Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 April 1912 — SCOUTING HARD TASK [ARTICLE]

SCOUTING HARD TASK

' Bay» Arthur Irwin. ... in the minors and little jerkwater towns for future diamond stars isn’t what it 1b cracked up to be,” said Arthur Irwin, the New York Yankees’ veteran scout who is soon -to start on another scouting tour. According to the man frhom the Yankees depend upon for their star players, real good baseball players are at a premium these days.. “Scouting," continued Arthurr"isn’t like it used to be. There was a time when a man could go through the bushes and 1 pick up all kinds of men; but times have changed since then. The scout who Is lucky to pick up one really good ball player in a season can congratulate himself and feel satisfied that he has earned his salary.” Scout Irwin declares there never was such a slim market for ball players as at the present time. “Big league clubs,” said Irwin, “are not In the market to sell star players, naturally, and that’s why it is so hard for any one club to gather a galaxy of stars. Every club owner wants to hold on to his best men, for they are -the ones who bring success to hla club. Money cannot buy them. Thq club owner must rely on the scout, for he is the one man behind the gun, so to speak. He is the man who unearths the stars. “I remember the days when money could buy big men; but now cluba must develop them. Few of the leading batters today were purchased for large amounts, but of course ther& are exceptions. Take Detroit’s case with Ty TJobb, for instance. The Tigers got hijp from a small bush league, but they had to develop him first before he was anything. Most every headliner on the diamond today, after being brought to the majors, had to be sent back to the minors for . seasoning.”