The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-22

| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., NICHOLS, hulCH
/ and one other yet to be procured.
| Pitchers-Becker, Speer, Young, Hes
| d1yx, Anderson, Isbell, and possibly
| Bolin.
First Base-Holland.
Second. Base-Kelly, Powers, Ryan.
Third base-Hetling, Laughter.
Shortstop-Annis, Fillman.
Outfield-McLear, Milan, Rapps, and
Wichita, Kan, Jan. 22.-The Eagle
| says:
From that bunch of good ones, with
| Roy Bevis, outfielder, and Henry Daye,
should they decide to play the game
next season, and Bentley and Doze,
who are youngster infielders of unknown
ability, will be picked the 1907 Jobhers.
1t is an array of talent that looks de-
cidedly imposing for the Western As
ISOLATION, and it will look more so when
some good catcher has been added to
the list. Not that those already under
contract are not good ones, but what
the management wants is an old head
who has the ability to handle young
pitchers. Several are in sight, and it
is probable that some one of them will
be landed within a few days, at the lat
est.
OF course it will be hard matter
for Manager Holland to pick team
from that list, though in whatever way
he picks it, it will come pretty near be-
ing a winner. Four pitchers and two
catcherS will be carried throughout the
season. 1t is possible that more than
this will be retained until after the
season opens, providing one or more
of the. twirlers of known ability proves
to be slow in getting into condition,
That means that some of the good ones
will have to be sold before the season
has advanced very far. 1t is. possible
that some of the deals now ON will be
contaminated before the men are asked
to report. In that case some of the men
now under contract may not report in
Wichita, at all. .--
Manager Holland and President Breese
both admit that they would quit wor
rying, except as to which of the play
ers now owned by Wichita shall be
turned loose. That is where the hard
task is coming. --..--- -.-.
Take the eatchers, for instance. Ed
wards led the Western Association last
season, though hard luck kept him out
of most of the games. He was loaned
to Leavenworth for a while, and there
he caught good Ball. He hit well, too:
When he was recalled O'Leary was do
ing so we'll that he got few chances to
show his skill. .7'E--s--- s-.'..lta .sl..e.
| Finally he was. put sintoa az.game ION
the home grouHdsa JE5bha tYov n el4 4Rllt
s Ihe nInfh a te6in 4tG h
ball caught him on the end of one of
his crooked fingers and he was out Of
no m more for the. balance of the season
Nichols was one of the best catchers
in the South Central league last year.
He is said to be a good hitter, and to
possess everything that a catcher should
have. -.
KuIch is a youngster of unknown
ability. He was signed solely on the
recommendation of Kansas City play
ers, who declare with one accord that
he is a wonder. He will be given a
thorough tryout
At first base Manager Holland. with
his well known fighting. qualities and
his hitting ability, is a fixture. .2c
At second base, there are three con-
tenders, all of whom. are so highly rec
commended that it is a question, until
hey eptlt, which is liable to carry off
the pr 81. Kelly seenssatc have The
call. though Ryan, tn = st. Louis BOY
Quinn, the ex-major Lacquer, is tou1ed
to be wonder; while Powers, the
Pawnee Rock pedagogue, is pronounc-
ed the fastest big man he ever saw, by
Roy Bevis. Powers is also a pitcher Of
more or less ability, and is said to be
For third base, it looks as if Hetling
had the call The latest acquisition
was recognized last season as the star
of the association at that position
None but doc Andrews of Topeka
was considered in his class in ali de-
For shortstop it will be a race be-
tween Fillman and Annis. The former
is known here, having demonstrated
his ability during parts of the two sea-
sons that Wichita has had. a team.
Annis, however, was the sensation of
the iowa State leauge last year. and
is said to be a fast enc -..,--
In the outf1eld. McLear. eRapps and
Milan. with possibly Becker, will prob