The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-19
BASEBALL TALK.
Topeka Won't Be in the West.
ern League.
western Association Circuit
May Remain Intact.
COOLEY AT THE HELM.
Likely He Will Manage the
Topeka Team.
Johnny Fillman to Have Charge
at Joplin.

| @O OOPIAns
The fate of Topeka in the baseball
world for the next season at least will
probably consist of a Western Associa-
ton team with Dick Cooley at the helm.
The question of getting Topeka into
another and bigger league for the
coming season seems at the present
time something of a iridescent dream.
Last season the proposition was thresh-
ed out at great length and nearly every
resort was exhausted so that there re-
mains nothing that can be done under
the present rules Of the National AS
ISOLATION. The plan Of advancing into
the Western League last season. as is
well known, was frustrated by the rules
OF the National Association which pro-
h1bitS the drafting of one town into an
other league. Last season an effort was
made to get the national commission,
which is a baseball tribunal supreme In
baseball, to overrule the National As
ISOLATION but the best that could be
done was to get a recommendation
from the commission that the rules
should be changed.
This was done at a meeting of the
commission near the beginning of the
season. Consequently it was too late
for anything to be done last season and
the promoters of Topeka as Western
League town were forced to desist their
efforts. They did so with the hope that
the National Association would take
cognizance of the national commissions
ruling.
AS it happens the president, D. NJ.
Shively of the Western Association, is
a member of the association and has
quite a popularity among the members
of that body. Consequently the associ-
alton made no changes in its rules
whereby Topeka could advance into
higher class league.
There may be a change for Topeka's
advancement NEXT season. The case
would have to go before the national
commission for a hearing but as they
have passed upon the case In way
already it is not likely that they would
consent to reopen the case. Consequent
ly Western League baseball seems
forlorn hope to Topeka. The Western
League will probably complete their
circuit as was intimated in the State
Journal several weeks ago by the addl-
ton of ST. Joseph and Colorado Springs
Herman Crow, one of the owners OF
the Topeka team, is spending the win
ter in Seattle. He has written to Cooley
stating that he is willing to dispose of
his interest in the team to Cooley. he.
however,. failed to name price ana
Cooley is not yet sure that ne Will BUY
Grow out. He will if he can do so for
reasonable terms. Should he succeed
in getting Crows share Of the team
Cooley would probably remain here. AT
least his friends. say that he would.
Cooley, however, has received several
good offers for the franchise here. Two
offers were made to him while he was
at the Western Association meeting In
Kansas City last week. If particular
ly handsome offer was made to him he
would probably sell out. Cooley has
under consideration several new play
ers for the local team some of them be-
ing fast men. This would indicate that
he intended to remain.
At the Western Association meeting
in Kansas City last week committee
was appointed to look after the circuit
for next season. The committee is COM
posed of President Moore of the Webb
City team, President Hostetler of the
Hutchinson team and President Shively.
This committee will look over the dub
ious towns and If they think a change
in the circuit advisable they Will make
it. Enid is clamoring for a team.
Springfield had a disastrous season but
they have a new management there
now and all of last seasons debts have
been paid. They are now ready to start
anew. Dudley Risley has been engaged
as manager and has already added
some good men to his team. He has Sc
cured Mig shaner. Harry Cheek and
Ivan Olson from the Webb City team
and has already several others under
contract
The owners of the Leavenworth team
have made arrangements for the build
ing Of q new baseball park there next |
season. The park will be located just |
to the north of the city limits, but will
be only eleven blocks from the center |
of town and will have better street car |
connections than the present park. 1t !
will be but a short distance from the |
fort and the owners expect to receive |
added patronage from the |
six thousand soldiers who are quarters |
ed there. President Rohr of the Leav- |
enworth team was in Topeka a few |
days last week and was quite hopeful |
over the prospects for his team next |
season.
Jack Henry, formerly of the Topeka
team, has been drafted from Oklahoma
City by Ducky Holmes, who is now
the Sioux City team. Arthur
Griggs, Topeka boy who played with
San Antonio in the Texas league last
year. has been drafted by the Shreves-
port team in the Southern league
Jaw Andrews is wintering in Hutch
inson and has a lucrative position with
the gas company there. Jay should
shine in such company.
The stockholders of the Joplin team
held a meeting last Thursday and elect
ed Johnny F'illman manager for next
season. Fillman is a good player and
was at one time manager of the Miners |
He was uniformly successful and the