The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-18
Where Fred Clarke Really Got
His Baseball Start.
Was a Member of Hastings, Ne.
braska, Team.
FOR A LONG SCHEDULE
Believed Western Will Adopt
168 Game Plan.
Denver Manager Says He Will
Get the Pennant.

Get the Pennant.
Every once in a while some alleged
baseball historian breaks loose with
a story that Fred Clarke. the peerless
leader of the Pittsburs Pirates hold
ers of the title of worlds champions,
was a product of the Birmingham,
Ala, club. says the Lincoln (Neb.)
Daily Star. The Birmingham tale is
all moonshine. Clarke's first profess
sional engagement was at Hastings in
the Nebraska State league far hack in
1892. The previous season he played
on an Independent club at Carroll, Ia,
along with Ducky Holmes and Herman
Mcfarland. Clarke first signed with
the Plattsmouth club in the Nebraska
league, but expressed a choice for
Hastings when his friend, Mcfarland,
signed with the latter club. The
Plattsmouth contract was declared
null by the directors because the play
er was under age, and Clarke was per-
mitted to play at Hastings. In '92 he
was mere kid, but was lightning fast
on the bases and in the outfield and
gave promise as hitter. Nobody
dreamed, however, that he was destined
to become one of the greatest stars the
game has ever developed. The next
season found him in the South, where
he soon blossomed forth as a whirl-
wind youngster. Incidentally, that Ne
braska State league of '92 turned out
an unusual galaxy of baseball wizards.
Bill HoHer, who pitched for Pa
Rourke's Grand Island team, later was
a pitching prodigy at Baltimore and
was an important factor in the annex
alton by the then famous Orioles of
three National league championships.
Ducky Holmes made his professional
debut the same year at Beatrice. which
team was the champion of the State
league. Ducky was demon batsman
in those days and ball player of rare
promise. In '93 and '94 he was in the
Western league, playing in st. Joe and
Des Moines, from which latter club he
was promoted to the National league.
Herman Mcfarland, C1arke's team
mate at Hastings, also moved UP to the
majors and made good by staying in
select company through several sea-
sons. AS a matter of fact, few minor
leagues of its class ever developed so
many big league stars in a single sea-
son as Nebraska State circuit of '92.
Jack Haskells announcement" that
George Clarke, of Omaha, has been
signed for another years's engagement
as umpire in the Western league, does
not settle the matter, by any means.
according to Don Despair, president
of the Lincoln club. The Lincoln mag
nate does not hesitate to assert that
Clarke was hopelessly incompetent all
of last season, his umpiring being so
insufferably rank as to preclude any
promise of improvement if tried for
another year. Mr.. Despair has Drop
ped a few lines to Tip O'NeiI declar-
ing that the Lincoln management and
the fans are done with Clarke and will
have no more of him. If Tip stands
pat, Mr.. Despair will enter a protest
at the coming Des Moines meeting
through the introduction of a resolu-
ton forbidding Clarke's employment
The date for the appearance of the
Detroit team in Topeka is April Z.
In a message to the Des Moines
Register and Leader, John F. Hig-
gins, the owner of the Des Moines
baseball franchise. states that he is
not opposed on principle to playing
1873 games in the Western league this
coming season. The magnate also in
Inmates that he is not entirely in favor
of the idea. 81 am on the fence
says he, land willing to be shown by
either side. I will abide by the decis-
Ion of the majority" 1t really looks
now as though the plan would go
through. President Fairweather of
the Sioux City club was the first one
to propose the 1913 games schedule.
Since he has stated his views, Hol-
and McGill of Denver have all stated
that they were in favor Of the plan.
Unless radical change in sentiment
IS noted between now and the time for
the 16S game schedule will be adopt
ed for the Western league in 1910.
President Higgins stated that no other
deals for players were in view just
now, but that he was working to get
some pitchers for his team before the
season starts. He is expecting that
some of the youngsters who have be-
longed to the club for the past two
or three years will begin to show win
ming form He believes that McGreg-
or and Biersdorfer should be much
better this coming year than last sea-
son.
IT think the prospects for Denver
marching away with the Western
league bunting next year are better
than any time since 1900" says r. r.
Burke. THE pitching and backstop
departments, which were the weakest
of the team last year, have already
been greatly strengthened and no
doubt will be more SO each succeeding
week. I regret that I am compelled
to sever my connection with the team
at this time because of this fact. Last
year we had an infield and an outfield
that outclassed anything in the league.
With Weaver, formerly OF Wichita:
Hass, last years catch; Quiser of Tex