The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-18
Baseball Backed by Business
Men in Most Places.
Ducky Holmes, Legs and All, Is
Coming Back.
TEAM HERE SUNDAY
Fans VIII See 1T First just Be-
fore Season Opens.
krepps Popular Because OF
Work and Disposition.

Is the day of the ex-leaguer as
manager passing in baseball? Not long
since every CASTOR veteran of the big
ones dropped back upon the prospect
of securing a club in the minors and
picking easy velvet the remainder OF
his life Nov. however. people seem
to demand that a corporation finance
baseball. The idea of the 80 cent
pieces going 10 one man does not seem
to make a hit with them Take the
Western League for instance Our own
Richard Cooley is an example lsben
is the second, his Wichita experience
proving costly. Pa Rourke, in times
past could spring any old thing he
wanted to and rake in the money by
thousands at his Omaha park. Last
year the attendance was as poor III
Omaha as any other town in the league.
counting Pueblo and Wichita Pa mas
got to show something this year. The
fans are tired of watching a mediocre
ball team finish in a lowly position
and of being called traitors when they
protested And SO il goes Isbell was
in worse with the fans of Wichita than
Cooley ever was here. The better class
of fans in the Beerless wonder were
outraged. they declare, by his actions
everywhere The opening day attend
ar1ce at Wichita brought out 4 smaller
crowd than the ones which. attended
he Sunday games here throughout the
season and the loo l team was trying
hard to beat Des Moines out Of the
eighth place.
The taking over the Des Moines club
by Fairweather VIII restore baseball in
paying quantities to one of the best
Gowns in the league F'airwcather IS
popular. a splendid fellow, he has the
faculty # making friends wherever ne
goes. 1sbell viii give the town good
team and will make a good mana ger
for a time at least. De Moines needs
the Western League and the Western
League needs Des MOines. One of the
most prosperous years i'll the history
Of the club at that place should result
from the transfer.
Just now. when everyone is playing
the anvil chorus for Ducky Holmes
triu4nDhal march on his return to the
Western League Holmes has one friend
in the league. Always aggressive, per
baps too much so, Ducky is never with
a losing club And the crowds always
20 out to see him play. That is n
pretty good test. Dueky always has
something to spring and springs it to
the discontinue of his opponents. Coo
ley became real peevish at some stuff
Holmes slipped him in Sioux City once
upon q time. But had Richard pulled
off the same stuff here it would have
been the delight CT the fans Holmes
asks no quarter ana gives none lie
fights all the way and every man with
him fights all the time. And he has
the only pair Of piano legs in the mid
die west.
Upon the completion of it's training
trip the local baseball team will ar
rive in Topeka. Saturday night Sun
day the team will be divided and play
a practice gIIne in Topeka. Tt will give
the fans tho first chance to look Ove-
the team and at the same time they can
see all Of the tryouts in action. Then
will como five games with major league
clubs and the last of the week the
season will be open and hostilities viii
ter than having the baseball bugs tired
out before the opening of the games
that count in the percentage column
There seems to be little danger of
the management this year underestt-
mating the strength of the league as
was the case last year. They know its
class and 50 does Gear. At least he
should He has been with the big
show, the American Association and
in less fast leagues. He has signed
up a large bunch of youngsters, it is
true but remember the days when
Cooley used to take a pitcher and a
bunch o. ids and win pennants? The
mana cement is in hope that Gear Will
do something along the same line only
lie has better bunch of players to
start on. OF course they all look like
IN he cr1T-iuo Er5f some Of