The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-15

Secretary Gunthorpe. of the Denver
club, is much enthused over reports
which come from Texas OF the prowess
of A. w. Herbert. the pitcher drafted
by the Denver club from the Waco club
Of the Texas League. He is led to be-
ieve from the reports which have
reached him of Herbert's work that
he will prove one of the best box work
ers in the league this year.
One of the managerial positions in the
Western League was settled when Own
er Rourke obtained the release of Bill
Fox from PittSburg and announced that
the attenuated second baseman would
lead the Omaha team again this year.
Fox took hold of the Omaha team late
last year and did not get it organized
to his liking before the end of the
season. but he will have a chance to
make a better showing in the season
to come.
Sioux City. Des Moines and Omaha
are agitating a longer schedule this sea-
son. They say if the games last until
about October 1. they will be played
during the fairs in these three towns
and more money will be made by all the
clubs. There is some talk of beginning
the season about April 81, one week
earlier than last year, which Will pro-
badly make a season of 1913 games in
stead of 154.
In connection with his reinstatement
to the good graces of the American
League, Joe Cantillon told how he came
to be connected with baseball in the
first place. Joe started his career as
a railroad man and had worked up to
the rank Of freight conductor before
he quit or the railroad quit him, ne
does not know which. His last rail-
road experience was as chaperon or a
freight train between Chicago and Mil
waukee on night run. His only order
on the occasion which closed his con-
Quoting career was one directing his
train to meet at Winnetka another
freight, laden With the stuff which has
I1a6ef Milwaukee famous.
That was so easy that Joe made GER
tain his engineer. whose name was
Burke understood the order. In
formed his rear brakeman of the des-
ignated meeting place. and went to
sleep. He woke up just as the ca
boose was pulling over the last frog
that marked the limits of the Win
brakeman if they had met the down
freight all right. The brakeman re-
membered they had not.
1--WE will in a minute" said Joe,
and before he could make move the
engineer whistIed hot foot for brakes.
Everybody had a chance to jump be-
fore the crash, which, as Cantillon
said, SPILLED beer all over that county
and some of those adjoining
The engineer of the beer train. a
man named Leafy. had also jumped to
safety along with his crew and came
hurrying up to Engineer Burke with
tears in his eyes and voice and gaSped:
''Say, Burke. they gave me orders to
meet you at Winnetka."
yes" answered Burke. "but you,
blanket-blank fool. you weren't there.
So came on here to meet you
OF course the erring engineer and
Conductor Joe were hauled on the
carpet and set down, and the engineer
after being reinStated, kept his MEM
ory of the incident fresh by marking
the site Of the wreck with a board on
which was printed Burke Station. :"
But Cantillon never tried to get back.
He could play baseball and worked his
way up IN that game to major league
manager and minor league magnate,
and now half owner of the Minneap-
oils American association team along
with his brother, NJ. E. Cantillon.
The big leagues spent $363.000 for
recruits at the end of last season.
What praise the magnates are bestow-
ing upon themselves for letting go of
this money!
The minor leagues will now buy
back these players for 100000. Hav-
ing been up in the big leagues, you
know, these players are ever so much
more VdluSdUlG.
This is the last year this bunco game
will ever be worked, however. For the
rule limiting the number to be draft
ed by the big leagues will make the
scouts much more careful of the men
they are recommending for higher
company If man goes up next fall
it may be pretty sure that he is going
to get trial.
There were few good pitchers in the
Western league last year. That Is one
Of the reasons why there were so
many high batting averages. And that
is another reason why Miller and
LANCE stood out in such bold relief
and were able to do so much towards
winning the pennant for Des Moines.
Owner Higgins will be forced to get
some good twirlers to take the places
of the famous pair. It is probable
that he has his wires laid already to
capture a couple OF likely men.
The peculiar angles of baseball can
be illustrated every day. Two years
ago Bill Dwyer tried out for first base
position on the Toledo team He was
beaten for the place by Pete Lister.
Dwyer came down to the league and
the next year was made the manager
of the Des Moines team. He defeat
ed Holmes of Sioux City in hair rails
ing finish for the Western league pen
nant. Now Holmes goes back up to
Toledo as the manager Of the team
where Dwyer failed to make good.
What Mullen will do is not known
as yet. He would have had a place
on the National league staff If Heyd-
Ter had been chosen president of the
National league. It is not known
whether or not Lynch will want the
little fellow. Lynch may have some
man of his own for the place. If
Mullen doesn't go to the National
league he will come back to the West
ern, if the salary matter can be ar
ranged satisfactorily Mullen is the
best umpire the western league has
seen in a long time.
Manager Patsy Donovan of the Bos-
ton American league team has an