The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-09


Elsewhere on this page you will
find a pen sketch of Nee. and if you
will read on a few lines you will get
all the facts about him that are avail
able at this writing.
AS all biographies begin. Johnny
Nee first saw the light OF DAY IN
Springfield, III. He received his carry
diamond education in the Sprlngllelo
public schools and was graduated
from collegiate baseball at the OnlVer-
sitv OF Missouri. After quitting schooi
he went back to his old nome town.
and began playing ball for ms aal!y
bread Soon, however, an ivory nuht-
e discovered him and he was slgned
to a contract by the st. Paul club OF
the American association.
Went Up When Il Kid
He was only kid at that time
rImor has il, however, that ne pur-
chased razor before going to ST
l Jul and began to scrape his race
Iut the whiskers grew slowly and III
the early part of the season-oh yes,
i, was the year 1909-he was traded
10 Columbus where he renamed uhlil
purchased by Dayton.
At the close of the season he was
drafted by the Newark club of the In
ternational league. He remained with
= ewaTk for a season ana was solo 10
= IRE Haute, finishing the season OF
1912 as manager of the Tots" The
+. flowing winter he was again pro
cured by Dayton and has practcally
,en Il Daytonian ever since, doing an
OF his voting and paying all Oh Ills
taxes at Dayton.
Nee has played at second base most
of his career, but is also able to per-
form in a home like manner at third
and short. AS a manager he has the
reputation of being aggressive and is
said to have rare talent for handling
men and getting the best out of them.
When it was announced that he had
signed up to manage the topeka clup'
jerry writing in the Dayton News,
gave him double column send-on IN
which he said:
Given Good Send OF.
with the signing of Johnny Nee
as manager of the Topeka club of the
Western league there passes from
this city the pilot who enjoyed more
success with the Dayton ball club
than any other manager who tried his
hand at the job since the Old Soldiers
Joined the Central league back in
1903.
I'm the fifteen years which this
city was represented in the Central
league thirteen men tried their hand
~ the task of handling the Vets and
only two of them succeeded in win
ming pennants. In 1911, eight years
after the team entered the league.
Punch Knoll landed the Dayton club
in first place Nee's team copied
the rag in-1914 and 1916, giving him
the local outfit.
Nee not only was the most sue
cessful manager IN the history of the
Dayton team but likewise remained
on the job here longer than any of
his predecessors. In going to the
Western league he is advancing
notch in his chosen profession and
there is no reason why he should not
continue to advance as he is one of
the youngest men that ever handled a
Glass A ball club.
Should Make Good.
Given any kind of material he is
sure to have his team hustiing near
the top of the ladder. just what he
can do with ball club was best
shown here few years ago. In 1914
he won a pennant without being out
of the lead a single day but. with
only few changes in the lineup, the
same team finished at the bottom in
1915 with Johnny absent. The fol-
lowing year he was brought back and
with a few more changes he took his
club out in front and won another
flag"
Abbott expects Nee to arrive in To-
peka about the first of April and to
bring a batch of players with him.