Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-09
PA ROURKE GRABS
A NEW INFTELDER
Harold Irelan, Second Stacker with
Montreal, Last Year, Is Pur-
chased from Phils.
MEANS PASSING OF DICK BREEN

70 will be a new combination which will
scintillate around the keystone sack for
the Rourkes when the balmy breezes of
spring float DER the greensward OF the
Vinton street ball lot in April For Pa
Rourke announced yesterday that he had
signed a new second baseman.
The new second sacker is Harold Ire
Ian and was purchased from the Phila-
delphia National league club. the club
made famous because Grover Cleveland
Alexander Of St Paul. Neb, is among
those who cashes pay checks with that
name on them.
Last year Ircian played with the Mon
treal club of the International league
club. He played in 100 games. smote the
pill for an average of .o3S. swiped twenty
eight bases and counted seventy-two runs
!. He fielded 1868, which is a pretty sweet
fielding average. He Is p years of age.
five foot seven high and weighs $50
pounds.
Good In Pinches.
According to Bill Neale, scout for the
Phils, young Mister Ireian is a foxy sec
ond baseman and will set the Western
loop on fire. especially in the fielding de-
PAL NiiltllL anu bIl inc pains. lie ism [ AnV
Cravath at the bat. but he is on the job
in the pinches. He bats both right and
left-handed
Thus Omaha has the new keystone COM
bination. Pete Killduff, from Oklahoma
City, is the lad who will team with Ire
Ian at shortstop. AS Khduff comes with
a reputation as a wizard i'm the Fielding
department, Rourke expects to see Xii
duff and Irelan show a lot of speed I'm
staging two-ply killings next summer.
lrelan was secured after Rourke had a
conference with Manager Marty King.
who arrived in Omaha TO start the year S
work the early part of the week.
To Get Veteran Pitchers.
Now that Marty is here we will get
down to work and nab few athletes, "
said Rourke, yesterday. 1--WE are in nc
hurry as there are a number of clubs
who have players to dispose of. We in
y[end to get all veteran players, especially
in the pitching department. IT is our
plan to get five good hurlers, all of them
of known ability, and build up a team
around them. With a player limit OF
fourteen it Is necessary to get veteran
pitchers of known ability, and we can't
do much experimenting with youngsters
The signing of Irelan is thought tc
mean the passing of Dick Breen, al.
though Rourke does NOT make any com
ment on this subject. Breen didn't make
any hit with Omaha fans last year and
although he has the ability and is a gooC
ball player, it is not likely Rourke will
keep him. Breen appeared to be the kline
OF player who worked for Breen frs
and the team afterward, and that brand
of work doesn't appeal to Omaha fans.
ZehrunE on the jon.
Frank C. zehrung, new president Of the
Western league, is on the Job although
as yet he has not made tho fact known
But this has largely been the fault OF
Tip O'Nell. 1t is up to O'Neill to turr
over the books and records of the league
to Zehrung, but Tipperary Tip has neg
lected to do this up to date Thus al
Zchrung can do Is wait for Tip to com,
across.
When he gets the records and takes
'ull charge zehrung plans to tsart som,
action. 1t is probable he will make 8
trip around the loop to visit with tn,
various magnates before the schedule
meeting which is to be held in Lincolr
the middle of February. Then after the
schedule meeting he will hire his UNI
pires and make ready for the opening o
the season. Zehrung appears to be TAX
\ ing a lively interest in the Westeri
league and he should be a valuable asset
That jackson Affair.
Some internal troubles are very likel,
20 spring up at the next Western League
meeting. James Jackson, the fry youtl
who managed the Topeka club last sea
son, is the chap who is likely to star
the fuss.
Jackson deserted the Topeka club an
signed up to manage Wichita next sum
,Gonainued on Page Two, Column Five.