The Omaha morning bee., 1924-02-24

of 1923, VINO, al
though they finished second to the
Indians. insist that the best team
did not win last year, that luck was
with Oklahoma City. They would
point to that world d-beating batting
record of 1927 and call attention to
the fact that the Oilers also We're
the best fielding combination in the
league that year, coming very near
another league record.
Others in the same city would name
the oilers of 1922 which, after win
ming the Western league pennant ran
away from the Mobile Dixie cham
pions.
In Wichita many would be willing
TO wager the family plate that those
Witches who won their last 10 games
i'm 1921 could trim any other team
! tl.St ever performed i'm the western.
Tn in Denver those who were daily
guests of the Grizzlies Of 1911 would
be inclined to string with the only
team that ever won Ill victories In
season i'm the Western. This was
the starter of series of three con-
secutive victories, the only three
straight flags won in the league.
Des Moines felix might call atten'
tion TO the fact that their team OF
1906 won by the widest margin ever
established by any Western club, %
games.
omaha has had several wonderful
teams.
Few of the present-d day fans know
much of the teams named by Jack
Holland, Oklahoma City president,
and PA" Rourke of Omaha, two who
started with the Western at its birth
a quarter of a century ago and have
been careful observers of every team
that has played in the league.
Holland has named the Denver club
of 1900 the first pennant winner, as
the team he believes exeelled all
others. He admits this team could
not slug with the Oilers Of 1923, could
not field with the Witches of 1919
who established a league record Tor
defensive play, or had pitching staff
that eaualed some of the others which
have been assembled since. but for
a combination of all the qualities that
mean baseball excellence. he considers
that team superior to all others.
This team was composed Of Jack
Sullivan, first base: kid" Lewis,
shortstop; Charles Reilly. third base
and field captain; DUSTY" Miller, left
Axisld; Walter Preston. center field;
jack Holland. right field; Fred Buc'
low, catcher; Pop" Eyler. Harry Nee
ley. Henry Schmidt and Harry Kane,
pitchers, and Walter Hickey, utility.
TO win the pennant that year the
Denver club had to beat a well-bal-
anced field, one so evenly matched
that every team except Sioux City
was in front at some time or other.
The Kansas City club of 1901 and
the Omaha club OF 1904 also are rated
high by the Indian chief.
Perhaps Rourke was afraid he
might be accused OF prejudice when
he finally named the Milwaukee club
of 1903 over his own Omaha club OF
1916 as his choice. lie always has
been especially proud Of the last pow
erful team he ever put in the field
the combination Marty krug led tc
y.etoty over good field eight years
ago. This team had things pretty
much rs own way and won by mar
yin Of fixe and one.half games In
spite o. the fact that it lost six OF
its last seven games. due to com
plete letdown at the finish.
This team was composed Of
Marty Krug, manager and second
basemen; X. Miller. first base; Burg,
third base; T.. Smith, J. Thompson
and Forsythe, outfielders; Kruger
and Marshall. catchers; Merz, {.
Thompson. Krause. North and
O'TooIe, pitchers.
However, he gives the MiIwau-
kee team of 1908 the advantage.
This team was made up Of Braun,
first base; X. Miller, second base;
Cookman. third base; Gatins. short
stop: O'Neil, Stone and McVickers,
outfielders: Lucia. catcher; Kenna.
Swormstead, Mcpherson and Vol
fseGdorf. pitchers.
Like Holland, Rourke pays trib-
ute to "baIance" in this team. for
not one of the players mentioned
on any OF these teams were chosen
:y either Holland or Rourke ON
their all.time Western league teams
Last sxeak