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SPORTING TIMES — December 15, 1911
By Charles H. Wentworth

CUBS CLAIM FOURNIER WITH FIRST PICK AS DRAFT CONCLUDES

December 15th, 1911 — The annual draft has been completed, and the Chicago Cubs, holding the coveted first overall selection, have used it to secure Jack Fournier, the promising 19-year-old first baseman widely regarded as one of the finest young hitters in the field. Fournier brings considerable upside, and the Cubs believe that with proper development he may anchor their infield for years to come.

Cubs manager Zack Brown, pleased with the club’s decision, stated, “We’re confident young Fournier has the tools to grow into a real force for this ballclub. It’s an honor to select him first, and I look forward to helping him become the player we know he can be.”

For his part, Fournier expressed both gratitude and determination upon learning he had been chosen at the top of the class. “It’s an incredible feeling to be picked first,” he said. “I’m ready to work hard and prove the Cubs made the right choice.”

All drafted players now have until mid-February to come to terms with the clubs that selected them.

Below is the full list of selections from the first three rounds:

Round 1

Chicago Cubs — 1B Jack Fournier, age 19

Boston Red Sox — CF Cristóbal Torriente, age 18

Detroit Tigers — CF Benny Kauff, age 21

St. Louis Browns — CF Cy Williams, age 23

Cleveland Naps — LF Bobby Veach, age 23

St. Louis Cardinals — 2B Del Pratt, age 23

Pittsburgh Pirates — CF Casey Stengel, age 21

Brooklyn Dodgers — 1B Dave Robertson, age 22

Cincinnati Reds — SS Ray Chapman, age 20

New York Highlanders — 2B Heinie Groh, age 22

New York Giants — SP Hugh Bedient, age 22

Philadelphia Athletics — SP Jeff Tesreau, age 23

Washington Senators — C Frank Snyder, age 17

Chicago White Sox — SP Wilbur Cooper, age 19

Philadelphia Phillies — RF Eddie Murphy, age 20

Boston Braves — SS Buck Weaver, age 21

Chicago White Sox — SP Eppa Rixey, age 20

Round 2

Chicago Cubs — 3B Jim Viox, age 20

Boston Red Sox — SP Bullet Joe Bush, age 19

Detroit Tigers — SP Phil Douglas, age 21

St. Louis Browns — C Hank Severeid, age 20 (Southern Arkansas University; Magnolia, AR)

Cleveland Naps — RP Walt Johnson, age 19

St. Louis Cardinals — SP Stan Coveleski, age 22

Pittsburgh Pirates — 2B George Cutshaw, age 25

Brooklyn Dodgers — SP Ray Keating, age 18

Cincinnati Reds — SP George McConnell, age 34

New York Highlanders — SS Bob Fisher, age 25

New York Giants — SP Carl Weilman, age 22

Philadelphia Athletics — SP George Pierce, age 23

Washington Senators — SP Tom Seaton, age 24

Philadelphia Phillies — LF Jimmy Walsh, age 24

Boston Braves — SP Bill Steen, age 24

Chicago White Sox — SP Hooks Dauss, age 22

Round 3

Chicago Cubs — SP Buddy Napier, age 21

Boston Red Sox — SP Frank Allen, age 23

Detroit Tigers — SP Al Demaree, age 27

St. Louis Browns — RP Herb Pennock, age 17

Cleveland Naps — RP Bill Doak, age 20

St. Louis Cardinals — SP George Baumgardner, age 20

Pittsburgh Pirates — SP Jimmy Lavender, age 27

Brooklyn Dodgers — SP Pol Perritt, age 20

Cincinnati Reds — SP Gene Packard, age 24

New York Highlanders — C Hick Cady, age 25

New York Giants — SP Byron Houck, age 20

Philadelphia Athletics — RP Paul Musser, age 22

Washington Senators — SP Al Schulz, age 22

Philadelphia Phillies — CF Herbie Moran, age 27

Boston Braves — LF Howie Shanks, age 21

Chicago White Sox — SP Rube Peters, age 26

With the draft complete, clubs now turn their attention to negotiations—while the young men selected begin the anxious wait to learn where their professional futures will truly begin.