Milford News | 1931-01-15 | Page 6 | Watkins' Peculiar Antipathy for Scouts from Big League

Watkins' Peculiar Antipathy for Scouts From Big League I'roslilent Tom Watkins of t lie Memphis Mem-phis Chicks of the Southern league, has a peculiar Hnllpnthy for major league scouts and anyone who should ask him his reason for feeling as he does, after hearing it, will hardly blame him. "One year a scout came In and watched us play," he says. "Tommy McMillan, who had been in the majors years before, was working at shortstop. short-stop. "Tommy was making a lot of those quick, short throws to third and having hav-ing a lot of fun flagging them even when they were close. "This scout asked me who he was and I thought he was kidding. So I told him it was a young fellow named Moore I had picked up. The next day the scout looked at us again and told me that Moore looked great. I still thought he was kidding and told him he was a great prospect nnd that I expected to cash in heavily on him. "Two days later the scout called into the oflice and said he would like to buy Moore. I told him I wanted ?20,-000 ?20,-000 and finally compromised on $17,500. The scout then said lie thought he'd wire in the sale. I realized for the first time that he was lu earnest. " 'You poor sap,' I told him, 'I haven't got a Moore. That's Tommy McMillan who was with the Yankees 1)0 years ago.' "