San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-31

articles dealing with the way the
Texas League baseball club are
stacking up for the coming cam
paign. The first dealt with Waco.
The following concerns Wichita
Falls.
WICHITA FALLS. Tex, Jan. 80.
Renovated and rebuilt from ground
keeper to president, the Spudders in
mid-winter stack IN as a powerful
basc. II team, but it is well known
hereabouts that mid-wintcr form wins
no Texas League pennants and the
monopoly of the Fort Worth Panth-
ems will not be challenged until the
curtain is rung up next April.
Much is to be considered in trying
to figure out the strength Of the
Spudders for the coming season. First
of all, there is a new regime in charge
of things.
]. Alvin Gardner. for years a close
friend and business associate of r.
u. Harvey, founder of the Spudder
franchise, bought out the interests of
the latter. Business office policy,
without doubt, has something to do
with winning ball games, and Gard
ner is yet TO be tested.
One of his first acts as owner of
the club was the purchase of Fred
Brcinard from Baltimore and appoint
ment of the former Oriole manager
Of the club. Brainard is not q new
conner in the managerial role, but
he is new in that capacity in the
Texas League. and it remains 10 be
seen il he is the man who can furnish
that rare quality that. gets out all
there is in a team. Brainard had two
years of managing the Newark club
Of the international League and he
made at least satisfactory showings
with this club. In every respect he
stacks up as an excellent man for
the job.
SLUGGING OUTFIT.
As for the material that will be at
the disposal of the new skipper. it
looks powerfully good a month before
spring training time. From all appear
ances the Spudders will be a hitting
ball club-there seems not the least
doubt about this part Of it. Prexy
swetters and he has lined up a club
Of 800 bitters. But Wichita Falls,
and also San Antonio has had some
sad experiences in the last. few years
with teams that were powerful often
siVely.
Considered from a defensive stand
point, the club is better fixed right
now than at any time in another year
Prexy Gardner has stated that he is
in the market for one pitcher he knows
can win consistently. Aside from this
one desire, the team, including the
pitching and catching, is all set for the
start Of the flag chase. And he has let
il be known that he is satisfied with
The present string Of pitchers and his
efforts to land another is only a move
toward super-safety.
To be more definite on the teams
pitching strength-the all-important
factor when one considers the certain
offensive strength-there are eight !
tried class A FINGERS on the club. One |
ct these, though, is likely to be Topped |
off the roster. This one is the eccen- |
iric Rip Wheeler. a real pitcher but |
for the fact that he lets his tempera-
ment get the best Of him. He has
written earnestly that he desires to |
come back again and make good. If |
he could stick with this desire through /
the summer, il would mean the Spud- /
ders, without doubt. would be a seri- |
ous pennant contender. But, likely. be
viii be transferred 10 another club /
before the start.
TWO GOOD LEFTIES.
Paddy Martin and Fred Russell ars |
the southpaws of the club, and il is /
freely predicted hereabouts that no |
team in the league will boast as classy |
n pair of lefthanders as these when 1
The curtain rolls up. Martin was with |
the club last year for the final two or |
three weeks and showed enough 10 be .
counted rs a certain regular this year. /
Russell was with the club two years
ago and won fifteen games, though be-
ing out much Of the time because Of /
illness.
The right-handers are Jim Roberts.
Dick Morgan. Carl Williams. Sudc 1
Sutherland and Jess Winters-each I
an experienced Glass A finger. who /
has proven his ability in more than
one successful season in Class A or
higher company. Roberts proved one
Of the leagues sensations last season.
winning IL games in less than half
the season. Morgan has had two years
with the Spudders and has ben q win.
llrr both seasons. Experience should |
make him even better. Williams was
a great early-season winner in 1925
and is counted on as regular. Suth-
erlnnd should have good year. for be
has always been winning pitcher
and this year be viii BE- satisfied with
BIS Texas League job, something that
could not have been said last season.
Winters probably is the most doubtful
ilipser on the club. He had trouble
with his arm last year and il still
bothered cannot be expected to geg
very far in the coming campaign.
THREE STAR CATCHERS.
One Of the most interesting scraps
Il the spring will be that among
three experienced Glass A catchers for
two jobs. The Spudders are fortunate
eaough 10 possess more than their
share 81 actching power in these days
IT scarce receiving talent Wray
Qnery is the holdover from last year.