Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-21
'NICOL SIGNS HERE.
Veteran of the Diamond Has Bee n
Secured TO Manage the Rock
Island Team.
CHANGE TAKES PLACE TODAY
Number of New Men Ordered to Re-
port to Strengthen the Club
Ross Thornton Coming Back.


the Rock Island team for the remand
er of the season, succeeding Kohley
Miller, resigned. Miller, il should be
stated. accepted recently the manage
ment. He never desired the appoint
ment, being quite content with his Pc
sition as captain and second base
man, and this morning, at Miller's re
quest, Director Casteel went to Rock
ford to consult Hugh Nicol about as
summing the management.
Miller rendered to Mr.. Casteel his
resignation, stating in SO doing thai
he did not like or want the position
and felt assured that the duties were
interfering with his playing. In this
respect Miller takes much the same
stand that Callahan recently did ir
suTrendering the management of the
Chicago American league team. The
responsibilities involve con
siderable worry, and good players as
l rule Shun them, just as Miller did
rom the time he arrived here.
Results In DemOraIized Team.
But the incident resulting as it did
,yentualIy in the demoralized condi
ion of the team should serve as {
warning TO that class of people who
think they know more about what con
StituteS a good manager and a good
player than the local association does.
from the opening of the season there
vas a persistent demand for Mile
IS manager. Clever player as he is.
ma successful as he has been as n
captain. there was no assurance that
he would make a good manager. and
III this account he discouraged all
moves in that direction. But Their,
,as q percentage of the public that
bought it knew better than anyone
hat Miller ought to be manager and
lespite the fact that it was one of the
worst things that can be done to a
)all team to change its management
Turing a season. there was no rest
until Miller was given the position. a
change in the policies of institutions.
and in the ways men have of doing
Kings always produces friction, and
l ball team is no exception to the
-ule. especially where man is ele-
-ated from the ranks to the control
If those who have heretofore been his
teammates. Miller had his troubles
rom the first. There were those on
he team who opposed him, and with
whom the association is pretty apt to
3ettle for their antics in bringing
.bout the present condition of the
,lub.
Takes Charge Today.
Nicol assumes charge today at
Rockford and will return with the
cam from that city. He is. as is
lnown. one of the most experienced
baseball players and managers in the
country, and with a town like Rock
Stand back of him and a team like
Rock Islands in front of him ought tC
urn out a gilt edged article, which il
s believed he will succeed in doing
let all give him the glad hand.
Undismayed by the showing of the
team on its present trip, there has
leen no disposition on the part OF
he supporters of the game in Rock
sland TO lay down. During the past
ew days President Sexton and the
directors have been hustling for new
players. with the result that when the
cam returns home tonight there will
re several surprises in store for the
MEMBERS.
incidentally the club itself will be
ore the present plan of reorganiza
ion is completed be strong
er than ever. To begin with
accustomed place, second base, to-
morrow through the action Of Presi-
lent Holland of the Three-Eye league
his morning.
Thornton to Return to Team.
Then too. Ross Thornton will be
seen once more in center garden
,ither tomorrow or the succeeding
lay, the Columbus management hav-
ng informed President Sexton that
Thornton would be returned as he had
allied to make good as a hitter, not
vithstanding his brilliant field work.
But these will not be all of the
changes. There viii be new men be
mind the bat, at least one new one in
he infield, and likely two more in ad-
lition TO Thornton in the outfield. Here
the list of new men that President
Sexton has on hand from which TO
i'll up the weak places on the team:
Catchers-George Hessler, Garrett
Myers.
Infielders-Fisk, Warner, Hamilton
Miller.
Outfelders-Sump, Graham. Hip
pert, Peterson.
In the matter of catchers. President
Sexton believes he has been particu-
larly fortunate, Hessler being already
well known here, through his cOnnec
ion with the Rockford club this sea
son until overtaken by illness. Last
year he was in the Western league
Myers comes from ThomasborO. Ill,
and this is his first venture profes
sionally. He is signed on the recon-
of George W. McCaskrin
who has seen him play. and who de-
clares he is a cracker jack. In fact.
George declared in his enthusiasm this
morning. that he would almost stake
his political reputation on Myers max
ing good
Are Mostly Youngsters.
The outfielders and infelders are