The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-13
Kansans Who Are; Making Mark
in Big Leagues.
Joe Wood, Of Larned, Is Prize
of Them All.
GRIGGS AND OLSON.
With Other Kansans Form In
field Of st. Louis.
Hagerman Expected to Shine
With the Cubs.

Several years ago if the average
baseball fan had been asked to name
as many players as he could think or
from Kansas who were playing IN the
major leagues, he would have an
swered that the only one he knew was
Fred Clark of Winfield.
Kansas is now represented in ma
5ority of the clubs in both the big
leagues, the National and the Ameri-
can. Among the players who have
made good it is noticeable that ma
5ority are pitchers. Probably the one
who did the best work last year was
Joe Wood of the Boston Americans.
At a recent gathering of some ball
players in the east a discussion arose
among the players as to what pitcher
throws the hardest ball in the two
big leagues. The straw vote resulted
in giving the plum to the boy from
Hutchinson. Wood started playing
baseball with Hutchinson when that
town was a member of the western
association. He was sold to Kansas
City and played such good ball for the
town at the mouth of the Kaw that
Boston purchased his release before
the season ended in 1908.
The coming year promises to be one
of surprises in the big leagues. The
old players are being welded out and
new blood put on every team. The
ST. Louis Browns will have new in
field and Kansas will be represented
first base; Emery Olson second base,
and Gus Hetling, who will play third.
Olson was considered one of the best
second basemen in the American aSSo-
citation last year and was drafted by
Detroit at the close of the season. His
release was purchased by the Browns
and Topeka fans all think he Will
make good this year.
Jack Love, the hard hitting second
baseman for Oklahoma City. when
A.. w -
ern association, will play at short for
the Browns. He played shortstop for
Kansas City last year and did well
both at bat and in the field.
Among other Kansas boys who will
play in the fast set next year are
Chester (Chick) Brandon, who used
to play at Independence in the Kan
sas-Oklahoma league; AID Brennan,
whose home is in La Harpe. and who
played last season with Wichita: z. Y.
Hagerman, who went from Topeka to
the Chicago Cubs and Charles Adams,
who started playing ball in Parsons,
Kan, and who got the credit (aIso
good supply of long green) for win
ming the worlds championship for
Pittsburg.
Each year sees fewer cold heads"
on the teams in the big leagues. : It
reminds one of the ranks of the G.
A. r. There are very. few instances
of the old players getting back in the
to the minors. One of the most re-
cent cases of this kind was the case
of Jake Beckley. For many years
"Old Eagle Eye" as he was known
in the big leagues, was considered the
hardest hitting first baseman in the
league. His hitting and fielding fell
below par and he was sold to Kansas
City in the American association. The
first year he led the American asso-
citation in fielding and batting At the
M he ~
called. but other younger players went
up and are there yet Were the man
ayers right in not recalling Old Jake?
They were. evidently, for Old Jake has
been warming the bench most of the
time since. That year Old Jake
showed a flash of his old time form
will in all probability be his last year
of usefulness in fast company. 1t was
his swan song.
Omaha, Neb., Jan. 1s.-Will Harry
Welch, premier batter of the Western
league for two seasons be one Of the
1910 Rourkes?
Inside dope would lead one to believe
that the big outfieIder will not be play
ing on the Omaha team this year.
Pa Rourke absolutely refuses to dis
cuss the matter and Harry is equally
uncommunicative, but murmurings of
q change can be heard.
WEIGH has been dissatisfied in Omaha
1or the last couple of years. He has
been hitting hard and leading the
league both seasons. but has felt that
the Omaha public has not been giving
him square deal
Harry always hits far better away
from home than he does in Omaha and
part of the reason for this is laid to the
fact that the Omaha fans rattle him
when he steps to the bat.
Home r-tn Harry kill If now :"
watch him strike OUT 'sBig dub" are
only a few the choice phrases hurled at
WEIGH every time he goes to the plate,
and the big fellow is affected by Them
If WEIGH does not play with Omaha
ne is due to go higher up in the base
ball world and his friends win be glad
to see him go.
That may sound strange, But Harry's