Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-03
CLEVELAND GETS SCHWARZ
Major League Team is Awarded First
Baseman Pa Had.
OMAHA WILL HAVE FAST TEAM
President Rourke IN Happy yer the
Outlook for 1909 and ~ Going
After n Red-Hot Bunch
OF New Men.

Among the vagaries Of base ball laws
is a rule which holds tina when a minor
league owner has anything tina a major
league owner wants the minor man must
give II up to the major man. 1t isn't
worded exactly like that, but it works out
that way, particularly with reference to
the possession of new players.
Pa Rourke, owner of the Omaha team,
thought he had first base filled for ext
year and had ceased to worry over the
loss Of Aubrey. He, with Oakland and a
couple of other minor league clubs, had
bid on schwarz Of Akron. o.. In the
draw Pa got the lucky number and sup
posed he had Schwarz cinched.
Now, at the eleventh hour, comes Cleve-
land. the major, and lays claim TO
Schwarz, on the ground that 1t had drafted
him. So he goes TO Cleveland and Pa is
still on the hunt for a first baseman.
President Rourke is determined to land a
good man for the initial bag, though, just as
he is determined to get a fast team for 1909.
But here is what he is up against: The six
teen major league teams, National and
American, today have over 800 players
under reserve. That is an average of fifty
men to a team. Where is the minor league
owner going to get his men? There is
no law I'm the code of base ball that gives
the long end Of any controversy, claim or
I contest with refereRce to players to the
minor league. Everything, so far as statute
is concerned. is against him. The major
has It all. That means IL the minor league
team builds up an effective organization
It must go to the brushes largely and de-
pend on the element of luck to a great
extent. This year, perhaps, as never be-
fore, the country has been combed by
the majors with a fine-toothed comb in the
effort to land championship material and
as a result every league has been vel
visited.
But Pa Rourke, of course, does not de-
spair. He will have a team, and a good
one. There is one way in which this very
situation which on the face of 1t appears as
a handicap may result to Pas advantage.
New York Americans, for instance, which
drafted Jimmy Austin, has six men for
third base. Now that simply means that
the man who sticks for regular will be all
round the most effective player. Austin
may possibly be excelled by others at the
bat sufficiently to give someone the edge
over him. In case he is not needed, then
Pa will get him back for another season,
This would suit Austin, doubtless, as he
preferred to wait another year before go
ing into fast company and would delight
Pa, who still is interested in Jimmy's llti'
mate success.
Pa now thinks, and so do the doctors and
Graham, that Graham will be back mex
year as fast as ever, in which case Omaht
will have a great second baseman. King
however, will be one Of the mainstays.
II am greatly pleased over the OUTLOOK
for next year. remarked Pa. 9TH add
ton of Wichita and Topeka means mucf
to the Western league. Wichita had AT
aggregate attendance last year of $1,000. i
viii increase that when the team gets IL
the Western, which is faster company
Topeka, too. will turn out big crowds and
both towns will have fast teams,
Omaha will be up and coming for 1909
We will have a team that will go fast"
Pa has three catchers on his list now
Gonding. LeBrand and a new man, Chap
man. He still has Summa. the big hard
hitting fielder from Msryville, Mo. on tn,
reserve list.
The magnates will meet November 10.