Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-20
SPORTING GOSSIP OF WEEK
Papa Bill Rourke Getting Ready for His
Busiest Season.
AfAM OF YOUNGSTERS FOR OMAHA
New Men Signed for InfleId and Out
field Promise n SVEN Bunch
to Start with Next
summer.
Getting busy.

Getting busy.
Papa Bill is wearing his dungarees day
and night now and hasn't slept wink
since the first of the year. In fact, he says
Die is not going TO sleep again until after
4 he has nailed down another Western league
pennant. He has given over the cares of
Office and is doing his best to attend to the
business of the Omaha base ball club.
The old league may have six clubs or six
teen. and It will be all the same to Pa,
for he is going to have the leaders. anyhow.
Right at the start he is signing up young
players of the most approved sort every
day and now has his roster for next sea-
son very nearly filed. A new first base
man, a new third baseman, a new short
stop and new right fielder are the fea-
lures OF his campaign since the opening
of the new year. One OF the veteran play
ers he is after is uncertain Mr.. Buck
Franks is sulldng somewhere out in Oak
land and doesn't want to come as far east
as Omaha. Bassey and little bunch of
money was traded for Buckerino, but he
is showing his nature and balks. A con-
tract has been sent him. and he will either
sign. negotiate q trade or rubberleg to
eu9)me independent team. Rourke is willing
10 let him go IL he can secure as sub
stitute a good man. Franks is casting
about to see what he can do. The prob
abilities are all in favor of his wearing
an Omaha uniform next summer to appear
at second base and captain the team.
%
The real star of the youngsters secured
by Pa for the coming season IL Jimmie
Austin. who comes from Dayton. o., where
he played third for that team in the Central
league. Jimmie is the boy wonder, accord
ing to such judges as Jimmy Ryan and
others who watched his work during the
last summer. Omaha and Atlanta both
drafted him, and the matter was settled
by lot. Omaha winning. After the drawing
Atlanta offered Rourke Whitley Morris and
a little bunch of money for Austin, but Pa
said: mo; for II he has such an aspect
OF promise to you, l believe he win be a
profitable investment for me as well. At
all events, 1 shall not now relinquish my
claim to him. but will give him fun and
fair trial In connection with the business
1 expect to do at home next season. Should
he even approximate my expectations,
based on the excellent reports have heard
concerning his accomplishments as a base
bali player, 1 am certain he will prove
Immensely popular at Omaha. Therefore,
could not now consider even for the
remote future the proposition that should
mart with him" That is, that Is what Pa
thinks he said. AS a matter OF fact he
said; WHAT Say, the kid looks pretty
good 70 me and I guess III stick Nothin
doih'." II means the same thing. and
doesn't take so long TO say. You know,
base ball men think quickly and learn in
time 10 talk the same way. Conversation
with them Is on The same basis as safe
hit or a well placed sacriice-it has TO be
done at once or not at ALL II you don't
believe this, ask the first umpire you
happen 10 meet after the game.
During the last season with Layton. Jim
+, mie Austin batted .25S and Yielded 800 He
Is credited with hfty-nine stolen bases,
twenty-six sacrifice hits and seventy-hve
runs. This shows he is pretty fast and
indicates his promise. Right behind Austin
comes Bnl White the short stop from