The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-02
n p.UCE COPELAND.

~ BRUCE COPELAND.
Friends, Romans and baseball
fans, this time tomorrow you may
consult the nearest scoreboard Cor
the opening day results Of the 10th
annual i. I. I. league season!
The Weather permitting, the eight
clubs OF the minor Tearney circuit
will get away under the most pre-
tentious conditions ever recorded.
& Optimism prevails throughout the
league. All the clubs believe they
have a good chance Of coping the
pernant. One thing is certain: all
will start today with an equal
chance.
While labor conditions have been
somewhat disparaging and financial
circumstances almost tighter than
ever, league and club officials pre-
rdict one of the most profitable sea-
cons In l. /. I. history.
SO, let's usher in the 1921 sea-
son tomorrow afternoon by gather
ing around the scoreboards to see
the results OF the following games:
Rock Island at Peoria.
Moline ut Bloomington.
Rockford ut Terre Haute.
Cedar Rapids at Evansville.
B President Secretary Treasurer
Z Al r. Tearney Of Chicago. predicts
the following after a close scrutiny
Of all. the clubs at the barrier:
1.-THE league will open its season
under the most promising and fav-
orable conditions In the history Of
the circuit. The clubs will present
many new players to the fans, as
well as several new managers, who
have proved themselves successful
leaders,, That the race will lie
contested keenly is indicated by
the enthusiasm throughout the cir
cult"
All Eyes On IeQulllAn.
Chief in point Of curiosity among
the leagues new managers is GU,
own George McQuillan. who is taxi.
ing up the managerial reins after
II years as sensational pitcher
In the National and American
leagues and American association
The new Islander boss, being a
man OF few words, is averse to pre-
dictions; but he has accomplished
enough during the last seven
months to prove that his heart and
soul are bound in his work of pro-
ducing winning team in Rock Is
land.
The other new manager, whose
work will be watched with inter.
est Is Bob Coleman, former St
Louis. Pittsburgh. Cleveland ant
Mobile catcher. and who at ont
time caught for the Davenport clut
= In the I. l. l. Coleman will under
take 70 produce a winner in TER,
haute, succeeding Mordecai Brown
y and Pop" Darringer OF last year
Joe Dunn will again be at tn.
helm OF the Bloomington club, two
time champions. Earl Mack, sor
OF the illustrious Connie, will leat
our neighboring Flows. Al Bash
Ang, who succeeded Bill Groh las
season at Evansville, will pilot tn,
Evas again. Harry Brant will di
rect the ROckfords, Bill jackson
the Peorians, and Frank Boyle tn,
Cedar Rapids Bunnies.
McQuillan. Mack, Dunn, Coleman
Bashang and Brant will be playin,
managers. Jackson and Boyle will
lead their charges from the bench
Local Chances Good.
Indications this year are tina,
Rock Island and Moline will finis.
higher than In recent years. AL
the clubs have been practically re
built, but judging from the mater.
ial which will start the season TO-
morrow, the two local contenders
appear the best entries in the race
Rock Island was never better
equipped before the season for a
hard. close campaign in a league
where usually there is little &c
choose from throughout the sea.
son, the l. I. /. having the .eputa-
ton Of evenly matched clubs. Nc
OUTLAWS athletes have attained a
high degree Of perfection in the II
practice games played during The
training period.
The experiments Of former wears
will be precluded entirely this sea
son for McQuillan has appointed
strong occupants for every berth
on the clubs. From now on, any
changes which he may devise will
be to add pitching strength as the
case may be. His catching, infield
and outfield departments are en-
tirely favorable.
The same security Is felt in Mo.
line, Manager Mack may encoun-
ter some pitching perplexities be-
fore the season gets under way
but the rest Of his team is well oil
cd and primed for a winning cam.
paign. consisting Of tried and true
veterans whose batting, fielding and
general usefulness Is now at par.
Tough Task for Dunn.
Joe Dunn is almost certain tC
find . rocky road to his third sue.
cessive pennaut, il there is an,
CHARGE for the Boomers to cor
another nag. He will have only
four OF last years champions as :
nucleus, but Joe is a smart base.
bali man and successful developer
. Of prise talent, so the Blooper fans
are In high hopes that he will come
through and deliver again.
Evansville Is putting q lot o.
faith in the close finish Of las,
yeer's Evas, with the popular Al
RashanG ut the tiller. Bashang ha,
four veterans back. including him
self, besides couple Of l13<
pitchers, and has augmented -