Omaha daily bee., 1915-05-09
STATE LOOP WILL
BE OFF ON FRIDAY
First Games of Year to Be Played at
Norfolk, Grand Island, Colum-
bus and Kearney.
WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL YEAR

stantly hindered by rumors and reports
that the magnates were about to aban-
don the ship. the Nebraska state league
will open the 1915 season Friday with pros
poets about as promising as at any time
in the history of the league. Seven of last
years cities will be back to fight for the
old pennant and one new town makes its
appearance. The new conner Is Fair
bury. taking the place OF Superior
All of last winter affairs in the state
loop were in a chaotic condition. Kearney
and York were about to follow tho SUIT
Of Superior and quit. No other towns
which could support professional base
ball were available and It looked like q
six club league or no league at ALL Then
the enthusiasm of Fairbury. the new
child, became contagious, all the cities
in the league catching the fever, and
outfielder Matney offered the manage
ment Of the Kearney club proposition
which kept that team in the league,
MRtney Sells Tikets.
Matney offered to sell season tickets
at ridlculously low price, He was given
the job and he sold everybody in Kearney
and Buffalo county. Tho result was that
a snug sum reposed in the Kearney treas
ury when Il came time to talk base ball
Kearney re-entered the league and made
Matney manager OF the club TO prove
their appreciation of his services.
York began to hustle; the business mon
of the town put up their cash and base
ball was saved there. The same hap
pened at Norfolk. which was wavering a
bit because of debts outstanding from
last year.
II the attendance In the various cities
anywhere near approaches that of last OF
last year the state circuit will enjoy a
most bountiful success. The schedule
calls for but ninety-eight games, jumps
between cities are short and Inexpensive
salary limits have been reduced TO a
rational basis and the player limit has
been cut So the team which loses money
this year should not bo found in the
Nebraska State league.
Will stick 20 Ruling.
All OF the magnates have agreed to
abide strictly by the salary and player
agreements Last year salary kiting was
lr vogue In one or two of the cities with
! the result that the whole league lost.
The magnates in those cities did not
wish to make money, they only hoped
10 conduct a winning team. But their
salary kiting worked two ways and hurt
them as well as the other fellow. Presi-
dent Miles has been assured nothing of
the kind will occur this year. and he In
tends to keep a sharp lookout that the
magnates keep thier word.
There Is lot OF new blood In the state
this year. All of the teams have ac-
CURED the services of young chaps OF the
kind that are promising. and sore ball
players should go up to the bigger cir
suits from the state this year. Grand
Island will have more opposition this
year, and from advance indications II
will not be a race merely between the
third city and Hastings. Claire has lost
Everdon and Payne to Omaha. ami they
cut considerable figure in his success last
year. The other teams are stronger and
everything looks bright for a mighty
tight race with all eight cities running
well together.
Opening Celebrations.
The opening games to be played Friday
will be in Norfolk, Columbus, Grand
Island and Kearney. Special ceIebra.
tions, parades and the like will be held
in all the cities to open the season with
the proper eclat.
All of the managers are enthusiastic
over prospects and everyone expects "a
have winning team. OF course they
can't all win, somebody has to be at the
bottom, but IT looks very much as II the
same team won't occupy that bottom po-
sition all the time as did Kearney last
year.
The managers who will act this yeaI
are as follows; Norfolk. Towne; Kear.
ney, Matney; Beatrice. Fillman; Fair
bury. Shaner; Hastings. Bennett; Crane
Island. Claire; York. Pierce; Columbus
Justus.
Tentative lineups of the teams are a,
follows
Norfolk--Catchers: Smith, Musser. In
fielGers: Towne. Frederick, streigle
Melker. outfielders: b. Brown. Campbell
X. Brown. Pitchers Meyers, Roed, Wal
worth. Milletto. Weber.
Kearney: Catchers: Schmidt. Davis
Intielders: Jorstad, Holiday, Peak, Mer
rell, Bellew. Outfielders: Carrig. Mat
ney Campbell. Pitchers: Waugh Weis
ter Klontz, Carver Davis Mccoy. Moate
l3eatrice-Catchers: Egan. Buster. In
fielders. Beckewitz. Filman. Kortum
Brannan. Outfiolders. Neff, P1ack
Lockhardt. Pitchers: Adams, Green
Fret, Pate Irwin.
Grand lsland-Catchers; Crosby, syck
Lacey. Infieljers: Claire. MoGrath
Rooen, SEEK, Synek. Outfeiders: Baason
Seney Marshall. Thomason. Pitchers
Hoffman, Manser. Beechon. Woods, Alex
ander. .
Columbus-catchers' Ramsey Walters
Infielders: Simcnds. Gutzmer. Mercer
Schmidt Coderer Outfielders: Pratt
Grimness. Charnquist Pitchers: Thei
man. Kirchner. Wolfe Justus. GubeI
Gilliganon
Weeping water Beats EImvOOd.