Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 187, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1917 — M’GRAW’S BIG MISTAKE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

M’GRAW’S BIG MISTAKE

Giant Manager Booted One When Rousch Slipped Away. Could Not See Former Federal League Player, But He Is Playing Sensational Game for the Cincinnati Reds. John McGraw is conceded to be one of the smartest managers in baseball, and there is no doubt about his ability, but even Jawn boots one now and then. Evidence tending to show, that McGraw kicked one when he permitted Eddie Rousch to get away from the Giants In the deal which sent Matty to Cincinnati may be found in the batting and fielding averages of the National league. And when the baserunning returns are printed there Is no doubt that this lanky young speedboy from Oakland City, Ind., will be numbered among the baserunners who pile up the greatest number of thefts in a season. Rousch became the property of the Giants through sale when the Federal league tossed the sponge into the ring and threw up its fins. He stuck with McGraw’s team until the middle of July and was traded to the (Cincinnati club with McKechnle and Matthewson for Buck Herzog. McGraw couldn’t see Rousch ad compared to Davy Robertson, and Eddie was sent on his way. But today Rousch stands out head and shoulders above Davy as ball .player, and unless Injuries keep him out of the game this season there is little doubt that he will top Robertson’s best efforts In all around playing. Rousch, though It is not generally known, Is one of the speediest players in the two major leagues today. He is a Mercury in the outfield and on the bases he runs like a deer. In a

field meet during the life of the Federal league, Rousch equaled the record for getting to first base after laying down a bunt. The record was made in 1908 by Shaw of St. Louis, and the time was three and one-fifth seconds. Rousch was clocked in the same time. As a hitter Rousch has natural ability. He does not hit as hard as his former team mate, Benny Kauff, but he has a habit of banging the ball on a line past the infielders at a rate of about steen miles a minute, and he often gets two bases on hits on which the ordinary player would get no farther than first base. Rousch’s experience in baseball as a professional began Jn 1912, at Evansville, and he played with that club nearly two seasons. He was sold to the White Sox in July, 1913, for a price reported to have been $3,000, and later released to the Lincoln club of the Western league. In 1914 he refused to report to Lincoln, jumping to the Indianapolis Federate under Whoa Bill Phillips, where he banged the pill for an average of .333 in 74 games. With the Newark Feds-Rousch hit .298 in 1915, and in 1916 his hitting fell off to .267 in 108 games with New York and Cincinnati. But Rousch is just coming into his prime as a player and he is only twenty-four years old. So it looks as though McGraw overlooked a bet when he traded him.

Eddie Rousch.