The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-15

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| The Mcpherson games which were to
have been played next week have been
called off. The Mcpherson management
didn't want to pay all the expenses.
| 1t is beginning to look as though
Waltes Boles would stick with the Kan
sas City team. Walter got chance at
pretty nearly every position on the team
before the season ,opened and his ability
as a utility player, is accordingly we'll
known to fMessrs. Cross and Tebeau. (
The ST. Louis Americans have asked
for waivers on Wilbur Smith, catcher
last season with the Pueblo team. Nc
Aleer thinks well enough of Smith but
with Criger and Stephens he has no
need of the youngster- 1t is likely he
will remain in the majors as several
clubs wanted him last fall
George Graham of the Omaha team
is ready to play. Graham was out Of
the game a good portion of last season
with an injured knee. This informa-
ton is received with great joy in the
Nebraska metropolis. The exact line
up which will start the season outside
of the pitchers is now determined.
Gonding will catch. The rest of the
lineup follows: LeRrand first; Greham
second; Pendry, third; Franck, captain
and shortstop; Belden, left field; King,
center field; and Weleh. right field;
Fisher, extra outfelder.
Pitcher James, whom Pueblo hopes to
have report in a few days, plays under
a nom de plume. His real name is C.
B. Cruise, and he is engaged in bust
| ness during the off season.
The Sioux City team commences it's
southern exhibition trip next Sunday
with a game at st. Joseph. From there
the team will play at different Kansas
towns until the opening of the season
at Wichita.
Pitcher From will report at Sioux
City April 81, and will leave from there
to Join the team From was with Wich-
tia in 1906. He has not reported
previously owing to the death of his
father.
The following concerning Ollie Pick
ering is from the Sioux City journal.
Pickering was here with the Washing
ton teams and played the four games.
The Journal says:
Ollie Pickering, the veteran outfieldeI
of the Minneapolis club, who is back in
the minors after holding his own for
fifteen years in fast company, is the in
ventor of a sliding pad The device,
which is a clever one and doubtless In
| a few years will be in general use, has
been patented and the old timer prob
ably will reap a rich harvest as the re-
suit of his ingenuity.
The pad is made of cotton and felt,
and is so worn that it affords excellent
protection to the hips and thighs of the
base runner in sliding. The continuance
is held in place by rubber bands. Pick
ering worked on the invention during
the winter months and has completed
arrangements with Minneapolis con-
Germ to manufacture the pads for him.
At baseball headquarters yesterday
Pickering said that Johnny McGraw, of
| the New York Giants, had ordered
eighteen pairs for the members OF his
team. and PA" Rourke of Omaha
| Dick" Cooley of Topeka, and other
club managers in the south will use
them Back in 1896 Manager Holmes
| and Pickering played together on the
| the Packer boss with a pair of the pads
| before his departure.
| Galgano. Nichols and Chadwick, of
| the Pueblo team, all live in Denver.
Cooley has six candidates for short
and third. Since Doc Andrews has
| third base padloeked there are five can
| didates for short.
| Members Of the Minneapolis team do
not believe that Des Moines is in the
same class with other Western league
| clubs they have met and predict that
| unless the Boosters lineup is strength
| ened they will finish far down in the
| pennant race. Sioux City and Lincoln
are picked by the Millers as the fastest
aggregations they have encountered.
The Lincoln inf1eld, with Jack Thomas
on first, Bill Fox at second and Gagnier