The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-11
Where they play Sunday:
Topeka at Fort Scott.
lola at Springfield.
Pittsburg at Joplin.
IeaVenWOrth at Sedalia.


Curley speers, the slant artist of the
Midget lined up for this afternoon is
"batty' on the subject of Frank Merrl-
well, the fictitious hero who can and
has done everything in the cheap five
cent novels, according to the stories
told by the Springfield players. His
team mates say that he talks in his
sleep at night yelling strike him
out - hit her a mile" and all that kind
of stuff. He has enough of the paper
backed novels on hand to start store
of his own. On Thursday afternoon, be
fore the first game of the Springfield
Topeka series at Washburn park, a
stranger who was "On, approached
Speers and handing him cigar, said:
Hello, Frank" Speers turned around
quickly and replied: You don't know
my name" Sure" replied the strang-
er, you are Frank MerriWell.' SpeerS
puffed out his chest and walked about
in great glee. His teammates tell
whole host of tales of that kind, ana
they are rich. Speers is only IS years
of age, but has some wonderful curves
and speed in his arm. He has received
but one drubbing this year. He can
not bat, however, according to his own
people He just walks up to the plate
and makes a stab. But the other day
he struck his willow up against one of
Red Davis shoots and it went for three
bases. The rest Of the team had to tie
him down at third base, he was so joy
ful. They also relate that ne has sew
eral times permitted two or three men
TO get on base with deliberate inten-
tion, and has then taken off his cap,
and pitched like a demon, successfully
retiring the side without a run. That
they say is to initiate Frank Merriwell,
who is apparently his hero.
Hoster, Pittsburg's shortstop, who
was released recently is now with Arm
strong at Fort Scott.
Down at Pittsburg they think that
Abbott, the eX-Saint, is about the best
first baseman in the business. Manager
Baldwin is more than satisfied with
giving up Friel and Hughes for him.
He has played a star game and is bat
ting we'll since leaving Topeka.
Dummy Handman, of Olathe, recon-
mended by Dummy Curtis of Sedalia
came to Topeka Friday morning and
asked for a job with the Saints Mana
ger Alberts refused him saying; I'm
going to stop this trying out business
right here"
The Fort Scott Republican prints
this story of the Armstrong Bevis-
Schraut deal, and it is probably the
straight of the whole affair It is
worth reprinting for the simple rea-
son that nobody in Topeka seems to
be able to elucidate the tangle.
by a deal which has been consum-
mated, Louis Armstrong will take
charge of the local team this morn
ing and viii be behind the bat for the
Giants the rest of the season. The
negotiations for this star ball player
have been long and tedious, and sew
eral times it looked as though every
effort had been exhausted in vain.
However, last week President Shive-
ley and Secretary Frank Hurlburt of
Springfield interested. themselves in
behalf of the Fort Scott team and be-
gan to make Overtures to several
managers of the league for a trade
that would be a benefit to the Giants.
Mr.. Hurlburt made the generous offer
of Porter, who is playing first base for
the Mtdgets, for Armstrong with the
understanding that the latter would
take the management of the Fort
Scott team This was acceptable to
the Topeka association. as Porter is
one of the star catchers of the league.