The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-01

Webb City at Joplin.
Hutchinson at Wichita.
Springfield at Oklahoma.
As has been said by this paper several
times Topeka ON the face of the dope
would seem to have the pennant won al
ready. There is not team in the whole
circuit which will compare with the
Champions and which is balanced as
nicely all around.
Behind the bat Topeka is away in
the lead with no other team having a
backstop anywhere near as efficient. If
Henry's work so far this spring is any
indication there will be but the present
season left for him in this league.
With the present pitching staff there
is not another one in the whole circuit
to compare with it. Halla and Jones,
the two southpaws on the team, are in
q class entirely beyond any other south
paws in the league With McInniS, For
roster and Boles to hold down the right
handed department the pitching staff is
complete.
The infieId will be the fastest fielding
bunch in the league Abbott on first
will field as good as Cooley, but will hit
a little lower. Olson Will develop into
both a good second baseman and batter,
while Ragan is showing a great i'm
provement over last season Runkel on
third will be the best third baseman in
the league. Doc Andrews and Gus Het-
ling, the acknowledged leaders at third,
do not begin to compare with the Tope-
ka captain
Outside of Landreth the outfield is a
known quantity and very few indeed
are those who do believe Landreth will
be one of the fastest f1elders in the
league.
The Topeka team will be better in
fielding than last season with possibly
a slight falling off in batting.
What claims the Wichita team has
for the pennant are not exactly evident
at this time. Weaver nor Nichols will
create any sensation with their work
behind the bat. Young Is their best
pitcher and while he is one of the best
right-handers in the league he can not
rank with McInnfs. Becker is a fair
pitcher but he is easily ratified and
another southpaw is as cratic and
uncertain as the present weather.
Dicks is an unknown quantity but in
the preliminary game he has not shown
very great form. On first Holland is
a fair player but his age is beginning
to tell on him and he is not as ag
gressive nor as active a man as is
needed on this position. Old King Kelly
is playing second. He was thought to
have been dead as far as the game is
concerned along about 1885, but he
seems to have been resurrected and may
play fair game on hot days. However,
he cannot play up with Olson or many
of the other second sackers in the
league. On short Annfs is an expert
ment who has never DefOre been able
to stick in a faster circuit than a class
D. and as the w. A. is the fastest G
Organization in the business, he will
probably get his bumps good and early.
Wichita is not as strong in the outf1eld
as last year. Milan, MacLear and
Bayless are not a very fast trio.
Joplin does not appear to have a look
In this season. Durbin and Bayless will
be badly missed. Vanderbilt, and Queis
ser behind the bat put this department
in pretty good shape. Root, when he
IS in form is the only pitcher of real
class on the Joplin team. Dick Rohn
and Walter Queisser are the only VAL
liable additions during the past season.
with Rohn, link, Vaughn and Fill
man the infield does not look danger
GUS In the outfield Joplin has Cole,
Harrington and Baerwald, the latter
being the only first-class player they
have.
OF the Oklahoma City little can be
said except that they bid fair to make
the first division. George Siegle, the
catcher of the team, is very sleepy
man and while he is big enough to
stop a ball thrown within a radius of
ten feet from the plate. he can not
throw to bases nor run. Manager Nc
Farland and Gibson should make good
men on the pitching staff as will Lew
Woods when he gets into shape. Gill