The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-21
SPORT WHEEZES
Being Purlofned Dog Meat, Prune
Pies. Lemon Sandwiches, Etc.
(By Clug)

Squire Higgins looked like the real
thing Tuesday in spite of his wildneSS
during one inning. He displayed mys-
titying, gratifying, twistmatizing stuff
that his opponents couldn't find at all.
If Bill Fisher continues to show the
form he had Tuesday there will be no
question about him being a satisfac-
tory first baseman. His batting aver
age in the first game was 1888 and N
the second 500.
Krupp Van SICKLE, this columns
pick as the most competent official in
the Western league, handled both
games nicely Tuesday afternoon. He
missed a few balls and strikes, but he
was SO much better than we have been
used to! Furthermore he kept his
tongue out of the grandstand and
bleacherS.
The Savages look just as good as
they ever did. Their playing yester-
day was the kind that is bound to win
some ball games. And if Jackson can
get two or more of his pitchers going
their best again at the same time and
keep them going he has healthy
chance of coming out on top.
Trainer, by the way, didn't swing
anything like a barren club Tuesday.
In each game he batted .666 and his
fielding was faultlesS from an execu-
ton standpoint Only once or twice he
wasn't where he ought to have been
when hits came into his reservation.
The meanest man in Topeka was at
yesterdays games. In the first when
Shestak ran into wet place trying
to get a foul and then fell so far that
he almost slid under the grandStand
in a sitting posture this mean man
yelled out: Hey, do that again will
you, 1 didn't see you when you started
to Slip
rice presented to the Savages, batted
for Higgins in the last inning of the
first game yesterday and was modest
enough to fan out However. he is
husky looking and active and may
prove to be great stuff.
The Topeka Rifle club is soon to
be ready for long range practice.
tape to hang an elephant the govern
mint shipped rifles and ammunition
will soon be on hand for distribution
to members 'in good standing" Sec
rotary H. B. Howard reports the range
will soon be equipped with two up to
date targets and then, if your mem
bership is up to date, the pleasure is
all yours: A meeting of the club will
rooms Immediately upon the receipt
of the rifles, and the teams and
squads Will be organized for practice
One remarkable improvement in
mechanical fielding during recent
years-the throwing of the third
baSemen. They are, probably, just
about as good as ever when it comes
to digging up groundcrs, trapping
flies or taking throws, but what
difference in the pegPing across the
diamond! In earlier days, the third
basemen were continually heaving
= fIn hos nc hoo
or driving them down among his
feet. Now the throwing from third
base is. as a rule, surer, Straighter and
more reliable than the chucl<s made
by the shortstop, while very few first
baSemen can make a return throw,
across to third, half as neatly and ac
curately as the offerings of the third
Dagger.
The baseball world is puzzled right
now about the Braves. Are they
down and out? Were they a lucky
bluff last year? Or were they really
earlier than is the rule with cham
pionship teams? Will they repeat
their 1914 performances by coming
up through the ruck with roar and
down among the dead ones? No
body knows. and the players differ
greatly in their theories. Take any
crowd of say six athletes, and two
real class last season, getting by be
cause the other clubs didn't tend to
business; two will hold that they
were a great club. won on their mer-
its, and deserved all they took; the
remaining two will be non-commit-
tai as to the 1914 qualities of the
Boston club, but will aver that they
are all done now because their three
crack pitchers aren't working prop
erly, and their second-string men will
not do. It's the oldest problem of
the year, that of the Boston team.
Larry Mclean Gets Release.
New York, July 21.-Larry Mclean. I
the veteran catcher of the New York |
Nationals, who was serving a 60-day /
suspension for misconduct in st. Louis !
was Internationally released Tuesday
by President Hampstead. 1t was stated |
Mclean was released SO Manager Nc |
Graw could play Darlington. an out |
fielder of Brown university. who !
joined theteam a few days ago. but |
was unable to get into the game be- I,
cause of the player limit Darlington /
it was announced will replace Snod- !
grass in centerfield.
''Jim'' Thorpe Loses Diamond.
New York, July 21.-'-Jim'' Thorpe, |
the champion all round athlete of the |
world, right fielder of the Jersey City /
baseball team of the International 4
league lost diamond ring valued at I