The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-31
TEAM WORK IS BETTER
THAN INDIVIDUAL STARS
Watkins Tells of His Expert
ence with Sioux City, Cham
pions in 1894.
DEVELOPED TEAM WORK
Only Man of the Lot that Has
Since Made Good Is George
Hogriever.

W. H. Watkins sat in the office OF the
Indianapolis Athletic Association one day
last week and told stories of his baseball
experiences. He looked at the many pho
tographs of baseball teams hung about the
room and at last his eyes rested on the
group of the Sioux City champions of 1894,
the first to win the pennant in the old Wset-
ern League. Watkins was manager of that
aggregation.
II had little idea of winning the pennant
with that outfit said Watty, but by per-
sistent efforts we managed to land first
place. That year gave me a lot OF good eX-
perience in handling ball players. We had
lot of players who did not shlne as
brightly as some of the stars in the other
teams, but / got them to play together and
by good team work we carried of the pen
nant. 1t demonstrated to me that bunch
of players that will play together to win
games is far better than having lot or
individual stars who play for their own
averages instead of team work. The only
man that has ever really made good out or
the entire Sioux City bunch is George Hog
riever."
The large crop of baseball players turned
out during the last two seasons by the Uni
versity of Illinois have not come up to eX-
pectations. OF last springs championship
college team, Falkenburg, Lundgren, Stahl,
Miller Cook, Zangerie and Steinweddell,
were all thought to be of major league cali
Der. Falkenburg was tried repeatedly by
Pittsburg, but was found to be just good
enough TO be a star in the minor leagues.
Miller failed TO get even a trial with New
York, while Jake Stahl. after subbing for
Jimmy Collins, has been let out to Wash
ington. Cook was tried out by Selee but
failed to stick and dropped into the minors.
Zangerie was reported to have signed with
Comiskey, but he never was seen in White
Sox uniform, while Stenweddell refused all
q professional
out of the bunch, Lungren, who pitched
good ball for Seee, is the only one who
really made good in fast company.
Herman Long apparently has fully deter
mined to play with the Toledo club of the
American Association next season, despite
his claim on New York for another years
salary, and the fact that the latter club
has never asked American teams to waive
claim on Herman. Detroit has been figur-
ing on using the Dutchman at second and
can block the Toledo deal under the ten
days claim and waive rule, if it is decided
that Herman is needed at Detroit Long
was at the association meeting in Chicago
in conference with Strohel and Wiley, the
Toledo owners, and is quoted as stating:
Il figure that it is much the best thing
for me to go to Toledo than to try to hold
the New York American League to it's con-
tract. / am looking forward to the future
and will have pleasant berth with the
Toledo team. L will play short there and
l think L can help out the infield to a con-
siderable extent. L will go to Hot Springs
next week to get into condition for the
opening of the season"
The Detroit people will not express them
selves on the Long matter, because they
are not sure that Herman is needed there
and are dead sure that they do not wish
to pay him 5000 year. Barrow had had
talk with Griffith recently, but the Long
tangle did not come up. 1t referred to the
old subject Mullin and third base The
local manager is dickering along two lines
but will say nothing until success or fail
baseman, without loss of Mullin.
IF war and player stealing comes again.,
said Secretary Navin, lit will simplify a
few problems for us. 1t will cost some
money, but can go ahead and finish up
the work that was begun during the last
fight"