The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-20
Signs % Men to Report at To.
peka for Training Season.
DOwd at Second Is Only Change
on Infield.
DEPENDING ON PITCHING STAFF
Thinks 1t Will Be Strongest
Ever Held by Topeka Club.
Has Four Outfielders and ALI
Will Hit More Than 300.

Dale Gear is not bit worried con-
cerninr the 1914 Topeka team. He al
ready has four catchers, seven lnnelu-
ore four outfielders and thirteen pitch-
ers In addition to these he IS aIter
another catcher and a pitcher wnlch
will add to the strength of the aggreea-
ton. Plans for the training Trip h"Se
not been completed
In the catching department VIII pe
found sport McAllister. Bill Rapps,
Smiser and Garrett. McAl!ister anu
Rapps were with the club last year.
Practically all of the fans saw Smiser
make an appearance on the feid last
summer. He is a college man and
played last season with Manhattan IN
the Kansas State League and IN tne
Nebraska State League. Gear ana NC
Allister believe him to be Detter
catcher than Sweet. VINO was wltn 'ils
Topeka team during the latter part OF
last season. Garrett is highly recon-
In the infield will be Koerner at first.
Dowd at second. French at shortteio,
Smith as utility man, Cochran at
third, MCGEE and Fisher. recruits. NC
Gee is a college man from the soutn
who is highly recommended by CARO-
Smith. Paul Fisher Is a Topeka boy
and played last season with Manhattan
in the Kansas State League until the
team disbanded. He is an excellent
sent to a lower class club for more ex-
perience.
Outfielders Showing Hitting Ability.
The outfield is composed of Riggs,
formerly of the Eastern League and
st. Louis clubs; Carlos Smith, Forsytne
and Tallion. Smith and Forsythe were
with the Kaws last season. Riggs is
the outfielder whose contract was an
nounced several weeks ago as formerly
of class 49, AZ and as a manager In
the Appalachian League. He went
from the International League to St.
Louis in 1912 but broke his leg near the
end of the season. In 1913 he was man
ager of the Appalachian League club
and hit more than 400. Manager Gear
believes that he will not be handicap
ped on account of this old injury. He
claims to have fully recovered
Tallion was one of the star outfielders
of the MichiganLeague and hit near 400
last season. He was drafted by the
Topeka team for the Detroit club, and
only through long negotiationss has the
Detroit club consented to allow him to
report at Topeka. With these two men
and Forsythe and Carlos smith. op-
posing outfielders. will need some speed.
The Pitching Staff Large.
The pitching staff is composed OF
Paul Brown. Ralph Glaze, Klontz
Flanagan, Higginbotham, Faircloth
Jones. Fullerton. Mccullough, Richard
son, Voorhees,. McGehee and Wideman
Ralph Glaze was formerly a pitcher in
the International League and was sup.
posed to be one of the best on the cir
cult until he retired two years age
to engage in private business. H,
managed the Beaumont team of the
Texas League for time last year. He
has decided to return to baseball and
believes he will be able to set a pace
in the Western League. Gear expects
much of this man. Flanagan is a mar
from a college in Georgia who wal
signed upon the recommendation Of
Carlos Smith. klontz comes from Mis-
souri, and was signed upon the recon-
mendation of Bill Rapps.- Higgin
botham was drafted from the Texas
Oklahoma League and was one of tn,
stars of the circuit. Gear saw this mar
in training while the Kaws were OF
training trip at Denison, Tex, q yeal
ago. Faircloth was drafted from tn,
Cotton State League. He was with tn
Kaws a short time last summer, aftel
he finished the Cotton State Leagu,
season. Nothing Is known about Jones
voorhees, and Wideman are two othe
recruits who are strangers. The other
are known in Topeka, having worket
with the Kaws last season.
Gear il angling for a catcher o
known quantity. He has good pros
poets in landing him. He also is ang
ling for another finished pitcher, VIII
has had experience in class "AA' com
pany and has a mighty good chance t,
land him.
Exhibition dates with the Pittsbur
team of the National League have beel
announced. The Chicago White Soz
the Kansas City Blues and St. Pau
Of the American Association also wan
dates. The dates will be announces
later.