The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06


been playing more consistently in the last
in either of the two polo leagues. Muncie
has been winning with sameness and ease
which is giving the fans of other cities pal
pitation of the heart. Winning by wide
margins seems so easy for Farrelrs men
that Muncie polo lovers now expect them to
win with at least ten points to spare. If
Muncie were to lose a game at home the
players would have to seek police protec-
ton. There is little danger of the team
losing a game at home or any place else
if it continues to play the polo that has
landed it at the top. That is Muncies
consistency" On the other hand the local
five has been losing with a genuine good
nature. Any club in the Western League
that needed a winning to increase its at
home attendance found to it's good fortune
that McGilvray's Indians were just the ones
to fill the long-felt want
The Marion fans are still heaping Goals of
fire upon the head of Manager Joe Fox for
the failure of the Marion quintet to hold
first place. No combination in the country
could win from Muncie while the Farrell
five keeps up its present gait. Richmond is
not to be taken into consideration where
real polo playing is a factor. Bone is al
most the equal Of either of the mighty pair,
Lewis and Hart. Bone tries to play clean
polo, but what can one man do when the
other members of his club persist in using
football tactics in the game? Bone is
blamed Just as much as the other four
members of the club. but he has really
committed no wrong. Richmond holds sec
ond place, by playing the toughest kind Of
polo and getting away with it in plain sight
of the referees.
Joe Fox was roasted to a fragile" when
he tried to trade frank Warner for Dicly
Pierce. The wise ones kept still, awaiting
the contamination of the trade, but the
Marion polo lovers promptly drew up petit
ton saying that they would boycott the
traded for Pierce. After the trade fell
through the managers. players and polo
writers who knew the style play of the
two rushers, made the prediction that if
Fred Lewis and Dicky Pierce were to pair
on a rush line they would show some of
the most wonderful polo playing this cOun-
try has known. Pierce is right now play
ing swifter polo than any member of the
Indianapolis team, and IL is not his fault
that the club holds the lowest position
in the race.
is laid UP with broken leg. He will not
be able to ride the rollers again this season
and his place has been taken by the ex-
Indian, "Izzy'' Whipple. Whipple's abil-
ity to play any position has made him
valuable to the Fort Wayne team. Local
fans are heartily glad that Whipple is for
once on a champion team. He was a great
favorite in this city.
Polo writer's are handing it, to Secre-
tary David Durbin in no gentle language in
several cities of the circuit He has sold
out his Elwood franchise and for this sea-
son is entirely out of polo. 1t is little won
der that he would sell the franchise as it
was simply a large-sized gold brick
Stories 10 the effect that Mr.. Durbin has an
option on National League franchise are
rife Stories that other Western League Of
ficials were looking for Derths in the new
organization are also i'm circulation. Ii is a
betting proposition that indianapolis and
Richmond will be the only cities now mem
bers of the Western League who will have
teams in the big league. And Richmond
will play cleaner polo under a new set of
officials and referees.
Marion polo fans getting up $500
purse which they will present TO the Ma
rion quintet should Fox's men land the
Western League championship. The sum
is to be divided equally among the five
PLAYERS and Manager Joe Fox Had the
fans allowed mir. Fox TO handle the reins
as he saw lit Marion would have stood a
better chance OF winning. They will some
day learn that Frank Warner never was
and never will be the equal of one Dickey
Pierce.
=
A meeting of Central League officials and
magnates will soon be held at the Imperial
Hotel In this city. Several protested games
will come before the meeting. as will sew
eral minor matters pertaining to recent
games. Captain Long John" Wiley, of La
fayette, VIII protest a game played last