The Weekly Examiner. (Bartlesville, Indian Terr.), Vol. 13, No. 19, Ed. 2 Saturday, July 13, 1907 Page: 1 of 4
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Bartlesvillc's Base Ball Team Wins, and, by Winning, It Shows the Bartlesville Way of Doing Things*
THE WEEKLY EXAMINER.
VOLUME XIII.
BARTLESVILLE. INDIAN TERRITORY, SATURDAY. JULY 13. 1907.-TWELVE PAGES.
NUMBER 19
THE BEST BASE BALL TEAM IN A GOOD LEAGUE
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ONE OF THE
MOST FAMOUS BASE BALL
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNIT-
ED STATES.
THE LEADERS IN THE O. A. K. LEAGUE.
, The first year's history of the Kansas State Base
* Ball League is not greatly at variance with that of
any other minor Base Ball association. When the
organization was finally perfected in the early spring
of 1906 it was an acknowledged experiment. Some
wiseacres shook their heads and placed July 4 as the
limit of the existence of the organization and the
forecast came near proving a correct one. When
the circuit was formed the cities of Pittsburg, Fort
Scott, Parsons, Coffeyville, Independence, Iola and
Chanute, Kansas, and Bartlesville, in Indian Terri-
tory, comprised the circuit. The disorganization of
the Missouri Valley League, of which the first three
named cities were a part, made it possible for the
new organization to start with a compact circuit.
Each of the former Missouri Valley cities kept its
•old team, whereas the other five were compelled to
make a late hustle for playing material. Parks were
to be built and with characteristic Southwestern en-
ergy everything was in readiness for the opening
games on May 3.
Most of the better class ot players had been signed
by other-teams and it was a case of taking almost
anybody to fill in. As might be expected, Fort
Scott, Pittsburg and Parsons were
the only real contenders from the
fall of the flag. Fort Scott made
a runaway race, being entirely too
strong for the others and interest
began to flag, not only in the other
cities of the circuit, but the attend-
ance at Fort Scott became so poor
that the management after a few
weeks could hardly secure enough
money at the gate to pay the guar-
antee. Pittsburg, located in the
center of the Kansas coal field,
was paralyzed in a business way
by the great coal strike and an
unpopular management assisted
in the undoing of that team.
The Pittsburg club and franchise
were transferred to Vinita, Indian
Territory, but that city, while an
improvement, could not weather
the storm. Iola began to fall and
the franchise and players went to
Cherryvale, Kansas.
On July 8 a meeting of the mag-
nates was held and it was decided
to reorganize. Fort Scott and
Vinita were dropped, Fort Scott
having won the pennant and the
second season, a success in every
way was started with Independ-
ence, Cherryvale, Parsons, Cha-
nute, Coffeyville and Bartlesville
and played until the close of the
schedule of 63 games, all teams
breaking even, and some even
showing a balance on the right
side of the ledger.
The pennant, after a hard fight,
was won by a margin of a half
game by Independence over Cof-
HOW THE SMALLEST TOWN'S
TEAM MADE GOOD IN THE BIG
LEAGUE FOR TWO SUCCESSIVE
YEARS.
Arkansas-Kansas League or "O.
A. K."
The season opened with eight
cjubs in the field—Bartlesville,
Coffeyville, Independence, Par-
sons, Tulsa, Muskogee, Ft. Smith,
and South McAlester. Trouble
nearly developed at Parsons and
McAlester and they were dropped
from the league a few weeks ago.
The remaining six clubs are in
good shape financially and have
some of the best players in the
country on their payrolls. The
interest in the pennant chase is
increasing daily and money is be-
ing made in every city.
It is probable that the six clubs
in the league will go through the
season without material changes—
either in players or managements
but there will be quite a few
changes next season.
It is not unlikely that an Okla-
homa league will be formed with
McDaniel at its head, but is too
soon as yet to say what will be
done.
Springs last year. About the middle
of the season he was made manager of
the tea/m, which was in last position
at ithe time, and under his management
the remainder of the season was a most
successful one, the team finishing well
up toward the top of the percentage
column. During l#st winter Love sign-
ed a Bartlesville contract and reported
early in April. It was evident from
the first that he would be a tower of
strength to the team and he has more
than made good. He is the fastest field-
that he has terrific speed and nearly
every one whom he has hit has had a
trip to the hospital. He has an excel-
lent curve ball, but uses the spitter
most of the time, as it is a mighty
hard one for batters to hit effectively.
