promise to keep up their ex-
cellent work for the Griffs in
years to come even though Joe
Engel might discover players to
take their places before another
ten campaigns roll around.
Was there a second" heard
to the motion for a great big
cheer for Engel? There you are,
he's getting it right now. Good
old Joe. ......
Buy in September and Buy American