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Show n scouts IN l 1ST Veterans of Game Comb Minors for Promising Young Talent. NEW YORK, Aug. 23. The "ivory hunters" are malting the most of the open season for combing the minor leagues in search of promising prom-ising young pluyers who will be used to bolBtur major league tuums in lOiiO. Itig league scouts nre snooping about everywhere, every-where, and a majority of mem are covering more territory than usual because talent of the type demanded by managers In the big show is scarce. The war kept many a young player out of the game for a season or longer and forced many a minor league club to close Its park in 11)17 and '18. As a result the minors have scarcely settled down to their former level, and where a league used to be known for its class, it is difficult today to size up a player by judging his showing in a few ganus. The scout must know what kind of ball the league is putting up to be able to figure on the class of any one player, even though he may have all the earmarks ear-marks of a coming star. It is the business of the Bcout to pick the good ones and shun the lemons; to prevent his employer from spending money on material that needs more seasoning. Hence the work of the scout this year has been more difficult than usual, and he has been forced to look over players with greater care. Young outfielders who con hit the ball are in great demand. They are scarce as hens' teeth. So are good young shortstops ; but good shortstop recruits are always scarce. Pitching material seems to be fairly plentiful, and if reports from tho minors have not been exaggerated exag-gerated there will be some crack young pitchers ready for a fling at the big show by the time the spring training season rolls around. Among the veteran scouts who nre so busily engaged in the hunt for talent this yenr are Itlck Kinsella nud Artie Devlin, who do the sleuthing for John Mctfraw. Jimmy Malloy and Otto Knnbe are doing like service for the Chicago Cubs. Lurry Sutton, the veteran who brought out such plnyors ns Znch "Wheat and Jake Daubert, is scouting for the Phillies, while Gene lie-tann lie-tann is searching for ivory for the Cincinnati lied s. Charley Barrett Is sleuthing for the Cardinals, Eilly Murray for the Pirates, Mique Finn for the Dodgers and Jimmy Turner for the Boston It raves. Hob Connery, Bob Oilks and Joe Kelly represent rep-resent the keen-eyed brigade employed by the Yankees, while Ed Walsh, only a few years ago the greatest star of the Chicago Sox, ia scouting fur Comiskey. Joe Engel is with Washington this ypiir and Ira Thomns is searching search-ing the sticks for Connie Mack. Leu Fohl, until un-til recently manager of the Indians, is now doing scouting duty for Jim Dunn, along with Bob McAllister. Detroit has BIUv Sullivan and Bill Doyle; Boston has Hugh Duffy and Ed Holly and Bobby Quinn and old Joe Sugden, veteran among veteran catchers, are the "star" burners for the St. Louis Browns. |