The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-14
TAKE ON HIGGINS
Topeka Pitcher Shows Up Good
With the SavageS.
Jackson Signs Him to a Regular
w. l.. Contract.

That Squire Higgins, local boy, IS
going to be given a chance to make
good in his home town was indicated
Tuesday afternoon when Manager
jackson of the Savages invited the
Squire to affix his John Henry to a
Western league contract.
Higgins is a youngster, regular
pitcher and a Topeka product. Last
season he played independent ball out
west and this spring when jackson
began to round up his Savages, hug
asked permission to go out and prac-
tice with them. He was told that ne
might do so, and then nobody paid
any more attention to him..
With nine signed pitchers 10 PICK
from and most of them strangers to
him Jackson didn't strain his eye
sight looking to see what the young
Topekan had, and he was only gwen
a chance when it was convenient TO
use him.
Rut Hing kept hanging around and
worked himself into shape the best he
could. Last Sunday he first came TO
the notice of most of the fans in the
game against the Saints. In order to
mi ont the team that was left here
while the regulars went to Kansas
City to take skinning, he was com
missioned to hold down a left field
position.
And Hit He Did.
Along in the latter part of the game
when things were going pretty rotten,
Higgins came to the bat after La
F'lumbois had gotten to first base.
Some IoquaciouS fan happened to hear
Huggins's name mentioned, and called
out:
''Say, Higgins, you will have to hit
if you want to stay with this club, do
you think you can do it 2"
And the next ball that was pitched
o1A Z, hot
brought in the only score made.
Then Monday Jackson told his
pitchers they could cut loose and show
some of their real stuff, and when
Huggins'S turn came he surprised eV-
cry one. With ball that is said to be
as fast as Growers special and good
curve he laid them over 50 nicely that
jackson decided he had better hitch
him to a contract while the hitching
was good.
Of course, the home talent entry will
have stiff competition and it is likely
that he will have to prove phenom
in order to stick; but the fact that he
looked good enough to add to a pitch
ing staff that is said to be better than
the Kansas City Blues shows that he
has something besides a glass arm and
indicates that he may have a bright
future before him.
The entrance of Higgins in the
serui-finaI of the training season
means that all the other would-be
pitchers will have to work all the
harder and will have one more candi-
date to contend with.
Catcher Fight On.
Also, the arrival of Catcher Monroe
Tuesday means that a hot three cor
nered race for the back stop position
will begin this afternoon. In discuss
ing the pad wearing candidates, Man
ager Jackson said:
I'VE can carry only two catchers.
but I have no idea who they will be.
Monroe says he is in good shape, and
I know he was a fast, classy catcher
last season. But we will play no ia
Vorites, and the two best men will get
the jobs, regardless of who they are or
what they have BEEN"
The other two candidates for catch
er are Tonneman and Murphy. Ton
neman was with the club last year and
he has been showing some heady base
ball this spring. Also. he has been
swinging the stick pretty consistent
1y- Murphy is a youngster, but he
played excellent ball in the Northern
league last season and since his arri-
val here has shown that he has the
making of a real catcher in his cos
mos.
Tomorrow afternoon the Savages
will go to Emporia to play Ira Bid
wells State leaguers, and Friday Sat
urday and Sunday the Biddies and
Savages will probably play in Edo
RADIO.