The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-12
kANSANSA ARE IN IT
Four Members of the Pittsburg
Team Former Jayhawkers.
TIVE OF the Detroit Tigers Also
From Kansas.
CLARKE OWNS RANCH
Byrne, Brandon and Adams Liv-
ed i'm Crawford County.
Both Willett and Speer We're
With Wichita Team.

No matter which way the contest for
the worlds championship terminates
Kansas will set a good deal of glory
out of the affair Many of the promi-
nent athletes now starring in this great
i baseball struggle, are Kansans, some
by nativity and some by adoption.
Most prominent among the galaxy of
Kansas stars is Fred Clarke, the in
trepid leader of the Pirates, who has
been successful manager ever since
taking the helm of the Pittsburg team.
Clarke gets his winter mail at Akron.
a. small settlement in the neighborhood
Of Winfield, where he owns good
sized ranch. Clarke has fine ranch,
owns an automobile. has his stables
filled with choice stock. all of which
give him plenty of diversion after the
| cares OF q baseball season are laid
aside.
| Another prominent. Pirate who dis
tinguished himself by twirling his team
| to victory in the first game O. the
series IS a former Kansan. Charles
| Babe Adams, once pitched in Pitts
burg. and his home was in that county
for many years. He later went to Den
Yer where he made good as member
OF the Grizzlies pitching staff. Later
he went to Louisville and made good
there. Last fall he went to Pittsburg
and has made a great record this sea-
Clarke had enough faith in his ability
! to stick him in the first game-a Judg-
ment which was fully justified.
Bobby Byrne, the young and little
third baseman who heads the Pirates
batting order, was once a kansan.
Byrne lived at Pittsburg before he
started out in the baseball business. lie
started his career at Fort Scott later
teams he played in Topeka frequently
but rarely attracted any notice. In
1906 he went to the Shreveport team
then in the Southern League, ond nm
ally attracted the attention of Stanley
Robson of the ST. Louis Cardinals.
Ryrne made good with the Cardinals
and played there until this summer
when he figured in the trade with Pitts,
burg, by which Jap Baroeau ana
Storke went to st. Louis.
Another member of the Plttsburg
team who is a native Kansan. Is Ches-
ter Milton Brandon, who used to nVe
in Pittsburg. Brandon is known an
over the big league circles Tor ms
loud dressing. Brandon made a good
record with the Pittsburg team IN the
old O. A K. league and later MADE
a great record at kansas City, "nlcn
team proved his stepping stone TO
Turning to the Detroit team there
can be found two Kansans who are
working with the Tigers. Foremost or
the two is Edgar Wilieft ,,,i Known viii IN
lett's home is at Peck. Kansas. Wher-
ever that is. Jack Holland located MIN
in a livery stable in Caldwell enc day
about four years ago, and took him
I'D to Wichita, where he made gooo
right from the start. Willett's long
suit is speed and quick sharp curve;
He stayed with Wichita the tan emu
OF the 1905 season and was there again
for awhile in 1906 but went to De-
troit towards the close of the season.
In 1907 he was kept in cold storage
most of the time, but he demonstrated
his worth last season when he ranked
among the first ten American League
twirlers, and this season he Is keeping
up his record.
George Speer. who hailed originally
from Leavenworth. is another Kansas
' oungster, who is recognized as one OF
the coming southpaws of the Detroit
club. Speer pitched his first profess |
sional bah for Springfield in 1904 but
went to Leavenworth in 1906. He was
sold to Wichita, and pitched for Hol- |
land two years. doing great work ana
attracting the attention of '.Ee-yah
Jennings. who put up cold thousand. |
Speer's home is now in Hutchinson,
from which town he took bride year /
ago.