The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-03
Cooley Announces the Signing
of KillingswOrth.
Is a Strong Righth ander Sc
cured From Memphis.
PROSPECTS OF TEAM.
Plenty of Material to Select
FrOm-Infield in Doubt.
Strength of CoOleysOx Lies in
Ability to Hit.

Dick Cooley. manager of the local
baseball team this morning announced
the signing of Pitcher Ed Killings
worth, who is now with the Memphis
team. Killingsworth is a young right
handler whom Cooley tried to get last
fall and during the winter. He played
with the wilkesbarre team in the New
York state league where he made a
great record.
Last fall as soon as Topeka was adj
mitted into the Western league, Cooley
began negotiations with the youngster.
who had been highly recommended to
him by eastern friends who had seen
him work. Howard Earl, the famous
Cincinnati scout was the one who
tipped off the young man to Cooley.
Memphis was also hard after him.
Both offered him the same terms
which by the way are pretty good
butMemphis got her bid in few min
utes before Cooley's telegram arrived.
The writer remembers we'll the look
of disgust that crept over Smiling
Richards countenance one day last
winter when he received a wire to the
effect that Killingsworth had signed
with Memphis.
All hope of securing him had been
abandoned, until about a week ago.
Cooley received a letter from Killings
worth, stating that he was not pleased
with the outlook at Memphis and
would try to get away if Cooley would
still offer the same contract. Conse-
quently Cooley at once began negotia-
lions with the Memphis team, which
resulted successfully as can be seen
from Cooley's announcement this
morning.
Flillingsworth has written Cooley
that he will report April IL. He has
asked for little time in order to go to
his home in Pennsylvania for day or
two to look after business interests.
His addition will mean great deal of
strength added to the pitching staff.
Cooley Sizes Up His Team.
1.-THE Topeka team as a whole looks
just twice as strong as 1 had expected
that it would" said Dick Cooley this
morning. "And 1 was figuring on a
pretty good team too,'' added the To-
peka magnate.
This ought to be a pretty good tonic
for the Topeka baseball fans, some Of
whom have displayed unlimited skep-
ticism regarding the baseball outlook
ior Topeka during her first season in
the Western league. For who is there
that can better foretell anything per-
tanning to the national game than our
own local baseball owner.
And even to the fan who looks at
the proposition with nothing more
than a general knowledge of the game
the team looks good. In every depart
ment the Topeka team appears strong,
and places which had been doped
pretty weak before the season opened
look strong now.
Magnate Cooley has arrived at some
of his optimistic conclusions as re-
suit of the Kansas City series, in
which the local contingent broke even
with the American association players.
Cooley says that had it not been for
McManus having a sore arm and not
being able. to throw to second in the
have won. 1.-The Kansas City hitters
could do nothing with our pitchers -
said Dick, land they weren't half try
ing to pitch either. / wouldn't trade
my team right now for the entire
bunch which Tebeau has lined up for
the Kansas City team
Strong Backstop Department.
Cooley seems especially well pleased
with the catching department. He has
four catchers on hand now in Nc
ManuS Kern, Schissel and Maxey.
Then there is Lew Drill who will re-
port soon. McManus is an old head
at the game and even if he fails to
round into very good condition will
prove an invaluable man in handling
the young pitchers, of whom Cooley
has a plenty. OF the new catchers
Kern looks to be the best man. Kern
is a heavy set man, with an almost
ideal build for catcher. He has fine