The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-20
Ducky Holmes Has Ordered Pro-
teges to Report April /.
He Has Arranged Good Series
of Exhibition Games.
LOSE BUT THREE MEN
Team Is Well Fortified in All
Battery Positions.
Sioux City Fans Will See Four
Catchers and Eight Pitchers.

Sioux City, Ia, March 2O-Au ewes
are now on the practice season games
of the various Western league clubs.
Fans are anxious to see the men out
in suits and in action again The list
of ante season games practically has
been completed by Manager "'Ducky"
Holmes, although there may be some
additions.
The Packers have been told to re-
port April 1. From that date until
April 9, which marks the coming Of
of the White Legs, there will be con
slant practice, probably twice each
day Manager Holmes is a great be-
lever In work of the real sort and
last year he repeatedly marshaled his
men at the ball park early in the
season In the mornings.
The first week may see some more
practice games added to the list Hol-
lister and his bunch of Morning Sid
ers are handy, and from all appear
ances the Morning Side man is get
ting together a real squad of ball tos-
sers. So Manager Holmes and Coach
Hollister probably will get their men
together several times in that first
week.
The White Sox aggregation will be
here on its return from the Pacific
coast. The team to play against Sioux
City will be zeider, shortstop; Beall,
I
third base; Matticks, center field; Dali
ton, right field; Bader, second base;
Shaw, catcher; Payne, catcher, and
Altrock, Lange, White and Manuel,
pitchers.
Minneapolis of the American asso
citation, will bring here its strong
bunch of ball players. Mike Cantillon
is no stranger in Sioux City, and some
Of the old time fans will be glad to
see him, although that is not saying
that they could welcome him back to
the Western league. The Mfllers play
here April II, 12 and 13. Then comes
two games with Coach Arthur White
more,s university of South Dakota,
team, and the Packers vanish from
Sioux City not to return until the sea-
son is more than two weeks old.
The spring training trip of the locals
will be in the Kansas State league.
On that tour they meet in rapid sue
cession the teams from Newton, Nc
Pherson, Great Bend and Hutchinson.
April 28 the Packers will journey to
Wichita to await the opening of the
season with that club April 29.
Most Old Men Back.
Out of last years team of pennant
winners Sioux City has lost but three
men. To replace them Manager
Holmes has bought ball players of
known ability, and in addition he has
a few promising youngsters.
With Shea, ToWne, Vance and Clap
per behind the bat, the receiving de-
partment is much stronger than that
of April, 1908. Freeman, Alderman,
Eells and From are known as real
twirlers, and in addition there is
Starr, Taylor, Meter and Jacobson,
all of whom will be given chance to
fight for place. Starr is known to
have the goods, and with him it is
simply a question of whether or not
he will deliver it. Taylor is an Oma-
ha semipro. Meter, the Cherokee lad
who starred for the Hopkins brothers
team last year, will be given a thor
ough tryout "Jakie' is well known.
At first base will be Fred Hunter,
of the Baltimore and Wilmington
clubs. ANDY" good old faithful,
hard working candy" will remain at
second base, and "Ptol1ney," or as he
is better known, Battle AK" Welch,
will stay around the third base line, as
in days of old.
Two men will fight it out for the
short field position, Tony Smith, who
did good work for the Miners last
season, and Otto Koepping, last year
with Duluth. When Holmes acquired
Koepping last fall the northerner had
the reputation of being one of the best
in that company, and many who had
seen him work said he would make
good. So there may be some contest
for the job.
In the outf1eld will be Stovall.
Campbell, Cruickshank and Holmes
Stovall has a good arm and so has
Cruickshank. And by the way ID"
Holmes pegged 'em in from center
late in the season shows that 1t won't
pay to take long chances with him.