1923 Yearbook
Source URL
Title
1923 Yearbook
Description
JUNIOR BASEBALL
In Iowa, "where the tall corn grows," and in surrounding states of this section,
baseball is not a high school sport. Track seems to have the upper hand. This is a
condition that has existed for a number of years throughout the Middle West. Should
the time ever come when baseball takes the place of track or when baseball is added to
Varsity athletics in our high schools, the Juniors of St. Ambrose will be up there with
the leaders showing them a merry pace.
As it is, the Juniors must combat semi-professional teams of the Tri-Cities and surrounding towns. To say they hold their own against these teams is a rubber stamp
expression. They are on a level with them and in the majority of cases, as past records
will show, they are above the level.
This year more games with Academy teams will appear on the schedule. Negotiations are being carried on with Columbia Academy of Dubuque, Iowa; St. Mary's
High School of Sterling, Illinois; Spaulding Institute of Peoria, Illinois; St. Bede's of
Peru, Illinois; Des Moines Catholic College of Des Moines, Iowa; Lone Tree, Iowa,
High School; and others. It is expected that the contracts with these schools will call
for home and home games.
The present Junior squad consists of a few green men. Most of last year's team are
back and the addition of several star Midget men of last year makes this year's Juniors
an imposing aggregation. John "Duck" Herlehy is again the same steady worker
behind the bat. He makes life a rather drab and somber existence for the substitute
catchers. As a batter "Duck" specializes in long drives. Nobody has so far disputed
the right to premier pitching honors with Elmer Besten. Elmer is showing better than
ever this spring. All batters look alike to him and he is mowing them down with a
monotonous regularity. Besten is one of those impossibles, "a pitcher who can hit."
He is one of the best on the team in this department. Watch this boy, John McGraw.
At first base Madsen easily takes the honors. Reedy, an ex-Midget, is at second.
"Mike" Lawler has been shifted from second to short and is more than filling the bill.
He is "slammin' that ole apple" as of old. "Cy" Nolan at third is another veteran of
last year. He is a steady hitter and an excellent fielder. Wagner, McDermott, Ruhl,
"Gene" Lawler, and Sparks make up a sure fielding and hard hitting outfield. Sparks
is also second string pitcher. He is a graduate of the Midgets, having carried the
burden of pitching for that team last year.
Father O'Connor has charge of the Juniors, and under his guidance the team will
leave no cause for worry in the hearts and minds of their followers.
In Iowa, "where the tall corn grows," and in surrounding states of this section,
baseball is not a high school sport. Track seems to have the upper hand. This is a
condition that has existed for a number of years throughout the Middle West. Should
the time ever come when baseball takes the place of track or when baseball is added to
Varsity athletics in our high schools, the Juniors of St. Ambrose will be up there with
the leaders showing them a merry pace.
As it is, the Juniors must combat semi-professional teams of the Tri-Cities and surrounding towns. To say they hold their own against these teams is a rubber stamp
expression. They are on a level with them and in the majority of cases, as past records
will show, they are above the level.
This year more games with Academy teams will appear on the schedule. Negotiations are being carried on with Columbia Academy of Dubuque, Iowa; St. Mary's
High School of Sterling, Illinois; Spaulding Institute of Peoria, Illinois; St. Bede's of
Peru, Illinois; Des Moines Catholic College of Des Moines, Iowa; Lone Tree, Iowa,
High School; and others. It is expected that the contracts with these schools will call
for home and home games.
The present Junior squad consists of a few green men. Most of last year's team are
back and the addition of several star Midget men of last year makes this year's Juniors
an imposing aggregation. John "Duck" Herlehy is again the same steady worker
behind the bat. He makes life a rather drab and somber existence for the substitute
catchers. As a batter "Duck" specializes in long drives. Nobody has so far disputed
the right to premier pitching honors with Elmer Besten. Elmer is showing better than
ever this spring. All batters look alike to him and he is mowing them down with a
monotonous regularity. Besten is one of those impossibles, "a pitcher who can hit."
He is one of the best on the team in this department. Watch this boy, John McGraw.
At first base Madsen easily takes the honors. Reedy, an ex-Midget, is at second.
"Mike" Lawler has been shifted from second to short and is more than filling the bill.
He is "slammin' that ole apple" as of old. "Cy" Nolan at third is another veteran of
last year. He is a steady hitter and an excellent fielder. Wagner, McDermott, Ruhl,
"Gene" Lawler, and Sparks make up a sure fielding and hard hitting outfield. Sparks
is also second string pitcher. He is a graduate of the Midgets, having carried the
burden of pitching for that team last year.
Father O'Connor has charge of the Juniors, and under his guidance the team will
leave no cause for worry in the hearts and minds of their followers.
Date
1923
Rights
St. Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport, IA 52803
Identifier
http://cdm16810.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16810coll2/id/7661