Evening star., 1953-12-22


Not many pennants by teams lacking competent
scouts The Yankees generally regarded having the
best Their record substantiats the belief When the Tigers
winning the hero the late Wish When
Joe Enge found Cronn he Washington the player
around whom Clark Griffith built his last
winner in 1888.
BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING pressure of competition
scouts OBVIOUSLY Kriche did landed
Charlie Keller 1t interesting tale starting in Buffalo.
Krch, trail of a young pitcher named Emerson
Dickman later signed Sox Buffalo,
ordered hotel suite and fine assortment Of food and liquid
refreshments and invited Mr. Dickman the father to
ference After several hours Paul felt he had the gentleman
in the mood to sign his boy, minor to a contract.
But the phone rang and it was Barrow, calling long
distance.
"cCanns in trouble" Barrow said Get down Kins-
ton, N c., and help him the Keller business Cleveland
and several other clubs moving in"
protested.
Never mind Dickman" Barrow ordered "weve got
pitchers. Get Keller"
Keller had been playing for the University of Maryland
and Gene McCann covering this part of the
country was trailing him. Now Charlie was playing summer
ball in Kinston
KRICHEIL LAMELY EXCUSED himself to Mr.. Dickman
and followed instructions only after fashion Instead
of going directly to Knston he headed for College Park
win over Keers college coach Burt shipey This accom-
pshed he took off for the Keller Middletown Md
where he beguiled Charles mother and father
Only then did he beat his to Kinston where in the
middle of the night he awakened McCann Nobody knows
I'm here he told the sleepy McCann I'm the morning
decoy those other scouts I'll find where Keller is stopping
and sign him."
He found King Kong. carefully walked him
streets to the outskirts of told him
had the blessings of Papa and Mama Keller and Shpey-
and witnessed Charles signature Yankee contract
penned against the side of clubhouse.
Keller know to become of the real good
tremendously powerful hitter and, despite
size, an agile outfelder and baserunner.
KRICHELLS SIGNING of Rizzuto no minor triumph,
without unusual aspect In 1884 Phil bigger
than fly speck attending high school Long Island
and of
with team called Floral Park he paid $120 and shortly
thereafter Phil and his school, Richmond Hill High severed
connections.
It wasn't because of professionalism Rather it was
French and math that threw him Richmond Hill High hardly
could suspected that Floral Parks lefede
Reilly, really RizZuto.
Later Phil was out briefly with both the Giants
and Dodgers One OF the Giants talent hunters told him to
go back to shining shoes you're little he said But the
Yankees looked at Rzzuto for five days Krche signed
him. Years later, Ed Barrow said
"Rizzuto cost IS cents Ten for postage and
cents for of coffee him the last day he
worked out"
NOT ALL SCOUTS including Krichel and others of the
Yankee staff above ubbing few This story has to do
with Bill Essick who credited with discovering Tony Lazzer
and who recommended the purchase of Joe DMaggo for
900 and five players despite evidence that Dag had
trick knee.
Essck had the inside track back $780, on an Oakland
catcher named Ernie lombard $40 hitter in the Pacific
Coast League On further inquiry he learned that his 230
pound prospect had appetite that might
eat himself out of baseball a la shanty Hogan
The put lombard to the test He invited Ernie to
dinner restaurant which is about the only place
eats Essick sgnaed the waiter to take Lombards order
first When the catcher had finished orderingand eating
he had eaten himself out of Yankee contract.
the end of the world for Ernie who later became
star for the Reds and Giants But was embarrassing
ESck, although he had super-excuse which to fall
back, namely:
What would the Yankees doing with lombard when
had Bill Dckey just coming into bloom?"