Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-12
WESTERN LEAGUE is READY
tx Teams Will Start at Tap Of Drum
fer 1907 Race.
OMAHA STRONG IN EVERY DEP ARTNtNT
Rourke VIII Oner Fast Lot of Young
stera Instead of Veterans and
other Teams win All
be strong.

Western league teams now know the
day OF their beginning. April II. The
delay in announcing the schedule has been
due to the uncertainty as to the circuit
II was desired at the close Of last season
to add Topeka and one other town, st
Joseph preferred. to the Western league
circuit for the purpose Of making It eight
instead Of six clubs strong This plan was
defeated, although II was followed until
the very last President O'Neil followed
the instructions Of the league members to
the letter, but could not carry the point
in face Of the law and the opposition Of
the Western association. Six clubs will
again contend for the pennant, and spring
practice shows that they will be much
nearer matched than last year.
Omaha in Good shape.
Omaha is In especially good form. Pres
ident Rourke has for once abandoned his
traditional policy and has team on which
the younger players preSSpinate. This
will to some extent initiate against the
'inside game" which has won for Omaha
such distinction In Western league circles,
for that game calls for seasoned players.
Some time will be required to get the new
boys versed in these fine points, but Papa
Bill Is a splendid instructor and his high
school has turned out a great many fine
ball players 1t is not at all likely that
he will fail this season, especially as he
has such a remarkably fine lot Of material
to start on. If he can get this team under
proper Roadway it ought to show ball Of
the fastest sort by the middle Of June. II
is stronger in every way but experience
than any team Omaha has had on the dia-
mond since the beginning, save in pitchers.
The pitching STAFF, although IT has no
Phester or owen or Brown, has men Of
ability and judgment, who are up to West
ern league requirements and who will de-
liver the goods with regularity.
other Teams strong.
Sioux City has been much strengthened
since last season, the return Of Sheehan
being an element that will not do to over
look. With this hustling little player on
third and directing the team as captain
the Sioux will be much more formidable
than last year, when they were disorgan-
lied. Lincoln is hardly so strong, the loss
of Quillin leaving a gap that Manager
Holmes has not been able to fill. He has
not been SO fortunate as Rourke in secur-
ing third basemen. At present 1t seems
that DuCky may have to play the bag him
self Eddie Wheeler is talking Of the great
things Denver will do and is putting the
Grizzlies through a stin course of training
in order to make good on his talk. This
will be Il bunch of veterans, men versed
in every trick Of the game, and It ought to
make a good showing. Des MOines, too,
will have a bunch Of old-timers, with Mike
Kelley at the head and expects to figure
in the race from the first, just as last
season, when the Champions had the field
strung out all the way. Frank Selee will
L Ill
he has some of his raw material of last
season licked into shape to play ball this
year. The Pueblo team OF 1906 was COM
posed of much Individual strength, but
couldn't get together.
President ONeil has secured some real
umpires for the summer and gives IT out
that the games are to be controlled by
the umpires all through the summer.
Rowdyism will not be tolerated and spec
tators will see ball games and not disputes.
If he will only hold to this the success of
the season is assured.