The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-30
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Army OF PLAYERS
baltimore Now Has Enough
Men to Invade Mexico.
Many New Players Look Like
the Real Stuff.

If the worst should come to the
worst and more men should be needed
in Mexico, none would be better pre-
pared than Manager baltimore. And
if LATHE would provide each one of
the players who was out to practice
wednesday afternoon with a rifle and
ammunition belt, he could march quite
a little army out of Topeka without
taking on a single recruit.
And it would be quite formidable
looking army, too. OF the dozen and
one new players Eno were out
Wednesday afternoon, most of them
looked like they could stand a pretty
hard campaign, either on the diamond
or in Mexico, and all appeared to be in
good condition for one.
Art Kruger, former Fed outfielder.
is probably the healthiest, heftiest
looking new man who has yet shown
up. He towers over the other men
like Willard towers over a lightweight,
and with all of his bulky build he
weighs only about $50 and gets
around like a bantam.
Hanson Hard Hitter.
Hanson, another outfielder, is capa-
BILE of qualifying FOR the grown up
ranks without palaver or parlance,
and is next in size to Kreuger. But
the hundred or more fans who were
ont to practice Wednesday afternoon
said very little about Hanson's size.
They were too engrossed with marvel
ling at his ability to lay up against the
pin like a second Ty Cobb.
In fact, Hanson's smuggling was the
tonic of conversation at the afternoon
practice. He is a left handed hitter,
stands up to the plate naturally and
easily and if he doesn't give Larry
LeJeune, Cy Forsythe and the other
would be league leaders run for
their money in the race for individual
batting honors some good critics will
be greatly upset.
OF the other new players, Widel, De
Fate and Texter probably have shown
more than the rest. However, many
surprises may be forthcoming as some
of the players who had their first
workout Tuesday were sore yesterday
afternoon and some of the latest ar
rivals were taking tldngs easily in an
effort to break in by degrees.
Another New Catcher.
BLANCHARD, a new catcher from
Akron, Ohio, is built like one
inagines a backstop should be turned
out at the factory where they are
made, and he has the ambition and
pep that may make him contender
for a regular position.
Catcher Snow arrived yesterday
after the supply of uniforms had
given out, and he was forced to stand
around and look on. Snow also is
built for endurance and appears to be
Mundy, candidate for first sack, was
another of the new uns who got to the
park after the clothes were all gone,
but he will get into the scramble this
afternoon.
Sweitzer, the former st. Louis
Brown player, was, it seems, the last
man suited up yesterday. His outfit
was just a few yards off size for him
and the puckering strings in his
trousers were among the absent parts,
&Iov, to 11fc Ton
tonic name and waded into the prac-
tice for all he was worth. Sweitzer,
by the way is not an old man, as some
of the fans have imagined. In fact, he
looks rather young and active and
should have a dozen years of good
baseball in him if he has any at all.
Old Men Back.
Among the old men whose familiar
faces were in evidence for the first
time were Tydeman, Trainer and
Pitcher Hall. Tydeman says his ankle
is now as good as it ever was and that
he expects a good year. And it might
be added that both Savage and Man
ager baltimore will be disappointed if
he does not hit himself into a perma-
nent berth.
Trainer signed a life contract in the
matrimonial league while away this
winter, but despite this, he is looking
as fit as a fox. He came in from EN-
porfa at noon yesterday and went di-
rect from the train to the park.
Pitcher Hall came in from Douglas,
Arizona, and says he has seen consid-
cradle greaser trouble since he left
Topeka last fall. He says he was al
most tempted to quit baseball and join
in the hunt for Villa, but decided he
would come on to Topeka and work
through the season and then join in
the hunt next fall, as it will probably
still be in progress. Next to Grover
the most promising pitchers on the