The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-24
HAD A BAD TRIP.
Nichols Ball Players Have Been Hav-
ing Hard Time.

TT was bad trip said Charley
Nichols, manager or the st. LOUIS
Cardinals. at the Hotel Throop today
as he ordered his men to get into uni
form and play an exhibition game at
the ball park this afternoon. Yes,
it was a bad trip" he continued
gIOomily. eve had the worst streak
of weather that could be imagined for
this time of the year. The day we
struck Marlin, Tex, the training place
which we had selected, the sun was
warm or almost hot We felt good
and were happy in prospect OF having
the right kind of atmosphere We all
turned out and cut loose just about as
hard as a man will when going into
spring training Big kinks in our
arms and legs was the result. This
we expected to rid ourselves of, how
ever, very easily with continued work.
But the next day was a fright. A
cold, wet, DRILLING rain began to fall.
An occasional bright day would come
on, but in general the weather was
rotten. The only real workout we
have had was at Oklahoma City last
Saturday and Sunday against bud
Risley's Western association team, and
both of those days were raw and
windy.
I'm fact" continued Nichols, 1--WE
did not get the benefit from our trip
which we should have received. None
of us have loosened up right just yet
We have some pretty hard picking
right ahead of US, too. Saturday, Sun
day and Monday we go up against the
American association Kansas City
Blues. We have light games at st.
Joe, Springfield and Joplin, and then
we go right home to open up a series
Of nine games with the st. Louis
Browns. And everyone of those will
be hard ones you can wager.
"Of course we got some benefit he
continued as he walked outside and
got a bath in the bright sunshiny
morning, land it did us some good
q
deal of talk among managers of the
big teams to discontinue the idea of
southern spring training trips. but we
cannot do anything else. Comiskey
gave out a big interview recently that
he would probably not go south next
year, but I'll bet he will be among the
first down there. There is nothing else
to do. 1t is an expensive matter, and
will be especially so to US this year
because of the bad weather which
meant poor crowds Last year we
gathered up a little money on the trip,
but this year it was poor business.
What do you think about your
team?" was asked.
s'Good," was. the laconic answer.
When pressed further he said: "Of
course you know I cannot say much
about the makeup now All my men
have not yet reported, principal
among these, Jake Beckley. He hasnt
come into the fold yet I have quite
number Of youngsters who promise |
nicely. They may be playing bril-
iantly now, however, but may fall
fat before the season is well under
way. Then besides I wouldn't care to
say anything about the merits of the
men, either the new or the old, be-
cause it might hurt some of them.
think. however, that we will get along
all right this season.
What do you think about the ok
ahoma City Western association |
team % was asked of him.
*sThey are a likely lot" was his re-
ply t'Risley didn't have all of them |
but his aggregation played i
ball all right enough. I liked the /
work of Jimmie Prick, his third base
man, especially. That youngster