Evening star., 1938-07-13
WILLIAMS, BOSOX
FIND, CANT MISS
Evans, Backed by IS Rivals,
Scouts on Gardener at
Minneapolis Farm.
Nv FRANCIS ]. POWERS.
ny FNANCIS j. FOWENS,

CHICAGO. July l3.-"He can't
miss" replied Billy Evans. the Boston
Red Sox scout. with high note Of
enthusiasm, when asked about Ted
Williams. the young outfelder the
Back Bay Dudes have. farmed with
Minneapolis In the American Associa-
ton.
Scouts for the IS other major
league teams agree with Evans. and
around the association they tell you
williams Is one Of the greatest play
ers ever to perform In those parts.
When the association was voting on
players for its all-star game. Will
liams was one of two to receive =
unanimous vote.
That Williams is one Of those fel-
lows who can't miss is due almost
entirely to DOME Bush. the old major
Lacquer, managing Minneapolis. Billy
Evans bought Williams OF San Diego
last winter, although the kid had
batted only .29l in hitters league.
The boy was too raw for the Red
Sox' immediate use, SO he was sent to
Minneapolis. There were days and
weeks when DOME Bush thought his
old pal, Evans, had sent him q can
didate for the psychopathic ward.
Annoys His Teammates.
Joining the Millers Williams did
not know what he wanted to do.
Part of the time he wanted to pitch.
some days he wanted to be an out
fielder and on others he wanted to 60
home, for 1t was his first trip from
the family table in sunny San Diego,
He annoyed and angered his team
mates by popping of continually.
He Dragged of the Pacific Coast
League and ridiculed the association.
Pat Malone, the old Yankee and
Cub pitcher, tried to reason with the
boy. You have q chance to be Ruth's
successor, you sap" Malone yelled
one day in . locker room argument.
with your youth. that natural swing
and all-around ability you may make
a million dollars in baseball And
you talk Of going home. wish I was
in your shoes"
During the spring exhibition games,
Williams almost caused Bush to have
apoplexy. He would be picking grass
when fly balls went past him, or he
would stand at the plate watching
Bush coaching at third when the
pitcher was winding up. Twice he
did not run out hits because he
thought they were foul Minneapolis
opened the season in Indianapolis
and Williams was orse-collared in II
times at bat. Overnight, the kid
changed. He became serious, started
to ask questions and bear down." rs
players say.
Becomes = Sensation.
Minneapolis moved on to Louisville
Il won't monkey with williams any
longer" snarled the fiery Bush.
Either he does or he doesn't in this
series" In the next game, Ted hit
= single and double. Minneapo polls lost
the following games and its only runs
were two homers by Williams. One
hit the center field gate. the other
just missed 1t, and for the first time
one player had hit two homers inside
the Colonels' Park.
Next Williams belted a homer in
Toledo. and from that day he has not
gone more than five games without q
hit, and once he had q run of bat
ting safely in 81 consecutive contests.
Before the season was two months old
Williams had hit home run In
every association park. As of last
week he had made rs homers, Knocked
in 56 runs and owned batting aver
age Of 1856.
Williams not only Is . great hit
ter, his fielding Is sensational, he Il
very fast and has q marvellous arm.
There's nothing in baseball the kid
cannot do well, now that he has de-
cided to do it. Minneapolis fans can
remember such sluggers Is Gabby
Cravath. Joe Hauser, Buzz Arlett and
Claude Rossman, but Ted Williams Is
their all-time idol Billy Evans knew
a ball player when he saw one, and
DOME Bush had the patience to get
the boy on the right track. For the
$4,000 cash and two players Boston
paid San Diego 1t has q player COM
ing up who cant MISS" for all the
scouts can't be wrong.