The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-10
Several Deals Likely to Be An
nOunced on Owners Return.
Parson Farthing, Omaha, Pulls
Off Remarkable Stunt.
HOW ARMSTRONG MISSED HIM
Oklahoma Should Be COnSid-
cred in Ten Town Scheme.
Gunthorpe Trying to Get Fran
chise in Central League.

It is likely that several deals will
be announced following the return Of
the magnates from the schedule meet
ing in the big smoky. The owners are
talking trade to beat the band upon
most such occasions and this one Will
likely be no exception. Holland and
IsbelI are particularly anxious to Sc
cure a couple of the Sox magnates
cast-offs. OF course Commy has play
ers Tor sale and will sell them to who
ever pays him most and speaks quick
est. But COmiskey has team in
which he is vitality interested in the
Western this year. This is at Lincoln.
Commy will be expected to slip the
Antelopes something in the way of
equipment for the coming contest. All
of which recalls the question of the
wisdom of purchasing optional play
ers. It's not the best system in the
world although it's allowable when a
team IS to be built up. You will no
tice, however, that Rourke MaGiH
and Isbel as we'll as Sioux City own
ers have fought shy of the optional
player as much as possible. They are
never satisfied, these players secured
In this way, and Higgins, the king pin
Of the men who used optional players,
always had trouble getting his men to
sign The dem oralizing effect of a
man who is disconnected because he
has been in faster company if only
for a tryout, more than offsets any
advantage which may arise from his
splendid playing ability. And then, of
course, it depends a great deal on the
Kind of player you get.
Parson Farthing, the Rourke fling
er, IS one of the most unique charac-
ters IN baseball today. Farthing had
bad year last season and the contract
mailed him this year called for a cut
in salary. Instead of holding out or
trying to at least get an advance in
salary over what the contract called
for he signed up the same day it was
received. Rourke surely should do the
handsome thing by this F'arthing per-
son It is worth something to have
such man on the club. 1t hasn't
been but a short time that Farthing
was the pitching marvel of the Ne
braska Aggies. He made a tour of
Kansas with that team. Among other
teams he played against and defeated
were the Kansas Aggies- He Outpitch-
ed Baird, the crack K. S. A c. and
Central Kansas twirler on this trip
and Army Armstrong, then manag-
ing the Junction City club, INN ediate-
" made overtures, Offering to break
the salary limit if the youngster would
sign up. Farthing didn't sign any pa
pers but said he would. Baird. the !
pitcher he defeated in Manhattan,
played in the Salina team. Farthing |
returned to his home state and before |
Armstrong got action on his youngster
ROurke had signed the Parson. He |
has been on the Omaha list ever since. /
Gunthorpe. who tried vainIy to Sc
cure the Lincoln franchise during the |
Ia te unpleasantness. is now trying to |
get a franchise in the Central league. |
Gunthorpe is sure to make lot of |
frir~ ds whatever circuit he may break |
in l..
There is a letter from Barney Nc |
Grath at this office. It is from San /
Marcial. n. NJ. Can it be that our" |
Barney has wandered such a distance |
There is a suspicion that such is the |
case as McGrath has subscribed for |
the State Journal just as a man who |
wants to keep track of the dope should |
do.
Oklahoma City wants into the West
ern league The franchise in the Tex
as league has been removed to Beau |
mont. The other Texas towns wanted |
to be rid of the Oklahoma manage |
ment which had the unhappy faculty |
of always being lin bad Oklahoma |
City is good ball town with the right !
kind of people behind the team but |
even the fans there get tired of the |
Abner Davis stuff. If there's anything !
to the gossip of making the Western a /
ten club lea que there are worse towns |
in the world than the one south of US. |
From the reports made by the vari- !
Gus league managers last year the |
fourth ownership in the Grizzlies /
which McGin offers to Hendricks is |
a fairly profitable proposition But |
lack IS rich in his own name now and |
doesn't need the money unless he has |
pushed that regent inheritance across |
in fairly rapid style.
CT T0T-TS SIGNS TEN NH HON