The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-20
Western ea8ue.
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WHERE THEY PLAY TOMORROW:
Topeka at Lincoln
Wichita at Sioux City.
| Pueblo at Des Moines.
Denver at Omaha.
According to reports McManus has
sidetracked in Kansas City and has not
yet Joined the Des Moines team. Three
guesses as to why he sidetracked him
self.
With the acquisition of Burdette
White the Wichita team has improved
its infield. White may not be much of
hitter and probably isn't as he didn't
do so much in the Western association
last year, but he is a swell little short
stop, and is one of the best sacrifice
hitters in the west. He is good in field
ing his position, where Anderson was
weak. White has a good arm. Ander
son hadn't. Anderson has been re-
leased. Hughes has been shifted back
is much better that 1t has been for
some time.
Sylvester Olson is leading the short
stops in the Central association. He is
playing with the Waterloo team.
Omaha Bee: If Jack Haskell had his
eyes in the back of his head he'd be
great umpire.
Des Moines News: No greater tribute
to the Des Moines ball club and the re-
spect in which he holds the players
could have been paid by Owner Hig-
gins than the simple fact that Catcher
McManus late of the Topeka CooleysoX
had been purchased, to finish out the
season with Des Moines. McManus is
considered one of the best cateheFs in
the national same when he trains but
training seems to be his worst enemy.
After he had been given trials with
such veterans as Geo. Stallings,
hughey Jennings and Dick Cooley
without results. Owner Higgins had
confidence enough in the good behavio~
of his men to pay good price for Nc
Manus and trust to them to keep him
playing winning ball. He is expected
to report in few days and it goes
without saying that failure to make
good in Des Moines will be nobody's
fault but his own.
The return of Forester to Topeka |
indicates partially the long expected |
collapse of the California State league. |
The California out laws are declared |
on good authority to be about all in. |
Two towns were dropped a few days |
ago, and the circuit has narrowed |
down to four teams. The collapse of |
another town will put the league up |
in the air.
Walter .Johnson's nativity has finally |
been learned. According to last |
weeks Sporting Life. Johnson was
born in Humboldt, Kansas, in 1888. /
Had this information been given to the I
public sooner, there would have been /
less surprise at the great career of the |
Washington star pitcher.
Springfield now enjoys a unique dis
that of being the only town to be
member of the association since its in
ception But the chances are that be-
fore the week is over Springfield's |
team may go the same route as Webb
City and Joplin. The Ozark<burg isn't |,
drawing at all although the team is at
the top of the ladder, and to-day Shive-
Iy and President Hurlburt of the Mid
gets were scheduled to meet in Tulsa
to look over the ground with a view
of making a transfer. The Western
associations future looks none too
bright right now. Players are work
ing for their releases, trying to get
hooked up with other teams before the
final explosion comes.
Kansas City Journal: What HoI-
and and Cooley accomplish this year
will not be their best efforts. They
have several years ahead of them in
he Western league and they are sim
DIV building up machines that will win
remnants in the future. They may {
ose a few players by draft and sale {
1t the end of this year. but not enough Z
70 damage their clubs to any great
extent. Denver and Omaha seribes
nay think the Topeka and Wichita ]
clubs are no good, but they seem to !
De as good as Denver and Omaha this \
season, their first in the league and ]
he old members have had years in /
which to prepare for the race of 1909. (
The Lincoln Star has at last dis {
covered that Jack Holland is a hard I
oser.
Mertens, whom Des AIoines secured /
rom Minneapolis. has been sent to }
he Quincy team in the CeptraI asso- {
.iation And this is the place where [
Iertens started. He is known as the I
raveling ball player in Des Moines. {
We have another travelling player in IL
lack Forester. s
The owners Of the Pueblo team last {
week had just made up their minds v
o go to ST. Joseph to complete the o
chickering's for the sale of the club, Z
when a committee of Elks brought
round the information that many
-ood subscriptions were being re-
eived. Consequently the transfer has u
leen postponed for a little while. r
There is this to say of Rasty / =
Wright He is the only player in the | b
eague who exeeis in fielding and bat s