Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1904 — The SPORTING WORLD [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The SPORTING WORLD

Willie Hoppe, Cue Wonder. Willie Hoppe, the sensational boy billiard champion, is now touring America, giving exhibitions of his striking ability with the cue. Hoppe

is undoubtedly the greatest billiard player of the world at his age, sixteen years. In Brooklyn recently at the Knickerbocker academy he won in a tournament ifi which he gave odds to the leading experts in the east. He also executed some new trick shots that created a decided sensation.

Bransfield to Leave Pittsburg f While President Dreyfuss of the Pittsburg National Baseball club declines to be interviewed on the subject, it can be set down for a fact that when the Pirates line up for the opening of the championship straggle next spring Bransfield will not be found on first base. The plan is to place Wagner In that depending upon young McBride, secured from the St. Joe club of the Western league, to cover short field. The wisdom of this shift is to be seriously questioned. To begin with, Bransfield Is one of the very best guardians of the initial comer in the country today, and, while it is also true that his batting has not been up to the standard, he has in a measure made up for this deficiency by the clever manner in which he has handled wild throws by his fellow infielders. It is not generally known, but it is a fact just the same, that Tommy Leach, the greatest of all third basemen, is one of the most erratic throwers in the National league. During a conversation with the little fellow last summer he made this assertion: “People blame Bransfield for dropping balls which I throw to him, but if they only knew how many wild throws Kitty has turned into outs they would not be so free with their criticism of the big fellow.”

American Is German Golf Champion. Almost nothing has yet been written of the capture of the golf championship of Germany at Berlin by an American. This is largely because of the meager details so far sent across. Dr. G. O. Walker was the winner. Franklin H. Mason, American consul general at Berlin, who is the mainstay of the club there, was his opponent in the final. In a smaller way the development Is not less significant than Travis’ victory at Sandwich. Golf has really been established Several years longer in Germany than in this country, there being courses in Dresden, Hamburg, Homburg, Kiel and Wiesbaden, among other places. It has made no such headway in Germany, however, as in the United States, its chief promoters there being Englishmen and Americans. This is a trifle hard to explain, for the nature of the sport is better suited to Germans than to Frenchmen, who, however, have really accomplished more in it. How About It, Barney T Barney Dreyfuss says that President Herrmann of Cincinnati Is making a mistake in offering $25,000 for Third Baseman Bradley, as he says he could get him for much less. Don’t fool yourself, Barney. Wonder if Barney would let Tommy Leach get away for $25,000 with no other third baseman in sight? Michigan and Yale. The University of Michigan football team will attempt to arrange a game with Yale for next season, and Yale will again refnse, of course. In its effort to show that the teams of the west are the equal of those of the east Michigan seems doomed to constant disappointment The Gentry Colts. Will Ewing will train the John R. Gentry (2:o(>i4) colts for George Campbell Brown at Ewell farm, Colombia, Tenn., next season. - if’ "Home Lotl*s Hearts Are Best. 1 * Jan Bowker, the English bantam champion, who defeated Frankie Nell In London, denies that he la coming to America. Jockeys at Oakland, Jockeys Patsy licCue, Grover Cleveland Fuller and Johnny Bullman are riding at Oakland, Cal., this winter. Christie’s Colts at New Orleans. Trainer Benson has shipped a halt doaen of Mr. Christie’s colts to New Orleans for the winter race meet.

WILLIE HOPPE.