The Topeka state journal., 1904-12-02

promises Topeka his services If let out.
But "futurities' are unsafe things to
bet on in a horse race, and decidedly
impossible things to consider in base
bail, especially in a town like Topeka,
wherein the long suffering and well at
tending fans are clamoring and abso-
lutely demanding good team of the
top-notcher order So President Sheard
and Secretary Logan have put both
MacLear and Schmidt behind them
selves and are scanning the horizon
for shortstop and a catcher.
Manager Abbott writes from his
winter home in Ohio that he has
good man on the string, but the kind
that wants per month salary of from
$125 to $3.50 per month. A salary like
that looks monstrous to Mr.. Sheard,
and while he does not say that he will
refuse to sign a man at that price he
is getting busy looking around for
less money. No one at all is in sight
for shortstop. In the event that no
body is secured Olson will be sent back
to perform miracles there and a second
baseman will be found Dunn wants
to come back to play that position, but
he does not look good to the manage
ment.
The outfeld too is causing some wor-
rying. Bevis is almost without peer
in the Western Association, barring
Bayless and possibly Dutch Pertsch.
The latter. by the way, seems to be on
the market. Shortly Hurlburt, owner
him to Topeka for Olson. To that en-
treaty Mr.. Sheard turns a cold ear.
Hurlburt wanted to trade him to Pres
ident Baker of Joplin for Crum, at the
Kansas City meeting. Baker too, said
Nay, nay" From these offers the To-
peka managers think that Hurlburt
wants to get rid of Pertsch for some
reason or other. So they are planning
a trade.
who for instance would you give for
him?" was asked of Secretary Logan.
Jack Freil,' was the reply. And it
is rather easy to Surmise what HurI-
burt would say to this proposition.
The fact remains that Topeka needs
another fielder. Bayless seemed to be
favorite with the management for the
job just as the season closed, and Presl-
dent Sheard named him along side of
Charley Smith and MacLear, as one OF
his probabilities" Now he is not talk
ed of any more. To a question con-
cerning him, put to Secretary Logan,
a sort of vague negative answer was
obtained, which practically meant that
Bayless is not being considered any
longer, reason not given.
Summing up the cituation it appears
that nothing has yet been done, at
least nothing of a tangible nature, to
bring a good team to Topeka for next
year. 1t is certainly true that Mr..
Sheard and Mr.. Logan have not signed
any material They say that they have
plenty of strings out, but nobody sees
the corlxs on their fishlines bobbing.
Abbott is doing in the wilds of Ohio is
not known either. The management
says the letters are obtained from him
occasionally, but none show that he has
obtained any wonder workers for the
Topeka rooters to embrace next sum-
mer. Considerable, or in reality the
major share of the responsibility for the
team of 1905, has been cast upon him.
If he doesn't make good in that respect,
says Mr.. Sheard, he will be fired.
The Topeka management excuses it.
self for failure to dig up players by this
time, on grounds that it wished to
wait until the annual league meeting
was over to find out whether the as
ISOLATION would change its class or not.
From now on therefore, the public may
expect the signing of new ball players.
The probable change of class has ap-
parently not affected Joplin or Spring
field very much At both those towns
players are being hunted up for next
year, If the papers which emanate from
there are consulted. Not week goes