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SPORTING TIMES — DECEMBER 15, 1909
By Samuel T. Kingsley & Charles H. Wentworth

CARDINALS STUN LEAGUE BY OPENING DRAFT WITH YOUNG CATCHER BILL PIERCE

The annual Major League draft has concluded, and with it comes no shortage of discussion — particularly surrounding the bold decision made with the very first selection.

Holding the top pick, the St. Louis Cardinals turned away from the well-touted crop of ready-made sluggers and pitchers to select 19-year-old catcher Bill Pierce, a choice that raised more than a few eyebrows across the league. The Cardinals already boast last year’s highly regarded rookie catcher, Jack Meyers, leading many to expect the club to target another position.

Cardinals manager General Stafford was quick to address the surprise.
“We took the best man on our board,” Stafford stated firmly. “Pierce has the tools to become a cornerstone player for this club. Even with Meyers here, you don’t pass on a talent like that. We’re planning for the long haul.”

Pierce himself, appearing composed in the wake of his sudden elevation to the top of the class, expressed gratitude and determination.
“It’s an honor I hardly expected,” the young catcher said. “All I can do now is work, learn, and prove St. Louis right for putting their trust in me.”

All drafted players must still negotiate and sign contracts before the February deadline, but for now the names are officially on their new clubs’ ledgers.

Below are the complete results of the first three rounds:

ROUND 1

St. Louis Cardinals – C Bill Pierce, 19

St. Louis Browns – C Louis Santop, 20

Brooklyn Superbas – RF Hurley McNair, 21

New York Giants – LF Max Carey, 19

Detroit Tigers – 1B Jake Daubert, 25

New York Highlanders – SP Louis Drucke, 21 (Tennessee Tech University)

Philadelphia Athletics – 1B Ben Taylor, 21

Chicago White Sox – SP Frank Lange, 26

Boston Doves – LF Duffy Lewis, 21

Washington Senators – 3B Jim Doyle, 22

Cincinnati Reds – RF Doc Miller, 26

Chicago Cubs – 2B Jay Kirke, 21

Philadelphia Athletics – SS Stuffy McInnis, 19 (San Jose State University)

Boston Red Sox – 1B Chick Gandil, 21

Philadelphia Phillies – 1B John Flynn, 26

Cleveland Naps – SS Roger Peckinpaugh, 18

Pittsburgh Pirates – RP Dick Rudolph, 22

ROUND 2

St. Louis Cardinals – 2B Jimmy Walsh, 23

St. Louis Browns – RP Lefty Tyler, 20

Brooklyn Superbas – RF Shano Collins, 24

New York Giants – SP Ad Brennan, 22

St. Louis Browns – SP Ray Fisher, 22

Detroit Tigers – SP Lou Schettler, 23

New York Highlanders – 1B Ben Houser, 26

Philadelphia Athletics – SP Marty McHale, 23

Chicago White Sox – RP Rube Benton, 19

Boston Doves – LF Bert Daniels, 27

Washington Senators – SP George Kahler, 20

Cincinnati Reds – SP John Frill, 30

Chicago Cubs – RP Bert Humphries, 29

Boston Red Sox – 1B Hank Gowdy, 20

Philadelphia Phillies – RF Jack Dalton, 24

Cleveland Naps – RP Mysterious Walker, 25

Pittsburgh Pirates – SP Ray Caldwell, 21

ROUND 3

St. Louis Cardinals – SP Spec Harkness, 22

St. Louis Browns – RP Elmer Rieger, 20

Brooklyn Superbas – SP Sailor Stroud, 24

New York Giants – SP Alex Malloy, 23

Detroit Tigers – SP George Chalmers, 21

New York Highlanders – SS Eddie Foster, 22

Philadelphia Athletics – SP Bill Lindsay, 18 (University of Arkansas)

Chicago White Sox – RP Walt Dickson, 31

Boston Doves – 2B Bingo DeMoss, 20

Washington Senators – SP Fred Link, 23

Cincinnati Reds – SP Hub Pernoll, 21

Chicago Cubs – RP Chris Mahoney, 24

Boston Red Sox – SP Frank Wickware, 21

Philadelphia Phillies – 2B Rollie Zeider, 26

Cleveland Naps – RP Ed Hendricks, 24

Cleveland Naps – SP Eddie Stack, 22

Pittsburgh Pirates – SP Fred Blanding, 21

With the draft complete, clubs now turn their attention to signing their selections and shaping their rosters for the 1910 campaign. The Cardinals may have surprised the league, but time alone will determine whether today’s boldness becomes tomorrow’s triumph.