The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-25
BASEBALL GOSSIP.

|
Big Jack Halla, the southpaw pitcher
or last seasons team. came in from st.
Louis yesterday morning and is look
| ing fine. He says that he is in better
| shape than he mas ever been before,
and, although this is one of the regu-
lar forms of baseball salutation from
players at this time of the season,
Halla certainly looks the part of a
player in gOod condition. There was
a time when Halla's advent into To-
peka was the source of saddened faces
on the part of the local fans, and
that was when he was with the Okla
homa City team. Many of the fans
tails of the opening game of the sea-
son two years ago at Oklahoma City
! when Topeka lined up against the new
" organized Nets with Tom Hughes,
Halla-12 to O. in favor of Okla
homa City. was all that Halla did.
Paul Dummy" Curtis, the erstwhile
crack southpaw of the old .Sedalia team
OF the Western association, is in To-
peka trying to get with the local
team. He belongs to the Charlestown
Is. c. team at the present time and
wants Cooley to purchase, his release.
He is making all. the usual promises
of man of his disposition, but, as he
has an appetite for firewater equally
as strong as that of President Roose-
welt for man to dig the Panama
canal. it is doubtful if Curtis can de-
liver the goods in the Western league.
He is one of the best in the business
when he is right; but that is seldom,
or at least was when he was with
Sedalia.
young recruit by the name of
Haas, who halls from the southeastern
part of the state, is in Topeka trying
to induce Cooley to give him tryout
on the local twirling staff. He comes
well recommended by those who have
seen him work and he will probably
be stuck into a uniform in a few days
and sent out to show what he can do
An order has been issued by the
White Sox management to the effect
that the only grandstands which can
be used this season are those on the
south and west sides of the lot This
will work a great handicap on. the
brethren who are accustomed to con-.
gregate in the east fgrandstand just
outside the fence, where they have the
opportunity to pay a nickel and view
the proceedings Herman Crow has
arranged with contractors. for the con-.
struction of a. high view o Instructor
similar to the one nov In the SOUTH :
east part of the grounds This will
be SO high that spectators will even
have their view shut off although they
may repose in the branches. of the
highest treetops. 54- VI
Wichita has too many players now,
and is trying to get rid of Fillman and
Laughlin, as. it is thought Annis and
Hetling will make better infielders.
Neither has been sent transportation
to report as yet. and unless the Wich-
ita management, suffers a change of
heart they will probably remain at
home until they are disposed of to
some team
While up the line at Maple Hill,
where Cooley spent a few days with
Spec Hurlburt last week. Spec af-
fixed his signature to his 1907 con-
tract with the Cooleycrows. Spec is
enthusiastic about the Western league
and says there is no doubt about his
making good. He is now closing I'D
his affairs at his country home and is
making arrangements for spring plow-
ing and other details of large farm
ing business. He will be out to prac-
t1ce wednesday for the first time.
The Cooleycrows did not practice
Yesterday, and this was the source of |
keen disappointment to a large num- |
park to see their baseball idols per- |
form a few stunts. However, from
now on until the season starts the fans |
will not be disappointed In seeing the |
ocal bunch work out every day that |
they are in Topeka
Manager Frank Selee of the Pueblo |
-eam has signed a catcher by the name |
IF Smith who comes from Albion,
Mich. He is a youngster. but was
highly recommended to Selee by jim
MCGUIRE. the catcher of the New York
Americans. Selee has also closed a
1eal whereby he will secure George
Pierce, who played with st. Paul, as
IN addition to the receiving end of his
batteries.
Louis Woods. the acrobatic pitcher of
he Oklahoma City team who will be re-
nembered by many followers of the
game as played in the old Western as
ISOLATION, will probably not be in the
game this year. A few weeks ago he
net with a bad accident and broke his
,ollar bone which will of necessity keep
linn out of condition for some time.
Although there is no Carnegie medal
'ffered for the greatest joke of the sea-
'on, the name of President Breese of
he Wichita team should be given hon
'rable mention in this connection. In a
Wichita interview a few days ago the
obbers' president, who has spent lot
f money during the winter in order to
let team to beat the Cooleycrows.
aid that if the Western league sched-
lie when it came out provided for the
laying of Western league games in To-
eka he would enjoin the Topeka team
rom playing. He also stated that ne
Tould be backed up in this policy by
he management of the Oklahoma City
cam and also the Leavenworth and
proprietors.
Butch Freese who was the regular
hortstop of the Sioux City team last
eason has been cast adrift by Presi-
ent Duncan. The reason assigned for
mis- action was the fact that the speed |
f the Western league and F,reese was
OF of the same rate.
The Joplin manager evidently has {
tolen a march on the Topeka team by I