The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1913-08-21
By Hal Sheridan.

~ AAAA AAufAhs
written for the United Press)
NEW YORK, Aug. 21-Taking it for
granted that some millions of people
throughout this August ridden land
have picked the pennant winners in
the American and National leagues
and are beginning to figure on the
batteries in the first of the worlds
series games, we believe it safe once
more to turn our attention away from
this struggle to the struggling minors.
Therefore jumping blithely from
Broadway to the snow-capped noun
tains of Colorado we find Denver the
pick and choice in the scramble for
the Western league pennant Some
say it isn't scramble. Denver was
the winner last year and so far as
can be seen from this distance, there
isn't anything in the league that will
stop repetition this year. Under the
leadership of Jack Hendricks, form
er big Lacquer, western fans believe
fastest in minor leagueland Except
for a couple of men, Hendricks has
a team Of youngsters, willing and apt
scholars for all the tricks he shakes
from his sleeve. In the last three
years, Denver has turned out Buck
O'Brien, one of the Red Sox pitchers
in the last worlds series, Dutch Leo
nard, pitcher also with Boston, and
Johnny Beal who figured in the deal
between the White Sox and Milwau-
kee which sent Larry Cappelle into
fast company. Hendricks has two pro-
missing youngsters this year in Johnny |
King, pitcher, and Lester CHANNEL, |
an outfielder. Channell is a slugger |
and has fairly knocked the hide off |
the ball during the season, King |
played with the Sacred Heart college |
team in Denver last year. Charley |
Doolin, of the Philadelphia Nationals
signed him but he never played for
the Phillies and Denver got him.
King Best Pitcher.
1t may be taken from Hendricks
himself that King is one of the best
pitchers the Western league has had
in years. CHANNEL has been in fast
company once. He was with the Cubs,
but was sent to Louisville, in the Amer
lean association and then drifted
west With Fisher, first baseman,
Denver fans believe the majors would
be overlooking world beaters if King
and CHANNEL are not grabbed off be-
fore another year rolls around.
But Denver isn't the entire league.
The season started with a rush, Den
yer winning twelve out of the first
thirteen games, and Omaha going |
great guns Then Omaha blew up and :
fizzled very much a la Brooklyn In
the National league. AS these things
were going on there was considerable
activity otherwhere and otherwise.
Single Umpire System.
They have the single umpire system
in the Western league and the fans
went after President Tip ONeill with .
much gusto on the question, after UNI
pire, players, owners, managers and
spectators had mixed several tines.
Jimmy McGill, brother of Pittsburg
Phil, the famous race track plunger,
owns the Denver club and along in
the season, Umpire Sigler wallopped
McGill on the nose as result of some
argument. There were recent reports
that McGill wanted to sell his club
to get rid of the worry. But to fol-
low the peregrinations of Umpire Sig
Ter. Along in June Sigler forfeited a
game to Denver because he said the
Omaha players stalled Bill Bourke
known as pa" is owner of the Oma-
ha club. After the game he and Sig
Ter met in the grand stand. There
were words and Sigler increased his
club owner batting average to 1000
by cracking Rourke on the jaw and
putting him down for the count. And
inasmuch as Sigler weighs about 1876
and Rourke weighs 200 all will agree
that the umpire established somewhat
Of batting average even if he was
fred three days later by President
0Neill.
Des MOines a Winner.
Among the teams perking up while
he heat is sizzling, Des Moines is
going the fastest After a bad start
he Boosters began to get under way
md the prospects are they will finish
second. Des Moines is strong in the
oox with Lafferty, Roggs and Faber.
7ogge has turned the trick of winning
en- straight games. Some time ago
Taber and Johnny King, of Denver,
Engaged in an 18-inning battle, Faber
A week later Faber pitched
sixteen inning game and allowed on
? six hits in that time.
During the stove-league season ST.
oseph was doped to give Denver a
OF race this year but the major
sagues raided the club and they fell