The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-07
Both Have Powerful Pitching
Corps of Professionals.
HAVE STAR INFIELDS.
Americans to Have Five of
Former Pittsburg Players.
MatthewsOn, McGinnity and Tay-
lOr National Pitchers.


League team, local baseball cTanks have
been comparing the new nine with that
gathered by Manager NcGraw of the
New York Nationals NcGraw is de-
pending upon having several former
American League players, including
Delehanty, Davis, Mertes and Warner,
but he will not be sure Of their services
until either the two leagues have made
peace or the men nave reported at the
Polo grounds.
The Nationals are sure to be strong in
the box with such a pitching corps as
that composed of .Christy'' Mathewson,
Ter. 1t is probable that NcGraw VIII
depend chiefly upon Mathewson, Ne
Ginnity and Taylor, as alI three are sea-
soned veterans Of marked ability. Be
hind the bat the Nationals have Bower
man and Roger Bresnahan Of last years
team for sure. Warner, who is claimed
by McGraw, now says that he viii re
main with the Boston Americans if he
cannot be transferred to Manager Grit
fths team. Bresnahan is the best back
stop on the team and a cracking good
sticker and viii be worked as often as
possible no doubt
The Nationals infield is q problem.
McGraW is said to have arranged to
have Second Baseman George Smith go
to Boston. If that turns out to be SO,
McGraw viii probably play second base
I
4 just been signed, or Billy Lauder over
on third with George Davis, if he docs
not decide to play again with the Chi
/ cago Americans. at short field Me
/ Graw signed Norman Elberfeld some
/ time ago to fill this position, but that
player has declared with emphasis that
/ he viii stick to Detroit. Dan Mccain
will play first base again, because both
! the Boston and New York Americans
have turned him down In the outtield
the Nationals look formidable with Del
ehanty, the heaviest hitter in the Amer
lean last year, ''Sandow Mertes, George
Van Haltren and Browne to draw from.
There is going to be trouble over Dele
hanty, however. so that his presence on
the team cannot be regarded as Ger
tainty. Mertes, it is said. has couclud-
ed to flop back to Chicago, where he is
very popular. Van Haltren broke his
leg last season. but he says that he has
I completely recovered the use of it.
Browne is the youngster who did so
we'll at the Polo grounds during the fag
I end Of last season.
The New York Americans. like their
rivals, will have a powerful pitching
/ corps Jack Chesbro led the National
League last season and helped to win
the pennant for Pittsburg. He scored
an unusual number. of shut-outs and
pitched wonderful ball all the year He
is a young man, a rfght-handeT and is
one OF the headiest twirlers in the pro-
fessiOn. Clark Griffith. the manager, is
also a brainy bOxman who came to the
front rapidly under Arson and has al
ways pitched high-class ball ever since.
He depends almost wholly on control
and change of pace and has made such
a careful study Of batsmen that he
4 knows the weak points of each to a GOT.
4 Griffith managed the Chicago Ameri-
cans last year and was their mainstav
in the box. Jesse Tannehill, a noted
left-hander. helped Chesbro win Pitts
/ burg's pennant. He has been playing on
/ the Smoky City team for a number of
nd fine MIA
/ Newton was with Brooklyn last year,
after leaving the Cincinnatis. He is
left-hander. There are three other
/ twirIers. Atkins, Wolff and Owen. who
have attracted widespread attention in
the minor leagues.
Jack O'Connor viii do the bulk of the
catching. He is a veteran backstoD.
having PLAYED with Cleveland and 81.
Louis before joining the champion Pitts
burgs. with whom he played last sea-
son. His help mate will be a hustlins
youngster named Beville, who caught
nearly all of the games for the Kansas
City team last campaign.
The Americans will snort star in
field. John CANCEL. the first baseman.
was a member of the New York team
year before last, but was released be-
cause Of poor batting. With the LOUIS
vile team last season. however, he got
his eye on the ball and wis one of the
hardest hitters in the American asso-
citation. Cancel is conceded to be one
Eof the best felders in the country
Jimmy Williams. the second baseman.
came out with the PittSburgs several
years ago, but went to Baltimore to
play under McGraW. remaining with
the Orioles uD to the end of the past
campaign Williams was originally
crack third baSenan. but he can play
second right up to the handle. He is
heavy hitter and an aggressive, lively
player. Ball cranks here need no in
PRODUCTION to Herman Long the famous
shortstop who has been playing in Bos-
ton for the past twelve years. He is and
always has been wonderful player, as
patrons of the polo grounds stand ready
TO attest. Long captained the Boston
Nationals last season. but accepted
big offer from the American league to
come here
Tommy Leach. of the champion Pitts
burgs. has been signed by the Ameri-
cans TO play third base. He stands
close to Jimmy Collins in ability but
recently he declared that he would re
main with the champions. after all
President Johnson. however. declared
last week that he was sure that Leach
would live up to his American league
contract and would re2ort to Griffith
when the gong rings. Leach is a young
blood. but he has made such rapid
strides that he is regarded by baseball
sharDs as one of the finest players ir.
either big league. If he decides to come
here the Americans infield win be
rounded out nicely
There is no doubt about the strength
of the Out6eld Willie Keeler is the star
out there. He met with an accident in
California recently. but it was not 50
serious as at first reported. Keller was
| the captain of the BROOKLYN Superbas
last season and has an army OF friends
I in this city He has led the National
league in batting. is a splendid base run
, ner and a superb right fielder, as ali
. ball cranlzs know.
Dave Fultz. the best base runner AMI
1un getter in the American league last
season. will play center field. He is d
graduate Of Brown university and
played with the champion Athletics last
summer Fultz win make a great rum
ning mate for Keller and Lefty Davis.
who VIII cover left field. Davis was
with Brooklyn the early part of the year
: but Hanlon dropped him and the young-