The Topeka state journal., 1908-12-23
IN HARD LINES.
The Western Association Not as
Prosperous as of YOre.
Without Topeka and Wichita the
Organization Is Weak.
NETS WANT TO QUIT
Oklahoma City Trying Hard to
Break Into Texas League.
Hutchinson, Strong Town, No
Longer i'm Circuit.

That the palmy days of the old
Western association are gone never to
! return, Is certain, at least so it ap-
pears from the present outlook The
association lost her two prize towns
when Topeka and Wichita were voted
out of the association. Topeka and
wichita were the bread winners for
the circuit. but because they could
afford better teams and galloped away
with the pennants year after year, the
| other magnates were eager to let
loose. Now they wish they hadn't
! done 1t.
Since Topeka and Wichita left the
| old association, many changes have
| taken place. Hutchinson has been
| disfranchised. Her players were
sold to BartlesvilI4 and Muskogee,
| while Pittsburg toe, tl:e vacant place.
| This makes the circuit more compact
and better balanced, but there are
evidences of soreness on every hand.
The Oklahoma team is the cause of
most of the commotion. This town
that so haughtily demeaned itself dur
ing the past season of the Western
association is out on a limb. She is
too strong a town for the Western
association as it now exists but will
have to remain there just the same.
President Moist was recently refused
league which has been the long cher
ished ambition in Melville. He may
however be able to buy franchise in
the Texas league and transfer it to
Oklahoma. but this step will involve
a lot of red tape which It will take
months to iron out and the chances
are very good for Oklahoma City re-
naming in the Western association for
another season.
Another source of much trouble is
apparent in Oklahoma City. The
Nets will have to come down in their
salary list. This will mean that
many of the strongest players under
reserve will have to suffer cuts in SAL
ary or else leave the team. Such a
move would mean a much inferior
grade of baseball and the Nets fan
population won't stand for much
deterioration.
Muskogee and Bartlesville are
having no end of trouble The
Hutchinson players who were pur-
chased by these two towns refuse to
play for the salaries offered, and it
is beginning to look as though these
two towns had got nothing from
Hutchinson but the empty franchise.
Many of the towns however have
gone ahead and are organizing their
teams for 1909. Lawrence Milton who
was manager of the Webb City team
last season is the new manager of the
Oklahoma City team. Milton is striv- |
ing hard to give the Nets a good team |
by the lowering of the salary limit |
and on another by the players refus- |
ing to take the cut.
Joplin has engaged Tony Wander !
hill as manager. The veteran catcher |
has been in the Western association |
ever since the circuit was organized |
in the early part of the century. He
is signing up some young blood. Tex
Farrell, a former Topeka player, Pol
lard, Ragan, Wanner, Harrington and
Tom Reed of last seasons team will
all be back. Vanderbilt has also
signed Harlan. who is a former K. U.
pitcher.
Johnnie Fillman, the manager of
the Miners last season, will likely go
to Pittsburg as manager of the new
Western association team at that
place. Lands. who tried out with
Topeka as a catcher year ago, will
be g Miner next season. Vanderbilt
Is trying to get Merschon from
Cooley and Funk may go along in the
1eal.
Tom Hayden who purchased a half
interest in the Springfield team last
season has sold his interest to
Shorty Hurlburt, the veteran manager
and has bought the Pittsburg team.
Hayden will move his Tulsa team Of
he disrupted o. K. league to Pitts