The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-24

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ISOLATION is over And it has been the
most successful season Of the league
from all standpoints. Every team IN
the association with the possible excep-
tlon of LeavenwOrth has made money
Topeka and Wichita take first honors
ia drawing the crowds Hutchinson ami
Webb City which were both experiments
this year have made good and 1t IS not
thought that at the present time any
changes Will be made In the circuit all
other year. Hutchinson has done re-
marka bly, we'll for a town OF its size
In the early part of the season they took
the demoralized St. Joseph club which
was a losing proposition in the Mis-
souri, river town and made paying
venture of the deal
The playing Of the teams has been all
through the season Of the fastest va
riety for a league OF its class. Many
who have seen other minor league teams
play say that the Western Association
has put up an article Of ball that many
leagues of class A do not play. The
ace shows that all the clubs have been
playing about the same kind Of ball and
the way to the pennant has not been
an easy one for the White Sox. There
was a time during the season when but
III points separated the leaders from
the railenders. The playing OF the To-
peka club, however has been consistent
all through the season. They have neid
the top position nearly three-quarters
OF the time and for the last six weeks
no team has been within hailing dis
lance Of the ton. Cooley is certainly to
be congratulated in his ability to Sc
lect a pennant winning bunch in this
league coming as he did direct from
the big leagues and having but small
acquaintance among the players of this
league His accurate judgment OF bali
players together with his knowledge Of
the game has done a great deal tow
ards landing the nag in the capital city
of Kansas.
Joplin has played great ball all sea-
son considering the fact that they have
rot had the same class of players To-
peka has had. But they have had goou
pitching staff all through the year and
no small amount of the games Joplin
has won were due to the pitching of the
youthful Blaine Durbin.
one of the best races during the sea
son has been that of Wichita Hope
1essIy down to the bottom when tbs
new management took charge with
few additions to the team they have
weeks and with another two weeks ad-
ded to the season they would be right
on the heels Of the White Sox.
Springfield has played cratic ball
They have always been a hoodoo for
Topeka but have been easy picking for
Wichita, Oklahoma City and Leaven-
worth.
Oklahoma city has a good bunch Of
ball players but there has been a good
t7eal of friction all season between Cap
IHfn Risley and the management which.
as is always the case, has had a great
deal to do with the Nets finishing in the
second division.
Leavenworth got a big lead on first
place early in the season but luck was
breaking right for them and they were
playing way beyond their ability. Some
of their men upon whom they were
placing a goo deal of hope went back
on them and at several times during
the reason they had men on the hos
pltal list.
Webb City has played a peculiar va
Tiety OF ball all season and have at
various times held every position on IN
the race. They were at the top in the
early part Of the season and went clear
TO the bottom ard back up again. They
were on their way to the bottom al the
end of the season. They have one Of
the best captains in the business in
Dick Rohn but the lack of expending
money on the part of the management
las put a damper on his ambitions with
the result of finishing in seventh place.
Hutchinson has never been a factor
for anything but the cellar position.
For a while after the franchise was
transferred to the sals city when Abb
bolt was in charge Of the team it look
ed as though they might take q brace
but dissenslon broke out among the play
ers and the cellar position has been in
sured for some time.
The Western Association is to be con-
graduated on this, the most prosperous
season in the history Of a minor league
organization.
teams as given out by President Shively;