The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-02
SPORTING NEWS.
The Ball Players Have About
All Lined Up.
Full List of Men in the Two Big
Leagues.
A SHOWING OF CLUBS.
Philadelphia and Chicago Lead
in the American.
New York and Pittsburg Look
Strong in National.
SHOWING OF CLUBS.

New York, April 2.-The week just end
ed was fairly lively for the fans, who are
now breathing heavily as the playing sea
son draws near. Considerable stealing of
players was done on both sides.
The clubs have now settled down to
comparatively quiet. a few jumps may be
expected here and there. and some Of the
men not vet engaged BY either league win
find their resting places. The list ac-
campaigning this article, however, shows
where the men have landed as far as the
good idea Of the relative playing strength
shown by the sixteen clubs.
Both Chicago clubs have done fairly
Well in the shuttle. The National league
team looks weaker than last season. but
Will work more tremendously. and will
hardly land lower than the 1900 aggre-
cation. The. company is not as fast, and
II would not be surprising, on the present
paper form of the teams, to see Chicago
slip in as good as second or third,
The Boston team National league)
seems 10 per cent weaker, through the
passing of Stahl, Sullivan and Collins.
before, the catching may average even.
the infield viii be weaker and the outfeld
Illus and Gammons, show great speed. Bos-
ton will be weaker at the bat, but viii
Brooklyn, with McGinnity, Howell, Cross
and Jennings All out is 20 per cent to the
bad Gatins is a doubtful quantity at
short and the strength Of Hughes arm
cincinnati, unless Dobbs and Harley
show finely, and Rusie is himself again,
has lost about Is per cent of its speed
The club, never too strong with the stick,
IS weaker at the bat and has suffered in
New York has actually made a killing
in the shroud of smoke, and is SO 1-3 per
cent better than last year. With Fisher.
with the hard-hitting smith added to the
team; with the new infeld working
noneers in Hickman, Selbach and Van
Haltren, the reorganized Giants loom up
like elephants in a fog. Davis has faced
the storm and weathered it, and built up
his team in splendid style.
Ehila0elDhia
through the going of Lajoie, but Is other
wise fit to begin the struggle in good con-
Pittsburg is the same as last year in
relative strength the loss Of williams be-
ing fully balanced by the gaining of the
powerful Bransf1eld and the clever pitcher,
St. Louis has an array Of scrub pitch
ers, q shattered infleld and good out
held- Last years Cardinals could not
win games, and the new St. Louis team
IS about 80 per cent weaker than that of
RESULT OF ATTACKS ON NATIONAL.
A general averaging of the teams shows
the National leagues playing strength
OF National league players who Jumped
to the American is thirty-nine The pres
as foIs5ws: Old Nationals who did not
jump. 107 Gncluding men taken on trial
stolen from the American league. 6: draft
ed from other leagues, u; amateurs and
college players, z.
The Baltimore team of the American
league is of fair strength, since Williams
and Donlin were added. 1t is still far
from being q first class club and looks
like an unavoidable tail-ender. SOmers'
Boston club is fairly strong, but, pitted
against the Boston National league team
would show pitiably. 1t would be beaten
by q heavy margin at all departments of
the game.
ComislSey's S. Chicago team is far better
than either the McCsraW or Somers aggre-
cations. 1t is better in every imaginable
way, and will skin those hapless teams
in shameless fashion.
McAieer's Clevelands, although rein
forced by Scott, Bradley and Mccarthy.
look lop-sided and feeble. The team is
hardly better than the collection of Nc
Graw. Detroit is none too good, even
with Barrett added.
The Milwaukee club is a good, strong
minor league organization, and that lets
Duffy out. At Philadelphia, Connie Mack
has collected a. lot of good men, and will
be running neck and neck with ComiskeY
for the leading honors. His men out
class most of the other clubs and will be
one-two for the flag all season.
The Washington team is we'll balanced.
not lopsided anywhere, and will surprise
its detractors, through the aid of a fine
pitching staff by running third or fourth.
The composition of the American league
is as follows: Last years American
leaguers, s., National leaguers, 80: draft
ed from other leagues, u: the balance
amateurs and old timers, like Quinn and
Eeveritt, who have again donned the
spangles.