The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-06
Entire Club Goes to DenisOn
on Training Trip.
MANAGER DALE GEAR BUSY
Buys Pitcher Pepper Clark,
Former Member Kaws.
Battery Players Report March
1O-Others March 20.

club Of the Western league looked up
when information reached here that
Phil Koerner has refused the Federal
league offer and would be with the
Kaws this season. and that Manager
Dale Gear had bought Pepper Clark.
pitcher formerly with st. Paul OF
the American association. In addi-
ton to this information comes the
news that all prospects for the To-
peka team have signed their con-
tracts excepting Pitchers Mccullough
and Higginbotham.
Manager Dale Gear. just now. Is
one of the most optimistic managers
Of the Western league circuit. With
a good team on the reserve list last
fall when the 1913 season closed. he
has secured contracts from several
others who will add strength to any
club on the circuit and this increases
the chances of the club in securing a
berth in the first division. Gear ex-
poets Pepper Clark, Ralph Glaze and
Outfielder Riggs to be valuable addi-
tions to the club.
In a letter to the State Journal
sporting editor Manager Gear says
that he has received a letter from
Phil Koerner in which the big first
baseman says he las refused the Fed
eral league offer and will be with the
Kaws during the coming season.
Koerner feels that he has overcome
the mental depression caused by his
experience at Wichita and that he
will have his most successful season
during the coming year. He says he
will give Topeka the best that he has.
Buys Pepper Clark's Release.
Pepper Clark is we'll known in this
section. He was a member OF the
Topeka team in 1911 and was sold by
Dick Cooley to st. Paul of the Ameri-
can association. He played with this
club until last year, when he refused
to rejoin the club on account of per-
sonal differences. The st. Paul club
then sold him to Racine, Wis, and
Manager Gear has just completed ne
gotiations for buying his release and
has received his signed contract.
Clark is anxious to appear in To-
peka uniform. He has pitched good
ball for several years.
This pitcher began his career un-
der Jack Holland with the Wichita
club. He was sold to the major
leagues but turned back. Cooley
finally bought his release.
All Players on Training Trip.
In the letter Manager Gear says he
has definitely decided to take all of
the players to Denison, Tex, on the
training trip. The pitchers and
catchers have been instructed to re-
port at Denison March 10 and the
remainder of the team has been in
structed to report March 20. The
list will contain % or "a players. He
has more than this number on his
list but some will be disposed Of be-
fore that time and others will not be
asked to go as they will be released
to other clubs as soon as Gear can
complete negotiations.
He has decided on these arrange
~ hn 10 hnr r,f
games on the training trip schedule
and he expects the revenue to exceed
the training expenses. The exhibition
games paid all the expenses Of the
training trip last season.
The travelling expenses. under this
condition, probably will be less than
if the team trained in Topeka. A
number of recruits will report but
will be dropped of along the way to
Topeka and the list will probably not
be greater than 20 by the time the
Kaws return home. Several players
Tar to go to reach the training camp.
Pitcher Faircloth, Outf1elders Carlos
Smith and Riggs will come from Ten
nessee and Mississippi. Pitcher Hig-
gfnbotham and Infielder George
Smith live in Texas. Pitchers Pat
McGehee and Mckee live in Missis-
sippi. Pitcher Ralph Glaze lives in
Missouri and farther north and east.
May Get Other Pitchers.
Additional names to the pitching
staff may be announced in the near
future. Manager Gear has received
the signed contract from one who is
said to have exceptional ability but
has requested that his name be with
held for business reasons. Other
deals are pending which may be
closed in q few days.
l. Manager Gear will remain on his
Oklahoma ranch dL- ing the remain
der of the month and will then come
| to Topeka to complete training trip
arrangements and other preliminary
| work.
With the contracts of Pepper
Clark and Koerner and those which
| have been announced, the indications
| are that Manager Gear will have q
team of athletes that. will bear
watching and a bunch that will cause
| others trOOh1p hofnra tho 600 cn,, ic 70