Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-20
SPORTING GOSSIP OF WEEK
Omaha Looks Like the Western League
Pennant Winner
RoUREE FAMILY SEEMS BETTERAlLR AROUND
Head OF the Tribe Aztec AhstheE Coed
InheIder in order 90 Protect
HImseIfAgainHt the Pos
sible Accident.
Right after them.

/
Right after them.
Omaha is keeping well up, and II the
Rourko family isn't at the top OF the list
when the present home series is ended, 1t
will be a mighty big disappointment to all
hands concerned. The impression Is growing
that Papa Bill has the league outclassed
again, and that the pennant, bar incl
dents, will float at Vinton PARK next season.
Some hard luck has already settled on the
team, but not enough to discourage the
men Carter is hobbiing about with a bad l
knee that cuts down his effective range |
very materially but It isn't going to last /
forever and RunKle and Howard have been |
more or less I'm trouble with bad legs and |
hands, but are coming around all right |
The head OF the family has been using his
head, too. and is looking for the early ad- |
dition TO the flock Of another cracking good
infielder lie is so earnest in his desire to
win the flag that he isn't going to take
any chances on being caught with a hospi-
tai list and no one to MI the vacancies.
Experience with other teams indicates that
Omaha has just a shade of the best Of
them. Des Moines Is the team we have to
beat, and 1t is a good odds on bet that Wen
do this.
enlightenment on the deal whereby Bill
Schipke was sent to Des Moines. The
whole affair is in darkness but the mat err
will be sifted by the National Commission
unless the Cleveland club sends 1900 in
good money to the Omaha club on or be-
fore June /. 1t is known that the Cantil-
Ions got 5ohipke by way OF Comskey. Just
how Comiskey got him from cleveland and
let him go to Milwaukee without asking
other National and American league clubs
TO waive claim will have TO be explained
when the suit comes on. To a man up
tree the deal looks a little bad. If the big
league magnates are going to live up to the
reserve rule they ought to respect the
draft rule, too.
Nothing has been heard Of President
O'Neil since the season began, although
many inquiries for him have been made.
He is supposed to be in Oakland. although
his ONCE is in Chicago. It wouldn't be
bad move for the magnates to call a meet
ing and get real president at the head of
the league.
Ira stats" Davis is delightlng the fans
wherever he appears by his work as an
umpire He is nearer the goods than any
body seen in the Western in a long time
l Davis knows the game backwards and Is
| cool and Arm at all times and has already
earned the respect of the players. He was
a good ball player and II would be funny
n he didn't make good umpire. The
stories OF his bad work on the coast now
look like knocks from a bunch of has
vases" who had TO play ball and didn't
like the situation. II the work Davis has
done so far continues he will be on a big
league staff next season.
In the big leagues the test Of merit be-
tween east and west has been going on for
! a week, with everything in favor Of the
west. In the Ban Johnson league the west
erners are the invaders, but they have been
trotting away with the goods Just the
same. Detroit and Cleveland have put up
the strongest game and have done very
well, although Reuben Waddell did make
the Detroit sluggers look small on Thurs
day. Some of the local fans can see only
Detroit in that race. although the Athletics
have loyal supporters. One thing is ad-
nitted, and that is that Boston and New
York are permanently out of the playing
and that unless the whitesox take a won,
derful brace they will net be heard from
In the Pulliam league the fasteners camS
west, and to- use a classic phrase, they
were welcomed with bloody hands to hos
pitable graves" Chicago has climbed into
FIRST place, with nice little lead, and th'
outlook for the Chance fsmly remaining
there Is considered good. In Chicago
there's nothing 10 It but the Cubs just now
and the crowds at the National Lesgu,
park attest the loyalty Of the Windy Cit
bugs TO winning team. Pittsburg ant
Cincinnati have braced. and even St. Loui
Is showing form that wasn't looked for
With New York appropriately matched TO
the first time In years, a new interest ha
been given to affairs in the old leagu
everywhere.
%
Clark Grihith is proving more and NOR,
OF failure as a manager. He has gooS
material, but he doesn't get the work on
of them 1t Is alleged that he has his incl
oowed. and that none OF them are ever
willing, let alone anxious, TO extend them
selves to win. His encounter with Tin
Hurst was a disgraceful affair, but exhibit
the temper OF the manager who d0esn'
know how 20 manage himself. Whel
Griffith was a pitcher on the Milwaukee
team, back in 1891, he earned the title o
"HoOdlum" on the Western league circuit
and ~ appears that he is returning to tina
distinction. Once. in that good old Tins
when he was getting his bumps fror
Danny Shannons bunch Of leather busters
he took umbrage at something said in tn
grand stand. and coming over 10 the pres
box began TO talk OF whipping few "chea
Fsporters," That box was an open-face
AFFAIR that came down pretty close to N
ground. and II wouldn't have trouble
Grimth TO get In or the scribes 10 get GU
II Just 90 happened that afternoon tina
Sandy Grswold was the smallest man
the box, and he isn't q featherweigkt b
several pounds The gang stood up, an
Harry Hunter invited Griffith 70 designst
the one he wanted to start on, guaranteein
that at least one Milwaukee pitcher woul
be on duty for day or two after III
AFFAIR had ended Grifith sized M III
situation and sneaked to the bench. 10
lowed by a few goOd-natured remarks II
was never popular on this circuit, and y