Cheney is also a good batter aad clever
fellow, and can play first base and the
outfield as easily aa he can twirl. He
The Bartlesville baseball team is conceded by
managers in the league to be the best paying propo-
sition, considering the natural handicaps it has been
forced to endure, in the O. A. K. league. Although
it is the smallest city in the circuit, Bartlesville turns
out the largest crowds to the games, and the man-
agers of other teams never fail to carry away more
money than their guarantee. This condition is
brought about by the fact that the people of Bar-
tlesville are composed of cosmopolitan mixtures from
all over the United States, and sporting blood pre-
dominates. Knowing that this is the best citv in the
Southwest in other respects, makes everyone strive
to make this also the best baseball town, and as long
as the great American game prevails, Bartlesville
will predominate in its own class.
When the meeting was held in the spring of last
year to organize the Kansas State league, the Bar-
tlesville representatives received many rebuffs, other
promoters fearing that the team would never go
through the season, yet a most successful vear was
had, and the Bartles\ille team made good, where
larger towns were forced to drop out for lack ot,
patronage—and this, too, when Bartlesville had a
team which finished next to the
bottom.
Charles W. Hodge, one of the
proprietors of the Right Way ho-
par excellence of the Southwestern cag° White Sox in August. He aceom-
eountry, is one of the most feared of panied the White Sox on the spring --7 -• —— ^
the Booster twirlers. Visiting teams | traini g trip and made good with the ProPr'etors of the Right Way ho-
are afraid to face him for the reason ,Pa'm <^uld not be retained as all te'' was se'ected as president last
♦Vi.fr i . — 1 . tha .,v.i — -■" . year, and has continued to serve
in that capacity ever since, his ad-
ministration of affairs having be^n
the old ones were still good enough
and the team already had its full quota
of men. Commisky tried to retain him.
at a lower price than had been agreed
upon and farm him out to the Ameri-
can association, but Hodge called his
most wise and successful. "Asso-
ciated with him were J. W. Mas-
ters. treasurer, andJ.F. Mcllheny,
Bert Moss, Stanton Moss, Ed De-
FRED McDANIEL,
WHO THE PLAYERS ARE
Something About the Boys Who are
Winning the Games
Generally speaking, no team in the
league is composed of a more popular
et of players than the Bartlesville
bunch. There is not an unpopular man
on it, and there is not a sore spot, eith-
game by independence over Cof-1 past ,roubles have been forgot-
feyville. Enthusiasm through the | en and ,he Pu>'crs re working to-
entire circuit lasted until the last! gether for each other the good of
game. ! team a°d the league. Individually
Edward Bero, Jr., of ParsOns, ■ an'' eo"ectivcly they are a good lo>t,
who had been elected president j ai"' the foll°wing sidelights on their
and secretary of the league, re- j past history will be of much interest
signed during the first part of the to the fans:
second season and was succeeded j —
by Fred McDaniel of this city, Manager Jack Love.
who is also treasurer of the body, j Jaok Love> popular manager and
Mr. McDaniel is one of the best | ca4)ta'i of the team, was born in Rush-
known and energetic business men ville> Ark., twenty-four years ago and
in the Southwest. He is a mem- parly developed a liking for the great
ber of the Cherokee Indian nation j American game. He played bull with
and represents that great race of ti"? various kid teams around Bushville
people in its councils and looks until the spring of 1903, when he was
after its welfare in Washington, i signed by the Springfield team of the
He has four times been mayor of j old Misaouri Valley league as shortstop,
the City and is identified with | He remained with the team but a short
many of its varied industries. He 1 while, however, and went to Van Bu
is also chairman cf the county ren, Ark., where he played indepen
Democratic committee,the railroad!,lent ball the remainder of that vear
committee of the Commercial club, durin 1904. In 1903 he v d
chairman of the sports committee shortgt and ge,ond for J /
or tnesame organization, and pro-1 --l,-*.. ♦ „ .
prietor of the Red Cross pLr-i ' " th 7. / T
macy, one of the best drug estab- h° wa9 by Uot
lishments in the southwest. He ioi — '
a sportsman for the love of spory[
ana refused a salary for his ser-
vioes saying that he only desired
that the league be a success.
On October 12 a meeting of the!
presidents of the various clubs was
held in Bartlesville and arrange-
ments were begun looking to the;
perfecting of an eight-club circuit i
for 1907. Tulsa, in Indian Terri-
tory and Pittsburg, Kansas, were
elected to membership. "Phesal-j
ary limit was again placed at |8oo
per month, but the guarantee for
each game was raised from to I
$40, and the guarantee for finish- i
ing the season placed at $300
each, instead of flioo. The organ-1
ization was changed from the
Kansas State to the Oklahoma-1
President of the Oklamoma-Arkansas-Kansas Baseball League.
ing second-sacker in the league and is
well up towards the top of the league
sluggers. A few weeks ago he was made
manager of the team to succeed Gus
Alberts and the itenm has played good,
consistent ball under him. He is
popular with both fans and players avid
will manage the team again next year
unless he is called upon to go up high
er, which ii more than likely.
