South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-26
DAME
STAR ADDED To
SOUTH Blenders
Ed. Smith Signs DOIan, 1911
OutfieIder With College
Joe Nee and Berkman Also
Come to Terms.

-Four more first class baseball play
ers. the biggest days catch so FAR,
were signed by Manager Smith for the
South Bend team THURSDAY, ana
among the our were three VINO are
morally certain 40 be bright stars IN
the Southern Michigan league TINS
year. Among the quartet IS no less a
person than 'Bill" Dolan. OF the 1911
Notrs Dame team and with this star
is Joe Nee. brother of Tommy Nee,
II Grand Rapids, and a much sought
after Class = player.
No less a c<tch in the opinion OF
Manager Smith is Gerkman, Of Ben
ton Harbor. ranked as good an out
fielder as this particular part OF the
country contains, Mike Thomas, or
Grand Rapids. a second b&seman, IS
the fourth player. Thomas IS a pro-
e OF Tufy Steils Of Grand Rapids.
Dolan IS a natural born hitter and
a gardener Of ability. Few players
looked sweeter TO Manager Smith, and
the latter was more than delighted
with his success in signing the big
fellow. DOlan is a better hitter than
Cy williams Of the Cubs, and his slug
ging is expected to account for not a
Few games this year.
Nee Looks Good.
Nee IS a third baseman, like his
Brother Tommy, and IS said by smith
10 possess even more ability than the
Grand Rapids star. The two brothers
were both with Grand Rapids last
year. and while Tommy came through
IN better style than Joe, the latter was
not forced to cOncede anything 10 the
older IN ability, and according to Smith
shaded the regular player IN many
lines. Joe is expected TO prove a star
here.
Berkman was the only local man
who took part in the memorable
series last fall between Benton HarbOr
ana St. Joseph. All Of the other
pIrvCrs who appeared then were i'm
ported professionals and Berkman was
not obliged TO yield place 10 any one
in the showing he made IN this con-
test. The yOungster dropped in on
Smith unexpectedly and signed his
contract. He Will play in the outteld
with Dolan and with either Nutter, of
Indianapolis. or with another star
from Grand Rapids for whom Smith
is now angling.
The signing OF Dolan and Berkman
means that South Bend will have an
outheld this year that can compete
with the best Of them. The pilot Of
the Renders is certain that no team
can shade him in the class Of garden
ing his team Will show and II now
devoting his attention 10 the infield,
where prospects are bright but have
not yet been brought to the same state
of perfection that the outfeld has.
Mike Thomas, the new second base
man, is as classy a man as Smith viii
meet Steils writes and the Grand
Rapids shOTtstOD expects him to make
good with a vengeance.
Team Nearly Signed.
The acquisition Of the four men
Thursday gives smith pretty near a
team A few more pitchers Will prob
ably sc acquired n contracts are out
10 another Outielder and TO two or
three infelders. Hudak and BONNIE
have been signed as catCherS; Hart
ley. Smith, Murphy and StOckdale are
on the pitching list; Arndt and Hum
bracht will hghe for the first base job,
with a possibility that the defeated
man Will play ia some other place;
Nee, Thomas and Tagemeyer are to
try out for the 9afeld against the two
other men Smith expects 20 sign. and
Connera. Dolar, Nutter, McOsker and
Berkman. with perhaps a sixth man.
will go rf+er the pasture Jobs.
OF tn 50, Murphy. pitcher; DOlan.
Berkman m Nuttcr. Outfielders, and
Arndt and Humbracht, infelders, have
shown enough class with other teams
TO warrant a belief that they will
stick. Most of the others are expert
ments with some Of them OF undOubt-
ed ability. but without experience in
league ball.
Manager Smith received a visit from
Ted Anderson. Terre Haute outfelder,
Thursday. Anderson dropped in brief
ly to talk baseball 10 Smith and to give
him such information as he could
about recruits.
There are a number Of improve
ments that will have to he made at
the local park and the buzz or the
saw and the sound OF the hammer are
expected 20 mingle with the thud Of
the bat against the ball and the ball
against the glove after the players
report.
The stands viii have TO be done
over and the fences strengthened.
Manager Smith will visit the park to-