Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-19

Rock Island Star AiiiXes Signature TO
1915 Contract After Conference
With Isabelle.
SIGNS FOR One SEASON ONLY
Joe Took Charge of Club Last SeOs0n
On July 10, Two Days After Three
Eye Quit.
BY HECK.

Joe Berger yesterday affixed his sig
nature to a 1918 contract to manage
the Wichita club Of the Western
league.
Joe's action in signing followed a
conference held with Frank Isabelle,
owner of the Wichita club, who stop
ped off in Rock Island enroute from
Chicago to Wichita for the express
purpose of signing Berger up again
for the coming season. Isabelle
preached Berger in vain to sign a
three-year contract. Joe refused to
tie himself up for that period.
Berger's many friends in the tri-
cities will be pleased to learn that he
is again to lead Wichita. Joe first
took charge of this club on July 10,
1917, two days after the Three Eye
league died an early, but natural
death. Berger was among the many
players signed in the scramble for
stars that followed the breaking up OF
the wobbly Tearney circuit.
Leading the Wichita club for the
last half of the 1917 season, Berger did
more than was expected Of him, this
being indicated by 1sabelle's desire
to sign him again for the coming sea-
son. Berger hit .2S9 in Sc games in
the Western league last season.
Wichitas outlook for the coming
wear is decidedly uncertain one, in
asmuch as Manager Berger has lost a
number of his stars for army service.
Dobbins, formerly with Moline, and
Yarvan. both Of whom worked behind
the log last season, will again be on
the receiving end. Berger has four
cracking good hurlers in Koestner,
LYONS. Clemens and Baker. Clemens,
however, may be lost in the draft, as
he is in class Al.
It is not certain that Jones, who
played first base last season. will be
with the team again Jones cleaned up
some $4,000 in an oil deal last year
and NAV retire Goodwin, last sea-
son third haseman, has Joined the
navy Clyde Mcbride and Martini re-
main of the old outfeld. Mcbride is
well known to the local fans, playing
several seasons in Rock Island Clyde
went great in the Western league last
season. hitting 292 in go games.
Manager Berger today started on an
active campaign to line up material
for his team next spring. He is anx-
ious to sign Louis Kolls, local boy,
who was given a tryout in the box
with Tighe's Islanders last season.
Kolls failed here because he did not
keep in condition. Harry Williams,
first baseman, formerly with Bloom
iuelon. is another player Berger is
seeking to sign. Williams filled out
for Wichita last season and is capa-
- iudalder
Berger, who makes his home in
T0r'. Island, has been employed this
winter at the Rock Island arsenal.
along with Pete Lister, Billy Neal.
Fred Marks and several other old time
stars
RcrEc-'S Career Varied One.
Berger started his professional
baseball career in Rock Island under
Jack Tighe in 1907, playing in this
sold to Mobile in the Southern league.
He played with Mobile in 1910 Gin
ciEnau drafted him in the spring of
1911. and sent him back to Wichita
Ho went to the Chicago White Sox in
1912, finishing this season with Los
Angeles in the Coast league. He re-
turned to the White Sox and remained
with Comiskey's club through the sea-
sons Of 1918 and 1914. In 1915 he
played with the Vernon club in the
Coast league. and in 1916 with Oak
land in the same circuit. He came to
Rock Island last season and played
with Tighe's club until the league dis
banded on July 8.