The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-25
YOUNG PLAYERS
ARE SIGNED BY
ISLANDER CLUB
Fans Association Receives Gen.
tracts of Number Of Likely
Prospects.
BY ], l.. HUGHES.

BY j. il. HUGHES.
The rookie rule of the Mississippi
Valley Baseball league has struck
popular chord among the ball
players who aspire to start in the
professional game. judging by the
large number of applications that
have been pouring in on the ROCK
Island Fans association. Many OF
them undoubtedly would be reluc-
tant to seek a chance to make good
if it were not a case OF youngster
against youngSter.
From association headquarters
this morning it was announced that
a number of youngsters have been
signed to contracts and negotia-
lions are being carried on with 9TH
ers. When the squad reports for
spring training by April Is there
should be plenty of material from
which to fashion a team that will
be a credit to the city.
Most of those signed to date are
infielders, outfielders and catchers.
The club is dlckering with several
pitching prospects and contracts
from these are expected within a
few days. Paul Wilson of Milan, who
pitched Two or three games for the
Islanders last year, is still under
contract for 1922
Some of the other players who
have returned their signed con-
tracts are:
Catchers- C. Red Irwin and
Z. NJ. Mullen.
Infielders-Jim Jelly" Jelnick,
Bert Johnson, Clarence Hepner,
John ]. Decker, R. ]. Theibert and
E. r. Fryer.
Outfielder-P. J. Wire.
Irwin is a Cambridge, H., boy.
He comes highly recommended as
a backstop. Mullen halls from OF
tumwa, Ia, in which city he made
a reputation on the semi-pro lots.
Jelnick, who goes by the name of
Jelly, is out of the rookie class. He
pastimed for Columbia, Tenn, in
the acknowledgements league last
summer. At third base, he led the
infielders of the league His bat
ting average was .341.
Bert Johnson's home is in An
dover, III. He is reported to be an
infielder of merit and a genuine
hard hitter. Hepner is a left handed
first baseman. His home is ke-
vance. He was well recommended
to the association.
Decker is II.
In John ]. Decker, the Islanders
will probably have the youngest
player in the league in spite of the
fact that it is to be a league of
youngsters. Decker is only II and it
was not until his father sent his
permission by affidavit that the
contract was rendered. Decker lives
in Phillips, Wis. He has been pc
titioning the local club since last
August for tryout and will be Civ
en- his chance this year at short
stop.
Thiebert lives in Rock Island at
the present time. He is connected
with the packing concern at Milan
but is anxious to break into or
gained baseball. He is a short
stop who has seen much service in
college and semi-pro circles in In
diana
Fryer. a third baseman, is in
Rock Island now. He came on to
sign contract and is now cast
ing about for employment that will
tide him over until the season be-
gins. Fryer has gained much ex-
perience by playing fast semi-pro
ball around Missoula, Mont.
p. J. Ware, the lone outfielder
mentioned above, is Il brother of
Earl Wire, who played first base
for the Islanders during portion
Of last season. The younger Wire
halls from Vincennes, Ind.
Contracts to Vets.
The association has sent contracts
to Charlie Connolly, Bill Cole, Con
McInerney, Bill johnson and Wally
Newell, but none of these has ans
wered. Needless to say the con-
tracts call for considerably less
than these men received here last
season. 1t is doubtful whether any
one of them will sign at reduced sal
airy. They are held in reserve by
Rock Island and if they do not ac-
cept the offers efforts will be made
to dispose of them.
Hank Jando, who played third
base for a time last season, is eager
to return to Rock Island. His ap-
plication is on file and will be acted
upon later.
William J. BILLY" Speas, who
has been signed as manager of Ce-
dar Rapids, has earned a reputa-
ton in minor league baseball, both
as player and manager. He can
play any outfield position and is re-
garded as more than an average
batsman. At sone time he was with
Portland in the Pacific Coast league.
His minor league experience covers
Is years. Speas was manager of
Regina in the Western Canada
league in 1920 and 1921. Under
his guidance the team won the
1920 pennant-