Salt Lake Tribune | 1912-05-19 | Page 35 | Dick Cooley's Career as a Magnate in Topeka, Described by J. E. House

Dick Cooley s Career as a Magnate In Topeka, Described by J. E. House J. E. Houee, the, woll-known Kansas writer, has the following in a recent issue of 'the Topeka Capitol about Dick Cooler's experience as a baseball magnate mag-nate In Topeka, a Western league city: Every time wo recall tho indignation which the fans of Topeka expressed against old Dick Oooloy wo laugh. Old Dick was an extra Rood baseball man-who man-who had gvm Topeka two P"nanJ in four years and never finished out of the first division. One spring Mh team got away hadly andstheliaseb&n fans laid down on Urn anof quit going to tho games. Old Dick had all, of his money tied up in baseball, base-ball, and, naturally enough didn't want to lose it. So he broko up his team, peddled his players . arpund for what hV could cot for them, sold his fraji-onto fraji-onto ia fte fall and left town "with all the money h0 could got his hands 0D- ... The fans were crazy mad at Old Dick, although be had giyea them two pennants in four years, and abused much, but be talked it over often with tho writer. "Tho fans hore aro quitters," quit-ters," Old Dick used to sa 'The town is no good except by spurts and jerka I've mado a littlo money hore and I'm going while the going is good." A company of busineHB raon took up the franchise whon Dick laid it down. They worked hard and spent money without stint. Thoy had tho usual trouble and disappointment incidental to a first yoar in baseball. But this spring thoy turned up with a smart manager and a swell ball team. . You naturally expect the excited fans are flocking to tho Doll park. But thoy aro not. Thoy are standing around the bulletin boards criticising the team. Tbe attendance has already dropped to thrjjo or four hundred a' day. The "business "busi-ness men who teok over the franchise on the assurance of the fans that this is a good ball town already stand to lose money on the season. Every time wo think of the fellows who "panned" Old Dick wo laugh. Old Dick ib a smart guy. lie got out