Evening star., 1937-01-18


his chief executives chair at
Chattanooga and his installa-
L ton as general manager Of the
Washington Bail Clubs newly created
farm system" seems to accentuate
the futility of trying to disregard the
inroads of chain-store base ball.
Clark Griffith. you see, has been
frowning on similar set-ups by the
Cardinals, Yankees and Tigers for a
number of years. The old gentleman
was one who firmly believed that base
balls healthiest condition was for
minor league clubs to be independent
ly owned and thus able to sell their
products to the highest bidders.
The economic depression spoiled
any chance Of this Utopian state
of affairs.
Back in 1929, when there were no
less than 48 minor leagues operating
in the country, an extensive farm"
system was not decreed necessary by
big league clubs. Then, when times
became hard, the minor leagues laid
their cards on the table and told
major league club owners that unless
they took over some of the teams the
circuits would have to disband.
Engel Now in Spotlight.
MANY leagues did dlsband. In
fact, the total of minor and
jor loops shrank to IL at one time.
Big league clubs which did not come
to the rescue of the smaller circuits
found ball players hard to get. The
most desirable were tied up," they
were informed. Even today, with
more than IS minor loops functioning,
it is necessary to establish chain
store system, and thus Griffith falls
into line in self-protection.
Engel, as the man in charge Of
Chattanooga and intrusted with the
responsibility of feeding young talent
to the Lookouts, as well as such
smaller auxiliaries as Jacksonville,
Sanford and Trenton, now becomes
an important figure to Washington
fans again.
He was important in Chattanooga,
of course, but when he was down
there the colorful gent seemed q man
apart, because of his somewhat in
direct affiliation with the Nationals.
Engel's career as . scout, in
which capacity he served before
taking over the presidency Of
Chattanooga, presents singular
story in base ball annals.
Most scouts start their careers as
middle-aged, former stars. When
Engel started he neither was middle
aged nor a former star. In fact, after
a promising first year with Washing
ton as a pitcher, he was very poor
ball player. He had good fast ball
and plenty of stuff, but he had diff
ficulty in keeping his pitches inside
of the parks and his tenure as q
major Lacquer was brief.
Was Literal Boy Scout.
LIE LANDED his job with Griffith
chiefly because the Old Fox
felt sort of grateful for Engel's recon-
mending Catcher Pat Charity from
Minneapolis. At the time Engel was
pitching in the American Association,
but he was washed up shortly after
ward and turned scout.
He sent a scouts quota of dead
ones to Grif during the course of his
scouting.
But he also uncovered enough
stars to wiring from his boss .
testimonial to the effect that
Joseph was the best scout in base
ball.
This is an opinion Griff retains
today. From the International League
Mgel unearthed q skinny little sec
ond baseman, named Stanley Harris.
From the Three-Eye League came
Ossie Bluege. From the Southern
Association came Sammy West, Buddy
Myer, Cecil Travis, Buddy Lewis and
Fred Marberry. From the American
Association he recommended Joe
Kuhel and shipped q gawky infielder,
named Joe Cronin.
From out on the Pacific Coast he
engineered the purchase Of Earl. Nc
Nicely, the sparkplug who insured the
1924 pennant and who starred in the
world series victory over the Giants.
He Can't Pick Pitchers.
A RECORD at which to point with
pardonable pride is this and, If
there is any doubt at all in Griff's
mind as to Engel's capabilities. it Is
Joe's lack Of penchant for picking
pitchers. 1t Is noted, In scanning
the list Of Engel's finds" that only
ons pitcher was uueovsrsd-Na4bsgry.