The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-02

was against Joplin with. Blaine Dur
bin in the box. Bolles won the game
| by the score of to 0. Bolles is not
only a good pitcher, but can play any
| position on the team. In the post
! season games last fall Cooley tried him
out in every position and says that he
is the best all around player in the
business He shows up well behind
the bat and on the inf1eld and out
: field. He led the Texas league in
stolen bases and last fall while with
Topeka he made some sensational
steals. Cooley intends to carry four
pitchers. He has several youngsters
signed up who will try out for this po-
sition and out of the number which he
will have he ought to at least be able
to secure one good one to make up
the quartet Richards from Wamego,
who made his debut last season will
be on hand to try out. Richards has
plenty of speed in fact he has about
as much as any pitcher in the asso-
citation and he has a fair assortment
of curves. He also has knack of
fielding hunts which is conspicuous
by its absence and he is little shy of
control He is no worse, however, than
Jack Forester was a year ago and the
chances are that in the spring prac-
tice he will be able to remedy all these
defects. Another young recruit will
be Walter Babb, who comes from Red
Rock, Okla. He has never played pro-
fessional ball but he has made a great
and comes strongly recommended to
Cooley who has great hopes in the lad.
Lester Neal of Smith Center, will also
be given a tryout. He comes from
the short grass and is friend or
Cheney, who has recommended him
to Cooley. He is pitcher or rare
promise and should no doubt make
good showing in the anteseason games.
Cooley's old place on first base will
be given to Abbott, who needs no IN
public. abbott will make one of the
best first basemen in the league next
season." said Cooley yesterday There
never has been a harder working
PLAYER in the Western association than
Abbott and he will undoubtedly prove
to be one of the best men for the
Cooleycrows next season. Abbott
commenced playing on the Topeka
was represented in the Missouri Val
ley league. In the middle of the sea-
son he was traded for Tom Hughes
and F'riel to Pittsburg but later in the
season was brought back to Topeka
and given the captaincy of the team.
The team at that time was fast hitting
the toboggan but Abbott brought
them within hailing distance of sixth
place. He played with the Topeka
team all of the next season. most of
the time as ca plain. Probably no ball
player outside of Cooley has done
more for Topeka than Abbott but for
some reason he has been somewhat
unpopular among some of the fans.
This is probably due to his over zeal
business to win games when he has
had the team in his charge. How
ever, he will not be captain this year.
When not troubled with the added
duties of captain he is one of the best
PLAYERS in the circuit. He is a good
batter a good fielder and knows more |
baseball in a minute than most play |
ers know in life time, and when |
counts Abbott is ALWAYS |
there with the goods.
Second base, unless something hap |
pens to alter circumstances, will be !
handled by Clarence Mcbride, as he is
place. He comes from Sedan, Kansas, |
and is recommended to Cooley by Ed
Heck, an old timer in baseball who |
taught Cooley the game when he was
playing on the corner lots of Topeka. |
Heck is also the man who sent
Cheney to Topeka and his word is
good when it comes to baseball In
the event that a new third baseman is
secured he Will have to win this place |
over Olson.
Olson, under the present arrange |
ments will be played on third. He is
a youngster and is member of the |
famous family of Olsons and a broth |
er to Sylvester Olson, Joplins short |
stop. He is as good a fielder there !
is in the association and several other |
teams have been after him but he |
looks good to Cooley and will remain |
in Topeka. He played in Oklahoma |
City a short time last season and they
would like awfully we'll to get him for
next season. He is a fair batter and
with a year of experience should
make a good hitter. He is nineteen
years of age.
Jay Andrews, last years third base
man, may play this position again but
at this time it is not known whether
he and Cooley will come to terms or
not. Last fall he asked Cooley for his
release, which was given. Now he
wants to come back but there is as
yet a considerable difference in price. |
Cooley is after another third baseman
but his success at this time is rather
uncertain.
Raglan is the only man as yet who is
to try out for shortstop. Raglan COW
fact makes great many errors but
his sensational fielding has saved
many a game for the White Sox. Last
season he had a bad slump in his hit
ting but he thinks this season that he
will be able to clout the ball with
regularity.
For outfield positions there are four
candidates, all of whom played with
the White Sox last year. They are
Cole, Hurlburt, Davis and Landreth.
The first three are favorites in Topeka
and Landreth is an unknown quantity.
He played in a few games last fall and
his fielding and batting in these games
were sensational but whether he is a
good player or merely had run of
luck is uncertain. At any rate he
made such showing that Cooley is to
try him out this season and hopes to
be able. to make a player out of him.
Cole is one of the best base runners in
the association and hunts well besides
being a good fielder.
On the whole the dope at this time
n 90 toox Co.. IT.