Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-23
Chirp Of First Redbreast Will Not
Find Your Father Asleep at
Switch.
NEW PLAYERS ARE IN SIGHT
Eight New Pitchers Will Try for Posi-
tons on Pitching Staff.
BLAINE DURBE THE LATEST
Sindelar, the Pitching Giant, Anxious
for Season to Start.
GRAHAM BACK IN THE GAME
pourlke Has Promise of Big League
Managers of some Good Material
ns soon as Wedding Out
Process starts.
Sindelar, the Pitching Giant, Anxious
for Season to Start.
BACK IN THE GAME

. Rourke has not been idle while other
western league mssgnates have been re-
crulting their teams for the opening of the
season, and indications are that Omaha
VIII start the season with it's usually strong
! squad. For some years Omaha fans have
been roofing for teams near the top of the
ladder and Rourke Is too shrewd a man
ager to try to start the season with a sec
ond division team. In five weeks the big
league teams will be hiking south, but 1t
will be some time thereafter before West
ern league teams are called together.
Last sason Pa copied third place with a
ragged team, and he should be able to do
as well or better this year with the pros
poets which confront him, according to the
best Judgment of the wisest fans who daily
sit around Pas smoke house and dissent
nate base ball knowledge.
While fans and other magnates are striv-
ing to trade Harry WEIGH off. Pa has made
no move in that direction, for there is no
good reason for trying to get rid of the
best man in the league unless for some
good and valuable return. According to
the official figures handed out by Presi-
dent Norris OMEN, Welch was far and
away the best mar in the league with the
willow; he stood with the best in the field,
was third on the Omaha team as q base
stealer and third with sacrifice hits, which
is a good all around record. WEIGH has
always batted better on the road than at
home and as a consequence the official fig
ures given out by the president came as an
all-around surprise. He has a sort of nerv-
BUSINESS at Vinton park which keeps down
his record with the stick, but away from
home he Is the king bee.
IT is no secret that welch has many
Knockers at home. men who must have
something to c~riticise, and they have
formed a habit Of knocking WEIGH until
he knocks one OF those home runs which
wins the game. Then they are quiet for a
while, but the good is soon forgotten and
the anvil chorus is again soon in action.
OutfIeId ia Strong.
The Omaha outfield will be the same as
last year, which means the best In the
league. Besides WEIGH, Red Fisher will be
back, as will also Bert King. These two
were taken over by the st. Louis Browns,
but the latest advices are that they will
be seen in Omaha uniforms again this year.
Both these men are unexcelled on the
bases, and what Is more they are on the
lines as often as any players in the league.
Both are daring b-aserunners and both great
~rungetters. and after all is said and done
1t is the runs which win the ball games.
Fisher was sold outright to st. Louis. but
It is more than probable he will be in har-
ness in Omaha this year. King is a most
valuable man. as he is able to fiji the
infield positions in case Of emergency.
Billy Fox, captain of the team last year,
Will again lead the Rourkes. Fox has win
ming ways and won a place in the hearts of
the fans by his gentlemanly demeanor on
the diamond. He is a hard worker and a
good leader. Fox plays second base and
shows rare Judgment in handling his men.
After ne took the reins in the middle of
the summer Pa Rourke did not find it nee
essary to once take his place on the bench
as the captain early demonstrated his abil-
ity TO meet all emergencies.
Pa Rourke, and the fans, too, are bank
ing on George Graham this year. Graham
has the ability to star on any team and
his presence in the game makes IL certain
that sooner or later some sensational play
will be pulled off. Graham was out of the
game last year, but this season will be
back in the harness, and he says be will
be as well as ever. Two years ago this
spring while warming up for an exhibition
game with Comiskey's White Sox Graham
caught his toe under the second sack and
wrenched his knee. That put him out of
the game for a year, during which time
he was in the hands OF a doctor. Last
spring he again tried to play. but again
his knee went back on him. He was oper-
ated on and some loose cartilage removed,
and now he claims he is as well as ever.
If he is he is sure OF a position on the
team, for he has all the qualifications of a
great ball player.
Kane VIII he Back.
The initial sack will again be guarded by
Jim Kane, The big fellow is the same
Kane who worked the last half of the
season on the Pirates two years ago. Last
spring he came to the Rourkes. but the
first trip to the mountains stiffened him
and II took the warm days of, August to
Amber the big fellow up and permit him
20 strike his gait. When he did he was
BY far the best first baseman i'm the en-
Are league. Kane gave a first impression
~ being somewhat slow. but he had a way
* getting a quick start and OF covering
~aaalderable ground. Fans are hoping the
lnlary to Kane's eye win not be as bad as
Wa indicated by the dispatches wednes-
aay, which toid OF his being hurt in a
basket ball game.
Threa catchers are on the list for this
year. The old reliable Johnny Gondlng will
- the main reliance, although Cadman
has come - the front rapidly and will be
able to satisfactorily III the job when
ever he Is called upon. Gonding has been
reckoned AS oso OF the best catchsrs In
the league Tor years. He never does any
thing especially brilliant but Is steady
and may always be counted upon TO do
the light thing at the right time. To
Gonding q great deal OF the credit belongs