The chronicle=news., 1913-03-28
MANY CHANGES IN
WESTERN LEAGUE

Topeka. Kan. March :s.-All the
Western league teams are In their
training camps aud the fans and
scribcs have begun trying TO csti-
mate their strength and To pick u
winner. This will be one OF the most
difficult things to do In recent years
The strong teams are weaker and
the weak teams appear to be strong
or. No team appears to ahve u c!nch
aud and 4, Is predicted that n dark
horse will makct roublc. II is bcliev-
cd thnt they are more evenly balanc-
ed than ever before on the circuit.
The Denver and ST. Joseph club.
are considered weaker than last year
They lost u number OF valuable men
and nothing but good luck and u
bank roll will fill III. gap. Pa Roukc
lost some valuable. men and may not
be successful In replacing them.
Ducky Holmes has strengthened his
team In some places and I, has been
weakened In others.
The Dcs Moincs team is believed
to have about the same strength or
probably n little more. while the Lin
coin team is believed to be weaker.
The Wichita and Topeka teams are
acknowledged TO be stronger. With
all these changes there Is no method
OF determining the strength OF the
teams until the new men have been
given n chance to show their ability
aud this will not result until after
the race Is started.
The Topeka team is improved In
practically every position excepting
a; the first station. Bill Rapps may
be able to ri Rubc Gardncr's place.
and he may not. bit II is believed
that he will be OF, OF the leading
men ut the initial station on the
Western league circuit. The catch
ing department. with Crist and BILL
ings will sbe much stronger. Billings
will have the advantage of n years
experience In the bushes. and Crist
Will be Just as good u receiver and II
better hitter than Chapman. His
Judgment will be considerable great
cr than Chapman's.
Ollum will probably do as good as
Jimmy Walsh ut second and will be
n better hitter. Joe French will be
at short and the third station will
be guarded by Dulin or Snapp. The
outfield will be guarded by Lee Of
last years team and by McI.arry aud
Forsythe. It is believed that this out
field will be as good as any on the
circuit. The pitching staff will be
stronger.
The Grizzlies have lost four good
men who were considered among the
best Oh the circuit and nothing but
good luck will replace them. These
four are Beall. kcnworthy. Leonard
and Lindsay. Bcall was always on
the job and his 10 home runs won
many games for the team Ken,
worthy was as good an all-around
man as there was on the circuit
Dutch Leonard was one OF the beet
pitchers and Chris Lindsay was as
good rs amy at first. The Grizzlies
will figure in the race. nevertheless
jack Hollands team appears to be
weaker. He has lost Dorton. Gossett.
Thomas. Powell. johnson and Rail-
ley. This is n list of six men which
must be replaced and every one OF
them was among the leaders In their
positions. Gossctt and Powell may
RETURN and Reilley may decide to
agree on terms, but there Is no
chance for the others to get back.
Jack Holland is an excellent judge
OF young bal players and may be
successful in picking up some good
materisl
Omaha has lost Neihuff md Hall.
II is practically impossible to replace
the former niid nothing but good
| luck will replace the latter. Both
were a tower of strength to the Oma-
In crowd and they will he missed.
! Grnhh, recruit. has been signed for