The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-18
NOTICES. GO OUT
TOCANDIDATES
FOR ISLANDERS
Youngsters While Waiting Spring
Call Can De Much to Increase
Their Chances.
BY j. L. HUGHES.

Manager Jim Councilman of the
Islanders today mailed letters to 10
candidates for places on the local
payroll instructing them to begin
the process Of limbering up arms
and legs. The players have
month before spring drill will
start, but they can do much in the
interim towards increasing their
chances Of summer employment.
The local club has six pitchers,
two catchers, four outfielders and
seven infielders under contract, not
including Councilman. The roster
is as follows:
Pitchers - II. Anderson, Rock
ford; Paul Wilson, Milan; Herman
Vennemier, Cincinnati; F. w. Rad
loft, Coal Valley; l.. Rosenberger,
Silvis, and Ray l.. Doan. Muscatine.
Catchers-W. C. Red" Irwin,
Cambridge; w. G. Morris, East Mo-
line.
Outfielders-Per1 ]. Wire, Vim
cennes, Ind; AIDE Gustafson, Rock
ford; William Griner, Rock Island;
Russell G. Lowe, New Boston.
Infielders-Curt r. Norton, Mo-
line; A l.. Downey, Macon, Mo-;
Bert Johnson, Andover; John J.
Decker, Jr., Waukesha, Wis; James
Jelnick, Cicero, ILL.,; Clarence Hep
ner. Kewanee; Ed Conley, Chicago.
In Milan and vicinity baseball
fans will tell you positively that
Paul Wilson, youthful moundsman.
should cut wide Swath in Missis-
sippi Valley circles. They claim he
didn't have the right kind of oppor-
tunity to make good with the Is
1anders of last season, when he
started in two games. The position
of the club in the standings and the
fact that it was going particularly
bad at the time, presented a task
that was not quite fair to expect d
youngster to meet.
The others on the pitchers list
have been signed upon recommen-
dation of men whom the association
regards as competent to Judge
whether or not a player is worthy
of trial.
Irwin Likely Prospect.
Preseason representations are
usually odious, but in the matter of
Red Irwin as catcher, it seems
fairly safe to expect that he will
\ display talent in keeping with the
NJ standard demanded by the league.
v Irwin played some mighty fine base
ball for Cambridge, it is said. He
is versatile performer, being
able to play the outfeld as we'll as
behind the bat. This is true also of
Morris of East Moline. who while
rated as a catcher is said to have a
certain command of outfield re-
Quirements.
The Wire mentioned among the
outfelders is a brother of Earl Wire.
who played first base good, bad and
indifferent for last years Islanders.
EarPs greatest failing, of course,
was at bat. The younger brother is
said not to be afflicted with this all
ment
AT this early time Curt Norton of
Moline seems mostly likely to land
permanently at shortstop or third
base The experience Curt gained
In league baseball last season
should prove valuable to him He
is speed merchant and if he bats
as well as he fields, he should stick.
Downey and Jelnick will class as
veterans, both having played league
baseball heretofore. The lowdown
on Downey has not been received,
but Jelnick's record in the Alabama
Tennessee league last season
speaks for itself. At third base he
led the infielders of the league. and
not only that but his batting aver
age was BAL
Hepner of Kewanee is a left
handed first baseman. He is said
TO be the type that seems to have
natural gift for playing the posi-
tlon properly. Johnson. who halls
from Andover, is reported to be an
lnffelder of real merit. Decker will
try for shortstop. The Wisconsin
boy is only II years old.
League Shows Speed.
In spite of the fact that the league
is less than six weeks old, all clubs
nave shown speed in lining up can
dldates. At this time nearly all
teams report full list for spring
training, and there is yet a month to
wait. League President NJ H, Sex
ton has number of players signed
10 what is termed open contra cts.
which permits him to turn them
over to any club which might de-
velop the need. He said today that
it now appears these will not be
needed.
Moline in Race Again.
Moline is declaring that the
Plowboys must be reckoned as a
championship possibility again in
the Three-Eye league. Among new
corners whom Manager Mack has
signed are McNenamin and Hamel.
both OF whom played in the Mich
igan-Ontario league last season.
McMenamin batted .317 and Hamel
hit the agate for a percentage of
.293. Mack is counting strongly on
these men helping to maintain the
pennant wallop of the club.
The pitching and catching prob
lens are something else again. Not
much dope has been given out thus
Tar on the merit of Mack's mounds
mon, and his catchers are said to
be experiments. However, Moline
fans look to Mack to pull an invis- !
ibie string if any of his spring
products are found lacking.