The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-04-12
Something of the Respective Teams
Who Will Battle For the
Bunting During Sea.
son Of 1909.
THE TIGERS LOOK GOOD
Will Hugh Jennings Team be Able to
Carry Off the Flag For
the Third Time in
Succession?

NEW iOHh, April 12.-Hardly
knowing how he managed to survive
since the last worlds championship
| baseball game, Mr. Baseball Bug will
come into his own this afternoon
when the tenth season of the American
league will get under way. Mr.. Bug
has had hard winter OF it, but re-
ports from his various habitats TODAY
indicated that he is again in fine trim.
with lungs in order and eyes far more
| di-cern1ng than those of the umpire.
Two factors add special interest to
the American league race this year;
the first being the unusual number
| OF youngsters who are being given
their first opportunity in a major
league and the other the struc gle of
Detroit to win third successive cham.
pionship and thereby establish rec
ord for the league.
From the Tigers camp there come
OMNIBUS growls and Hughey Jennings
that human storage battery of energy
who guides the team Of the City of
Straits, declares that he will not
have to wait this year until next to
I the last game before having the cham
pionship won.
The unprejudiced observer is forced
to admit that unless the other con-
4 tenders have strengthened materially,
there is good grounds, for Jennings
= boast. The only faces missing from
the Tiger line up this year will be
Third baseman Coughlin, Catcher
/ Thomas and Substitute Infielder
Downs, all of whom were let out by
\ Jennings, so it is to be inferred that
their absence will not weaken the
team. In Thomas place as second
catcher, Detroit has two recruits in
Reckendorf and Stanage, both of
whom show unusual promise.
On third base is George Moriarity.
a 1907 Highlander, who is declared to
be playing better than Coughlin did
in either 1907 or 1908 Then, too, De-
troit will have the services for the
entire season of Owen Bush, the sen
sational shortstop secured from the
indianapolis Club at the close of the
American Association season last
year, and whose supplanting of
OIeary SO braced up the tear that
it forged ahead and won out.
AS additions to his strong box
corps of last year. Jennings has t.lree
good youngsters in Works, Suggs aud
I.afitts. Willett and Summers, two
stars in the American league firma-
: ment last year. will shine with added
luster this season. Jennings SAYS. So
the Titian-haired Hughey can't see
!; how the Tigers can be shut out CT
: their third successive pennant.
Tho addition of old Cy Young, who
like city corner lot improves with
age. to the Cleveland pitching staff
makes Iajoie's bunch look dangerous
Cleveland has looked dangerous sc
often. however. only to have the fuse
90 out. that she is not generally picked
for the front seat Bradley is believ
ed to be weakening at third and with
) big question mark after Terry Turn
err at short. due to tangled shafting IN
: his throwing arm, the inner works OF
: the Maps look none too strong.
Minus Manager Fielder Jones it :
hard to figure the Chicago White SOY
Y any stronger than last year. JolG;
7 refused an offer of $15,00o00, whici
5 shows that ball players may nov
sneak of their salaries rather thar
: ,,,.oos The White SoX bid fair <
3 remain the .'Hitless Wonders win
r ming majority of games by brains
) instead OF Drawn. The personnel VII
e he practically unchanged, with the eS
ception of Jones
1 The other upper berth team OF las
Y season. the st. Louis Browns, is pick
4 ed to put up the same scrappy game
and is sure to be factor. Inc addi
!. tion of Lou Criger, the old Bosfo,
;. catcher. to the team will bolster 1t II
d where it was lamentably weak
! New York will experiment with
: team made UP largely OF youhgster
i and managed by George Stallings, tn
d Highlanders being one OF the few
9 teams that Stallings had not hitherto
4 managed. The Highlanders VIII on.
e have to finish seventh to do pette
# than last year and if you want to re
l.. q fight out of Stallings. Just mint ina
!. the Hilltoppers won't do THIS
:. Connie Mack's Athletics VIII nav