Omaha daily bee., 1911-03-26
DRUMMERS ARE In FINE SHAPE
St. Joseph Team is Fifty Per Cent
Stronger Than Last Year.
FANS DELIGHTED WITH OUTLOOK
Parties who Have seen the New Play
era work Out Confident Team viii
Finish Season Three NOtches
Higher Than Last Year.

ST JOSEPH, Mo- March &-(SpeclAl >
The Drummers Of 1911 are going to be so
per cent stronger than the team which rep-
resented st. Joseph in the Western league
last year.
This statement, which might seem to be
a broad one. considering the fact that
Corhan and Jones, two of the best players
on last years team, will not be here this
season, ls made only after the timber
from which Holland will pick his 1911
squad has been looked over carefully for
more than week. While the players have
not rounded into mid-season form, they
have played enough TO give line on their
abilities. And al who have seen them per,
form declare that only luck, that potential
and unseen factor In base ball, oan keep
the Dfummers from finishing At least three
notches higher In the psnnRnt race than
they did last season
An impression seems to exist around the
circuit that Holland has gathered together
a bunch OF "bushers' from which to Sc.
\ lect a team this year. For be It from
such, The Drummer magnate has pur-
chased a bunch Of youngsters. But he has
1 also secured enough veterans to make up
the whole team in case any Of the recruits
should blow up. He likes the youngsters
lin fact he prefers them to the older
! players-but he does not jntend TO be
| caught this season like he was last, with
some youngsters who have blown up and
no "Old heads to take their places.
shaffer IL Field Captain.
ons OF the strongest features about the
prummers this year will probably be the
new field captain, Charley shaffer
This man, who has been active in base
ball for the last twenty fears as player
manager and owner, was ostenEibly en-
gagged as a trainer. But It Is a pretty well
known fact that shaffer will have entire
charge OF the team on the field He will
not play, although IL occasion demanded
he has shown that he can don a first
basemans glove and hold his own easily
In this circuit He has charge Of the squad
OF twenty-five that IL working out nov
and owner Holland will probably rely al
most altogether on his judgment in tho
final selection Of players for the team.
Next to Shaffer, the DrummeTs' creates
ST. ength will lie in the pitching staff
Without a doubt Holland will have a pitch
ling staff the equal OF any in the league
} Right now II looks as though Chellette
lHanifan, johnson, Kaufman, Crutcher anC
Baker will be the twiFlers that stick Fiv,
others are trying out and they have showI
six mentioned.
Chenette was purchased during the win
ter from the Oklahoma City club In tn
Texas league. He pitched two no-hi
games last year and only allowed an aver
age OF five hits a game throughout tn
; entire season. Texas league sporting
! writer's are unanimous in declaring Chel
: lette 10 be the best twirler that eve
Z worked In that circuit
Older Pitchers In Fine shape
The rest OF the twirlers are known Z
I'Nestern league fans, having been wit
THE Drummsrs last season Hanifan an
I Crutcher Joined the club just before III
4 season ended and did not get TO pertOrr
4 very often. They showed however, tina
they. can sasily hold their own In class
ball Johnson, the Indian twirler, an
kaufman, who was secured from Topeka
both pitched excellent ball last year. John
b. son has developed wonderfully since he ha
: been under Hollands care, and Il 10 b
lmeved the big redskin will have his bes
= tyear this season. Kaufman was ovei
4 worked last year, but he says he regaine
> his lost strength during the last winte
4 and IL confident that he will show his old
time form.
Baker 10 the only southpaw to be n
h ltained on the Drummer payroll. He boz
I 1.-THE brunt OF the slab work last year an
got away we'll Holland expects 20 VI
him a great deal this year. too.
n Mea BEHIND the Mask.
Last year the main weakness OF n
Drummers early IN the season was behin
the bat owner Holland remedied tn