The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-19
Sport Wheezes
BY CLUG-

cions
The new prexy is going to try to
convince the club owners that to
boost one club means to boost all.
A valuable source of information !
dropped into the office the other day
and said: Say. do you know what i
is the most unusual characteristic |
about John Savage?"
No, we'll bite" was handed back
at him, and he replied: Whenever |
Savage shoots a Willie Hoppe billiard |
shot he stretches the little finger of
his left hand half an inch beyond its
normal length
And then the idea occurred that /
perhaps the readers of this column |
would be interested in knowing a few
of the peculiar characteristics of
prominent local and international
characters.
The column will make effort to
collect some of these and will pub
fish them from time to time, on dull
days. Contributions to the collection
will be accepted and paid for with
checks drawn on the Bank of Graft
tude and Appreciation.
For instance, it was noted when
Jess Willard was here that his person
was as free of bejeweled ornaments
as his shoes were of buttons. He eX-
planned that the buttonless shoes were
the result of his trip to Mayetta, but
that he never cared for fiashy jewelry
and that he never burdened his weak
frame with loads of gold and useless
stones.
There is hardly any person of any
peculiar, pet trait that no one else has.
And If you know of any such, send
'em in. If they are fit to print we'll
pass EN- on.
It has been intimated that a certain
element in Denver is taking advantage
of James McGilIs recent muddle with
the Coffey family to demonstrate that
he is not as popular in the Mile High
city as he once was.
Jack Holland, owner of the Drum
mers, says that he believes Joe Hell
mer, st. Joe outfielder, will be one of
the greatest ball players in the West
ern League this year. His speed, bat
ting ability and Readiness promise
much for him. the Missouri magnate
asserts.
Helmer undoubtedly looked like a
conner last season, but it seems rather
early to be predicting who viii be the
greatest player in the league when no
one knows what new talent will be
| procured between now and the time
when the teams are to be picked.
Topeka is due to have two corking
good outfielders at least in Trainer and
| Tydeman. Tydeman especially looks
/ like a conner, and if Trainer can con-
tinue in the hitting stride he was in
& n
him to bed. this should be his last year
in the minors.
The magnates at this time are prob
| ably giving more attention to their
/ pitching staffs than to any other parts
/ of their teams. Good hitters are es-
/ sential to run getting, but runs don't
count much unless a club has pitchers
that can keep the other clubs from
/ getting EN- too.
Bugs Grover and animal Dash
ner look like the class of the local club
at this writing. But Savage has
squad of young hurlers including Hall,
Higgins, Sanders and Carroll, and he
firmly believes that he will develop
one of these into a real star.
OF the above named quartet. Hall
and Higgins made the best showing
| last season. but Savage believes in the
stuff Sanders carries in his arm and
thinks he has the natural ability of an
Alexander. Carroll was not with the
club long enough to be judged
In the league last season there was
some good pitching. but no club pro-
duced anything like twirling
phenom. The leading pitchers of the
| loop were Buck Sterzer, of Denver,
and Musser, of Des Moines. Sterzer
won IL games and lost A, and Musser
won 90 and lost s. While both of
these were good records and were
largely responsible for the finish Den
yer and Des Moines made at the same
time a league like the Western ordi-
narily ought to produce at least one
mound artist with better record.
Every indication is that the league
will be much faster this season than
it was in 1915, and if some club could
/ develop, discover or import a twirler
who could make a minor record that
| would compare favorably with the won
and lost record of some of the stars
of the majors it would lend a side at
t traction interest to the loop that would
| be a mighty good thing for all clubs.
Heroes have made baseball, and great
heroes in the Western league in the
past few years have been scarce.
Long distance ice skaters are looking
forward with interest to the marathon
skating race which is planned for
( Cohoes, Y. Y, late this month 1t is
proposed to stage the race at 26 miles
and 3s5 yards, the full marathon dis
tance.
Frank Mantell, the former middle
weight, who retired from the ring re-
! Gently has been appointed to the police
force of Dayton, Ohio. He will act as
physical director to the force in addi-
/ ton to acting as boxing instructor to
the strong arm squad. This recalls the
fact that Jess Willard once wanted to
| he a Topeka policeman.
BAKER 81: FRIENDS "a.