The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-01
Spec Hurlburt Wants a j oh as
an Umpire.
He Would Like to Be on Western
League Staff.
COOLEY MAKING READY
Contracts With Players Are Be-
ing Signed Up.
What Is Going on Over the
Circuit.

"Spec" Hurlburt, formerly of the
local and other baseball teams. but
now a ranchman near Maple HILL
wants a job umpiring in one OF the
more important minor leagues this
summer. He may try to get into the
Western circuit and it NAV be some
other league. Holland last year prom
ised to use all of his influence to land
"Spec'' a place, but either lacked in
fiuence or did not use it. DOC"
Shively has offered the former star
outf1elder place. as indicator handler
in the Western association, but the
position is hardly an attractive one
and Spec will likely refuse it, UNI
piring in the Western association is not
worth the money it was when there
were three good baseball towns in the
league. Hurlburt has done well as an
umpire in the tryouts.
"All this talk about making players
sign a twelve-month contract has come
up every year for good many years"
said Cooley today. land you can play
my hunch that there is nothing to it.
A ball player does not need some one
to save his money for him. Most of
the players now know that they can
not last always and most of them are
sailing down a little money for the
time when they begin to slow up. And
the contracts. 1 believe, will never be
for twelve months
Things are moving swiftly at the
baseball headquarters these days. Con-
tracts are being signed and returned
to Cooley, gloves ordered, suits bought
and everything is several weeks ahead
of last season, when the local man
agement was behind in these arrange
ments because of the late date on
which Topeka and Wichita were adj
mitted into the Western league. Every
thing promises to get away on sched-
ule time this year.
Cooley has received a letter from
''Wrasty'' Wright. in which the latter
tells of receiving the contract sent him
by Cooley. ''Wrasty' did not return
the contract signed and countersigned.
but accepted the terms offered and
will likely send in his papers in a
short time.
Pa Rourke displays a fine sense of
fellowship and appreciation in urging
that the Western league hold its sched-
uIe meeting next month in st. Joseph.
1t would be only right thus to reward
the splendid efforts that city is max
ing to lay sure foundation for a sue
cessful season on its return to the
league after several years of absence.
The fans-and in this case they include
some of the best business meE of st.
Joseph--are putting their shoulders
to the wheel in most heroic fashion,
and il the season is not a complete
triumph it must not be charged up
to lack of enterprise and enthusiasm
in the preliminaries. Money has not
been spared. Men have given gener-
Ously to aid the new management in
assembling good team. Let Presi-
dent Rourkes recommendation be
acted on. It's as little as the league
can do at this time and it NAV have
large results. The Western league
thus far is to be congratulated on get
ting this prodigal back into the fold.
Omaha Bee.
It's a far cry from 1900. when the
National league was defending itself
against the invasion of the American,
its hostile foe. to 1910. when repre-
sentatives of the two organizations sit
down in friendly conference to pre-
pare the playing schedules of the sea-
son.
Kings application for reinstatement
he is nearing the dead line of age
and he needs advertising to keep his
pool business fourishing.
Wichita fans are more than pleased
that Frank Isbell has secured his re-
lease from the White Sox and win b.,
at the helm this summer to guide the
Jobbers through the Western league
season 1t took no less a parsonage
than Isbell to make up for the loss of
Holland, who goes to st. Joseph
Among the well known players who
will be with Izzy this year are Shaner,
who was on the tossing staff last year.
and Ira Belden, whom Holland got in a
trade for Pencil. Middleton and Petit
grew of last years outer garden are ex-