The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-20
Baseball Notes.

Twirler Meekin is to be returned to New
York this year. He was simply loaned
by Andy Freeman last year to Boston in
order to help Selee's team in their pen
nant fight against F'reedman's hated ri
walls, the Brooklyn club.
Newton, the left-handed pitcher of the
Indianapolis team, who refused to sign a
league salary was offered, has finally ca
pitulated and his signed contract. along
with those of Harry Steinfeldt and Short
stop Corcoran, has been received by Man
ager Allen.
Tho twelve league club passed through
an eight years existence without West
ern club getting a sight of the pennant.
How long will the new eight-club league
go without one OF the clubs on this side
of the Alleghenies getting league honors.
The west is certainly due.
Billy Dineen Will make a great record
this year. Last season. with a tai-en
team, Dineen was one of the most effec-
tive pitchers in the business. This season.
with the Boston band of hustlers to back
up his deceptive shoots with sensational
fielding, time hitting and daring base run
ming, Billy should be able to hold the
losing side of his pitching tab down to
Wagner got $500 for the release of
Freeman, Dineen and Barrett This may
be termed the price that goes with a star
for is a long ways from being a stars
salary. A few years ago this was>a COM
m0nplace salary in a minor league.
Patrick J. Conroy is the latest addition
to the New York baseball team and the
first man signed by Buck Ewing. Conroy
is a resident of Portland, Ne, and has
had only one years experience as pro
last year for the Portland club of the
New England league, and made such an
excellent record, both as a batter and
fielder, that he attracted the attention of
nearly every manager in the National
Pete Bowling, the St Louis pitcher who
was later the erratic twirIer of the Louis
vile club has been sold to Milwaukee,
but the purchase price has not been made
known. Bowling is a left-hander and was
one of the most promising tWirIers in the
big League, but he is a man of very care
NOT he ,7,Nl
II would like to see Tebeau get Winnie
Mercer is by all odds the most valuable
man available. guess he is on the mar
Wagner, was peddling all his men off
Mercer developed under me when I was
ne IS a pitcher and bail player beyond
that He can hit well, runs fast as any
OF them, can play in or out field. and
him in the infeld, but if I had him he
would pitch, for there are no better twir-
Pitcher Scott is said to be a glutton for
work Three times week is said to have
been a regular thing for him last season
He is not hard to get to condition and
will be ready for his turn early in April
So much the better. Phillips is at his hest
when the weather is warm and steady
This will give Big Bill time to gradually
work his arm around for games LATER on
Pat Tebeau's bunch certainly did excel
lent work at their training quarters last
spring. They came to the mark in fine
first part of May they looked all over
pennant winners. They looked so good
about this time that Pat thought thew
would never be headed, and said so Per-
maps had Mexican and Childs stood up to
their standard the flag might have gone
to the Mound City. 1t proved an off year
foT both these great players.
Jack Brennan, the umpire, and old
catcher, says that he has a. patent device
which will put more curious curves and
kinks on a ball than ever Cy Seymour did
According to Mr. Brennan, who has not
shown the invention to any one, it is but a
small affair, can be hidden in the palm
but what it won't do with ball is not
worth telling 1t will cast a zigzae in
any direction north or south, east or west
up, down or across Indeed. it is limited
that it will throw a bust ball" that is
one which floats up in front of the batter's
shoulder and as he is about to hit it, ex-
plodes like the shell of Maxim Norden-
felt.
The Pittsburg club has taken Tom
O'Brien away from the New Yorks. The
Pittsburg club, with such cracker-iacks
as Fred Clark, Beaumont and Honest
Hans Wagner. with McCreery as substi-
tute, seems to be well provided with out
field talent, without taking away the best
man the New York's have.