The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-05


Western league fans will hope to be
spared from rotten umpiring this year.
believing they have had their share of
late years. The president of the league
tried hard last year. no doubt, to give
them the best material and has made
similar effort this year, believing that he
has succeeded. And yet it must be
membered that getting good umpires for
minor, well as major leagues, is one
of the severest tasks that falls to an eX
ecutive. Also that while the Western
league has put up with some poor UNI
piring, it has had some of the best.
The passing of Pat Dougherty marks
another landmark gone. Pat has been
one of the wonders of latter-day baseball.
Beginning as a pitcher and finishing Is
an outfielder, he has had a spectacular
career, his marvellous batting for a time
keeping him in the public eye.
The twitter of the birds got even Miner
Brown. He Joined the surrendered hold
outs during the week and is now ready
for the rescue.
Omaha Bee: Thomason and Kane, who
developed such extraordinary strength
last season in center and at first, reSpec-
lively, well as on the bases and at the
but, should both have their best year
this season. They are young, strong,
timber and ambitious and have reached
the place where they should be able to
get the greatest advantages out of what
they have acquired by the league, playing
high grade of ball as had ever been
seen on the western circuit and with the
encouragement of that and the desire tt
excel, they should come back this spring
more effective than ever. Pa Rourke has
them and he has others to give him great
ground for believing that he will be in
the race to the end of this year. It is
hardly possible to see how he miss
that much, anyway. He feels certain that
in justice he has the best sho-tstop he has
had in years and out of three men to
pick for second. he will surely land one
who can cover the bag as it should be
covered. Niehof is the class of the
emily cared for as it has not been for
some seasons The battery work is high
ly represented and the Outfield safe. The
reorganization process this winter has
been upward. Little disintegration has
taken place.
Fred Corbin. outfielder, secured by the
Sioux City Packers from the Texas league
has already reported at Sioux City. He
is going to take no chances on going
north too late in the spring and not get
ting acclimated before the season opens.
Manager Dale Gear of the Kaws is go
ing to try out Hugh Harden, a 19-year
old pitcher from Texas, this year. The
youngster is a six footer with an excel
legiate and semipro record. Gear seems
to be strong for Texans. He may get
plenty of good material down there and
Gear ought to know something about
what is good.-Wichita Eagle.
Denver News: on the Goth of this month
the battery men of the Bears will report
to Manager Jack Hendricks at Hot
Springs. Ark, to work out for ten days
before they join the main squad of the
Grizzlies at Kansas City, Mo.
The men who will unwind their arms
and buckle on the big nit are Pitchers
Harris, Kinsella, Oimsted. schrieber.
Healey. Kenworthy, Pfeffer and Guard.
The catchers will be Spain and Frambes.
Both President McGill and Hendricks
are Of the opinion that the ten days