Lawrence Cheney, Spit-Ball Artist.
was born in Belleville, Kan.twenty-
three years ago, and played with the
t< am there until he was signed by the
Topeka team last season. ^Bartlesville
secured him from Topeka, on a deal,
and- Topeka afterward tried to recall
liinv, but the national commission de-
cided the case in faver of the local
management and he remained with the
team the balance of the season. His
work here was of the highest order and
attracted widespread attention, with
hand and forced Cheney's return here. ^ M°SS' Canton Moss. Ed De-
He has pitched phenomenal ball at E^ne Bla.se and Fred
times, and very seldom are manv hits 1 , latte' ,tWO re'
registered off of him. A few weeks ago j Slgne/1 after th£ cl°Se o{ last se3"
he let the heavy hitting Fort Smith h?WCVer' the former because
team down with out a hit or run A k business reasons and the latter
f , . u , r run' A because of his elevation to presi-
few days ago he pitched two games inldency of the league The only
succession iajiainst Independence, CJie I .t,, , Y
. . . . . othT change made since the club
am s««d ,« the race for iue pewuit was organized was the selection
In the first game but twenty-seven men Qf Dan M. Carr as secretary at the
faced him three in each inning. One beginning of the season.
scratch h.t was registered off him, but The management of the club
toe man who got it was nabbed trying last season was entrusted to Gus
to steal second. In the next game he Alberts, an old time baseball
twirled eleven innings against the pen-1 player of national fame, and his
uant contenders and allowed but three troubles were many. In spite of
hits—none of them clean ones. One indifferent playing'on the part of
run was secured off him in the first in-, some of the players and the jump-
mng through errors, but after that he ing of others, he carried the team
was invincible. In the eleventh inning through all of its difficulties and
he won his own game by lifting the | finished the season in good shape,
ball over the fence for a home run. During the winter, he gathered
His work is improving speedily and it | together a lot of youngsters from
is probable that he will go in the Amer i all over the country, and when his
ican or National league next season. < election of regulars was made it
Kansas City of the American Associa was apparent to the fans that r
tion would like to have him. j pennant winning team was a p .-
| sibility.
Arthur Thomason, a Tan Idol. The "Boosters," a: they had
j ,. , , 1 been named by the writtr. wh<
Arthur Thomason, popularlv known ! . , _ , ■ . ... • w
ti . ' r. ,' «as accorded that privilege by the
among the fans as "Little Tom,' management, took the lead a day
comes of a family of ball players and j or two after the season opened
he is the best in the bunch. He is and have been in first placi? all of
the time sinre with ..^
a southpaw, and combines terrific speed
with the biggest curves of any pitcher
in the league,although he is the smallest
twirler in any of the aggregations. He
plays equally well in the out field and
behind the bat, and is probably the
best all around player in the league.
the time since, with the exccpUo^
of a day or two on two different
occasions.
Had it not been for a three
weeks' run of bad luck th< team
would have made a runaway race
®f it. 'Injuries to players, lulki-
He leads the league in hitting, and for fess and jealousy caused a ro; ture
in the team, and it was sotr,< time
this reason is kept in the game all of
the time by manager Love. He pitches
every fourth day and plays right field
the next three. He has been success-
ful in getting away with his games,
and it can truly be said of him that
those lost have beels because of errors
at critical times and not because of the
ability of opposing batsmen to hit him.
Several Western association teams have
Lawrence Cheney, the spit-ball artist the result that he was sold to the Chi
CONTINUED ON SECOND PAGE.
THE OPENING OF THE-FIRST LEAGUE SEASON IN BARTLESVILLE.
* ^ -
before a harmonious condition
could be brought about.
A few weeks ago, Gus Alberts
resigned as manager and Jack
Love was selected in his stead.
Mr Alberts retired for business
reasons and not because the di-
rectors were dissatisfied with his
management.
endeavored to purchase his release in
from the management, but all offers1 best possible shape at the
— present time, and he has strings
! out for several good players in
; case they should be needed.
The fans of* the city are well
i pleased with the Boosters, their
manager and the owners of the
! club, and nearly every man, wo-
1 man and child in the city is root-
ing for them to carry off the
.•'grand old rag." Their chances
of doing so are good, indeed, and
j the managers of the other teams
have conceded it.
Only two changes have been
made in the team since the be-
ginning of the season, and both
of these appear to have been for
I the better, Campbell, at first, and
St. John, at short, were high-class
men, but erratic and likely to go
; by the board any time, while
Pierson and "Reddick can always
be depended upon.
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Haywood, Charles E. The Weekly Examiner. (Bartlesville, Indian Terr.), Vol. 13, No. 19, Ed. 2 Saturday, July 13, 1907, newspaper, July 13, 1907; Bartlesville, Indian Territory. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc162559/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.