The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-22
AN AFTERMATH H
How and Why the Cooleysox
Proved . Disappointment.
IA General Review Of T0peka,s
Unsuccessful Season.
HARD LUCK "sTAYED on"
New Recruits Failed to Develop
According to Expectations.
And Lack of Money Added to
the Handicap.
HARD LUCK "STAYED on

The present baseball season. which
IL nearing an end, has been a disap-
pofntment to the fans of this city. to
the members OF the stock company
that owns the team and franchise and
to everybody interested in the game.
Everybody thought, when the season
opened that the Topeka club would be
strong enough to hold q place in the
first division. All things go to show
that there is no chance to dope out
baseball.
Dale Gear, as manager Of the To-
peka club, and the officers Of the as
sociation felt encouraged last fall be-
cause they sold $4,000 worth Of play
ers and cleaned up few delectable
buckets. Late. in the season Dale
Gear began picking up available ma
terial to fill the vacancies caused by
the sale of these players and material
was added to strengthen the weak
places in the club.
Koesner Coed One.
The first move was in buying the re-
lease OF Phil Koerner from the Wich-
tia club. This proved to be the best
strike made in all the experience Of
the club. Gears. next move. was in
picking up Carlos Smith, an old out
fielder who never failed to lead the
league in which he was playing with
the big stick and who always piled
w O0ttA1l6 averages WHICH were .0VV
or better. Smith looked as good as
old wheat in the mill until he injured
q leg sliding to q base. He never re-
covered from this, and. Of course, the
disability rendered him unfit for SER
vice.
Another move which proved to be
a failure, was buying the release Of
Pitcher Paul BroWn from the Sioux
City club. Previously Brown had
been a consistent pitcher but. during
the early part Of the 1913 season, do
nestle affairs and poor condition of
other pitchers on the club put him
out of shape. 1t was believed that he
be one of the most effective in the
league. But he failed.
In July. Brown was sold to the
Drummers but he failed to improve,
and only a short time ago Jack Hol-
land gave him his unconditional re-
lease. He now is probably through az
a Western Lacquer.
Another disappointment. equal to
that Of Pitcher Brown, or probably
worse, was in the miserable showing
made by Dowd, the infie1der from the
New England league, q class B or
ganization. The official averages
showed him to be 800 hitter and
the word Of major league scouts pro-
nounced him to be q phenom, but he
never showed up to advance notices
and was deceased soon after the sea
son opened.
Joe French also failed to come ur
to expectations in the shortfield
French was always considered one Of
the best fielding shortstops In the
| him out OF the game soon after the
middle Of the 1913 season, never
healed properly. This robbed the
youngster Of most Of his fielding abil-
| ity and much of his speed.
Cochran at third has proven one o.
but he has not shown the class thai
| was expected OF him. His work dur
! ing 1913 was sensational, although Il
| was his first season at this station
He has played up to last seasons form
but was expected to improve SUN.
GENTLY to be rewarded with q trial II
faster company.
Other Disappointments.
! The showing made by Robert Riggs
as an outficlder, was still another dis
appointment. Riggs was picked UP by
Manager Gear and signed on account
of his record as a batter. For several
years he set the minor league afirt
ported to the Cooleyites he developed
sciatic rheumatism, caused by an old
| injury, and, Of course, this rendered
him unfit for service.
| The failure of Dowd crippled the
team, and the club did not ket q man
who could creditably fill his position
until baltimore was secured. After try
ing a number of men who failed. Tai
lion was taken out Of the outfield and
put in the shortfield. His performance
was bad at the beginning. but he haa
now developed into a high class man
and another season should entitle him
to a permanent berth in the major
lea CUES.
! The outfield vacancies, there being
two, never have been filled satisfac.
torily.
| The Pitching Staff.
I Dale Gear picked up a total OF hfteer
|
luY n A Il