The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-18
Trouble With Athletic, Club, as
Murnane Sees 1t.
Pitching Staff May Pull the
Philadelphians Through.
HEAVY HITTING TEAM
Most of the Boys There That
Were With Team in 1902.
In Comparison With the Four
Leaders, Are Too High. s.

Philadelphia, Sept. Essays Tim
Murnane: Looking the Quaker team
over, 1 was impressed with the appar-
ent slowness+ of the men, nearly all
heavy for their height There was no
real dash about their work, and all
seemed to depend on their pitchers and
their stickwork The team has several
long drives, and there is nothing more
essential for a teams success. The
Quakers can put a nine on the diamond
when every man is a first-class bats
man, and this is a big advantage in a
seasons campaigns.
On general form the Athletics would
come number four when compared to
the Tour great teams now tied up for a
grand finish, and while the team is a
good campaigner, it would not be my
choice to go against the National
League champions. Either of the other
contenders would have a larger follow
ing, and yet in short series you can
never tell who will get the jump and
have the best streak of luck.
The Quaker infield is rs per cent
weaker than any of the teams now in
the race. Perhaps the biggest factor in
the Quaker's success is the handling of
shown rare ability in getting results
out or ordinary material The men I'M
der Mack play clean ball, never wran-
gle over decisions by the umpire and
one picked them for winners this
spring. The team apparently went bad
last fall, but this was easily accounted
for when one reflects on the work of
the old players this season. Mack found
that he was out of the race early last
year and then gave his clever pitchers
a good, long rest.-s He. didn't force his
old stand-bys to- work in the spring
games, and now with Plank, Bender
and Rube Waddell on edge for the fin
ish the Athletics Will be a difficult pro-
position to overcome.
The strange thing about the Quaker
club is to find the same old faces, win
ners of the American League cham
plonshlp in 1902 and again in 1905. They
come along this year as strong as ever
with team players who have been with
the club through all these years, viz:
Powers, SchreolS, Davis, Murphy, Cross,
Hartsel, Seybold, Plank, Bender and
RUDE Waddell. Talk about your young
blood No manager has secured the
country any more than Connie Mack
for young talent and used less new
men. He failed tos get youngster to
fill the place left vacant by Lave Cross
so he landed 5he veteran Jimmie Col
Inns Several lofahiS men were cast,
offs, Schreck Unsurpassed about till
Mack realized fine hitting catcher
was a novelty DR. Powers was con-
sidered too light sticlxer for the big
clubs until Mack realized that he was
a maker of pitchers. Harry Davis was
tried out by New York and Pittsburg.
and was back with the minors when
Mack pulled him back and made him
captain Of the team
Dan Murphy was counted the worst
failure that ever landed at the New
York Polo grounds and this young gold
brick was mailed back to Norwich.
Mack knew he could sling the ball and
paid ST. 200 for him, and found he was
champion timber. NJ. Cross was con-
sidered a light batsman and good field
er, but never considered the real mon
ey outside. of the Quaker City, but
Mack found that Cross had brains and
used him to splendid advantage. Sey-
bold was never anything but a fair
batsman and slow man, but made val
liable by Mr.. Mack Topsy Hartsel was
the one clear-cut, first-class man on the
team from the start. The team has
never had a regular center fielder, shift
ing almost daily.
RUDE Waddell was of little account
until Mack lassoed him and got the
work out of him.. Plank and Bender
were taken practically from the woods
and developed by Manager Mack, while
the other men now with the team are
only fair, Woodworking players who
can hit better than the average player.