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

SANITY hindered by rumors and reports
hat tho magnates were about to aban-
Ion 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 the SUIT
OF Superior and quit No other towns
which could support professional base
ball were available and 1t looked like q
six club league or no league at ALI 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.
Mntney Sells TIkets.
Matney offered TO sell season tickets
at a ridiculously low price, He was given
the job and he sold everybody in Kearney
and Buffalo county. The result was that
a snug sum reposed in the Kearney treas
ury when II 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 men
of the town put up their cash and base
ball was saved there. The same hap
pened at Norfolk. which was waverlng 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 viii 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.
win stick 10 Ruling.
All of the magnates have agreed L
abide strictly by the salary and playel
agreements. Last year salary kiting wal
ir vogue in one or two of the cities Will
the result that the whole league lost
The magnates in those cities did no
wish to make money, they only hope'
10 conduct winning team. But thei
salary kiting worked two ways and hur
them as well as the other fellow. Presi
dent Miles has been assured nothing o
the kind will occur this year. and he In
tends to keep a sharp lookout that tn
magnates keep thier word.
There Is lot of new blood In tho stat
this year. All of the teams have &C
quired the services of young chaps of tn
kind that are promising. and some bal
players should go up to the bigger cir
suits from the state this year Gram
Island will have more opposition thi
win not be a race merely between tn
third city and Hastings. Claire has los
Everdon and Payne to Omaha, ami the
cut considerable figure In his success las
year. The other teams are stronger an
everything looks bright for a might
tight race with all eight cities runnin
well together.
Opening Celebrations.
The opening games TO be played Fiida
will be in Norfolk. Columbus. Gran
Island and Kearney. Special ceIebra
lions, parades and the like will be hel
in all the cities TO open the season wit
the proper eclat.
| All OF the managers are enthusiast
over prospects and everyone expects {
have winning team. OF course the
can't all win, somebody has TO be at tn
bottom, but It looks very much as IL IN
same team won't occupy that bottom DC
sition all the time as did Kearney las
year.
The managers who will act this yea
are as follows: Norfolk, Towne; KeaI
ney Mstney; Beatrice. FilIman; Fail
bury, Shaner; Hastings, Bennett; Gran
Island Claire; York. Pierce; Columbus
Justus.
Tentative lineups of the teams are a
! follows:
Norfolk-catchers: Smith, Musser. II
iieleers: 1owne. Frederick. Streigl
MelkeT outfielders: b. Brown. Campbell
r. Brown. Pitchers Meyers, Roed. Wa
worth. Milletto. Weber
Kearney: Catchers: Schmidt Davi
Intielders: Jorstad. Holiday. Peak, Me-
rell, Bellew. Outfielders: Carrig, Ma
ney Campbell. Pitchers: Waugh, Wei
ter, Klontz, Carver, Davis, Mccoy. Moat
Beatrice-Catchers: Egan. Buster. Il
nelders. Beckewitz Fillman. Kortur
Brannan. outfiolders: Neff, Piac
Lockhardt. Pitchers: Adams, Gree
Errett, Pate, Irwin.
Grand lsland-Catohers: Crosby, Syc
Lacey Infieliers; Claire. McCrat
Roben. SEEK. synek. outfieiders: Baaso
seneY Marshall. Thomason Pitcher
Hoffman. Manser. Beechon. Woods. Ale,
ander.
Columbus-catchers Ramsey. Walter
tnfielders: simcnds Gutzmer. Merce
Schmidt Coderer. Outfielders: Prat
jGrimness. Charnquist. Pitchers: The
man. Kirchner. Wolfe. Justus. Cube
Gillignnon.