Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-28
Judgments

the only kind OK boating that
will really amount to much will have to
be done in Topeka. by the team and Its
patrons. The team, let US hope, will be
one that deserves boosting and the
patrons, let us assume. will reward It,
Topeka came near losing its place on
the circuit as 1t could come and stick. 1t
needed no additional warning or lesson
along that line. Colorado Springs stood
ready. indeed. eager. to cinch the fran
chise. Topeka is entirely able, IL II will
exert itself. to maintain a good Western
league team. But the city cannot be ex-
pected to do very much for the kind of
team It has been having. We know of
one or two other Western league cities,
even larger and better than Topeka,
which have been called on to endure more
than their share of poor ball playing at
home. So that 1915 must see some i'm
provement in other places along the cir
cult besides Topeka-or things are liable
TO bust disastrously for one or two gents.
We wot not of the future. Time alone
must tell Our hopes are strong always
have been-but hope deferred maketh the
heart sick And they have been deferred
several times and for a considerable
period. AS a great Irish orator said on a
memorable occasion, Long enough have
we been cajoled derided and deceived;
1t is time for us to act" Batter up!
Funny isn't 1t, that with Salt Lake
included in the Pacific Coast league,
those magnates cannot see their way
clear to extend the circuit once more to
an eight-club affair? So far as distances
and train schedules go, that oughtn't to
make any difference. Seattle and
Tacoma. or Spokane, could very handily
come in. And think of a city the size
of Seattle running along with the bush
league ball II is hooked up with. Salt
Lake. which took over Sacramentos
franchise, threatens all sorts of new
ginger for this league. The Mormons
have bought new park and are all
worked up over their prospects. And the
chances are. at least for the first season,
that they will add much strength to the
league
The death Of Mark Hall brought sur
prise and sorrow to Omaha fans, who al
ways thought a lot of the rangy
pitcher. He put in two good seasons for
Omaha, then went to Detroit, where he
was more than making good when. be-
fore the end of 1914, aff1lction laid its
grip upon him and he went to the bench
never to return Mark was in the very
1loom Of youths years OF age-strong.
lctive and promising. His loss will be
Ielt by the Tigers, for the team had
earned to rely upon him. There was this
bout Hall-he never shirked; he always
ave his team. minor or major. the best
had. And that is something that
mot be said for every ball player
The way several of those Boston
raves are slipping into Federal harness
light suggest doubt on their part of the
laves ability to repeat in 1915 For
1orld's series money makes up for a lot
bf regular pay, you know. But then, of
course. the season has not opened yetS
and maybe the Feds won't have as many
Braves when they start as they have
now. It's gay life. this jockeying for
start, with ones weather eye out for
the highest bid.
Oven IL we do return TO the one-umpire
system in the Western league, we shall
not kick II all jumps are on a par with
Dan SICKLE. After all, 1t is quality, not
quantity. that counts most in umpires
A dozen on the field at once OF one or
two brands we might name II we were
impolite enough, would not be as good
as one of the SICKLE variety.
Old Billy Sullivan, veteran catcher for
the White Sox, who was finally handed
an unconditional release. has decided TO
ask Ban Johnson for a Job umpiring. We
should say, at a rough guess. that Bill
would make an Al umpire, for he is
cool, heady and square
Harry Cassidy and Mccarty OF Denver
are. reports say. still holding out. Well.
is quite while yet till they actually
have to come In. They'll be there like
good boys when the gong rings, don't
worry. Harry will. anyway, Harry with
the silver threads among the brown"
Well even IL the Johnson-WiIlard fiasco
should not fiasco at all, In Havana.
Juarez, or anywhere else the war might
survive and run right along as IL nothing
had happened.
Jimmy Austin has heard the home call
and returned TO the Browns fold. passing
Up his Federal contract But what's a
contract between ball players these days?
That's the stuff. Beatrice raises funds
for team and grounds in two hours
Here's TO Beatrice and may It have a
good season OF 1t. too.
As the spring training season ap-
proaehes the MARBLE OF the Rourke hold
out becomes more ana more faint
II this jitney bus stuff keeps up. maybe
Pa Rourke viii be able to land the
thTonGs at his park this season