The Topeka state journal., 1916-04-08
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READY FOR RACE
Western League Season viii
Open Week From Thursday.
All Clubs Faster; Topeka Looks
Like Real Contender.

One week from Thursday the 1916
pennant race of the Western league
will begin, and if there is any reliance
to be placed in signs and omens the
old circuit will raise the curtain on
the new administration of President
Zehrung on April 20 with the most
propttioGs outlook that a baseball
organization of the west has ever
known.
Contrary to conditions that have
existed in the league for the last few
years, it is absolutely impossible at
this writing to find the tiniest speck
of a cloud darkening the prospects of
any department OF the game that will
furnish the outdoor amusement to the
hundreds of thousands of fans in the
eight cities of the league this season.
A faster brand of ball throughout
is assured. The new president has as
sumed his duties with an enthusiasm
that has won favorable comment in
every city. There is greater harmony
among the club owners than has been
known for years. And last, but not
least, there is more baseball enthusi-
asm among all classes of fans.
Faster Ball.
Faster baseball has been assured
largely through the talent that has
been made available by the disband-
ing of the Federal league, and there is
not a club in the circuit that has not
strengthened itself materially, either
directly from the Federal league ranks
or from the ranks OF the players who
to the major league clubs of the stars
of the outlaws.
In Topeka and Denver the direct
results OF the passing of the lunch
counter organization will probably be
brought home to the fans more forci-
bly, than in any of the other cities.
The Topeka Savages have been
strengthened at least so per cent by
the acquisition of Outfielder Kruger,
First Baseman Agler, Third Baseman
Goodwin and Catcher Texter, all of
whom were Federal league players
last season.
In Denver Rebel Cakes, the former
Pittfed leader who will pilot the Bears
this season, is the big find Cakes
demonstrated pretty conclusiveIy last
season that he can keep a team in the
running If he has the material to
work with, and before McGiI disposed
of the Denver club to Hugh Jones he
did about everything a man could do
TO place good material at Oakes's dis
posal.
COffey May Stick.
Upon taking over the club. Jones
announced that he would leave the
picking and managing of the team en-
urely up to Oakes. and that the only
thlhg ne would expect would be an
other pennant for the Mile High City.
Also. with the club in the hands of
Jones, it is generally thought that
JACK Coffey who split with McGiJ
because of domestic troubles will wear
Denver uniform again and will be a
valuable asset to the team.
In addition to the classy souad Of
players Denver now has, Jones an
nounces that he hopes to have first
call on all cast offs of the Detroit TI-
gers. 1t is generally thought through
out the circuit that Jones will do
much to revive interest in the game
IN Denver and that he will soon win
a warm place in the hearts of all home
town fans because of his personal
popularity and his thoroughbred
sporting qualities.
President Zehrung. in a recent ad-
dress in Sioux City, predicted that
Wichita and Topeka would make
greater advances in the enthusiasm
percentage table than any of the other
cities in the league this season, but
every report indicates that there is a
general revival of interest throughout.
The New Umpires.
The list of umpires who will work
IN the league this season has not vet
peen OFFICIALLY announced, but 1t has
been learned from unofficial sources
that Eckman. a former American as
sociation mask man; Doc Andrews,