The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-08
HE BACKS BATTERY
Tinker Wants Old Teammates
to Boost Reds.
Batteries, Brown and Killing
Again Be Reported.

Chicago, Jan. S.-sIf 1 can land a
battery that I'm after. I'll think pref
ty well of my ball clubs chance in the
National League race next summer"
That was what Joe Tinker had to say
! after returning from a week of vaude-
vile in Cincinnati, where he is to be
| baseball manager next season
1T is some battery, too. / want to
tell you," continued Joe. "It was
largely responsible for the winning of
four National League remnants in the
last seven years, and / think the pair
has a lot of the old cunning left This
my young fellows down there, should
make the Reds as great a ball club as
any of them.
IF you haven't guessed the names
of the players already. I'll tell you who
they are. They are Mordecai Brown
and Johnny Killing.
mo, I haven't signed either of
them yet, but I have gained permits
sion to offer them a lot of money, and
that's what talks in this game. If
fail to land either one of them, still
think / have strong ball club, but
would like to have that pair of vet
Grams. I think both still are capable
of playing great baseball for several
years.
Final Offer to Bresnahan.
Il see Murphy says Roger Bresna-
han will be with the Cubs because he
has offered more money to him than
that will land the man all right. 1,
too, have made an offer to Bresnahan.
Maybe it's all will give to get him.
However, I'll say that I'm going
down to Kansas City and offer whole
lot more to Johnny King than I Of
fered to Bresnahan, because 1 consid-
er King worth a great deal more.
King, 1 think, is in better condition
today than Bresnahan, is little older,
and would do more and better work
for me than Roger would
eff Bresnahan got $4,000 in cash
from the St. Louis club as a settle
ment, he isn't going to feel much like
getting out and huStling next spring to
get in playing condition. King is a
fellow who always has taken great
care of himself and he would need
little work to be back in shape.
Expects Brown to Sign.
Regarding Mordecai Brown, I will
say that 1 saw him before going to
Cincinnati over a week ago and think
that he will sign contract with us,
providing he can get sufficient money.
/ am ready to offer him a good salary
and I'm willing to take a chance that
the time he wants to get into shape.
I don't expect him to get into the
spring battles.
ST have thought it would be a great
thing to have him round into oldtime
form about midseason, especially if
my younger players had been able to
keep the Reds up in the fight until
then. Tt would make us look pretty
strong to have Brownie go in and take
a regular turn on the slab for the last
half of the year, and have Johnny
Killing back of the batter catching him.
| firmly believe that Brown can get
back in shape if given time and every
body in Chicago knows that there is
no better pitcher than Brown when
he's in form.
I'm going to leave for Oregon the
last of the week to fill a theatrical
engagement and look after my apple
land out there. I will go by way of
Kansas City to see Killing. don't
know whether or not Johnny can be
induced to play ball again. as he has
4 good business in Kansas City. How
ever, I'm going to plead with him and |
Differ him a lot of money
Makes ssHit'' in Cincinnati.
s'Have the Cincinnati rooters started |
you YETI was asked.
Say, had the best week of my life |
down there" answered Joe with en-
thusiasm. 1.-THE manager of the |
heater told me the house had done |
he best weeks business in a years |
lime. Then I was treated royalty by |
and had q lot of time to |
ak over plans with Mr.. Hermann.
Before the week was over I was feel /
ng quite at home. AS soon as 1 can
get back from the northwest I'll move
o Cincinnati Then it will be about
ime to pack up for the spring train