The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], March 08, 1914, SPORTING SECTION, Page 14, Image 14

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

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j BILLY CAMPBELL OF
I MOBILE GULLS WILL
j RETIRE FROM GAME
W arm Reception Being Planned for Pratt
•••••••••••••*••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••»•_
BASEBALL PRACTICE I
AT CENTRAL HIGH i
WILL START MONDAY I
BASEBALL RAPIDLY
COMING INTO OWN
VOLS TO RECEIVE
CASTOFFS OF THE
ST. LOUIS BROWNS
Schwartz to Build Up Nash
ville Team With Players
Secured From Rickey.
Kraft Not Yet Lost
Nashville, March 7.—(Special.)—The
•’mysterious paper team” for this season
about which Bill Schwartz has been for
bo long talking in stage whispers, is no
longer puzzling the baseball bugs in Vol
te wn. It will be built up of castoffs
•eeured from the St. Route Browns and
that is the explanation of the flight of
Schwartz from the Mobile meeting tf#
St. Petersburg. Fla., where the Ameri
can league tailenders are just now in
training.
Rickey has taken a great, fancy to
Schwartz because the Yol pilot was so
highly recommended by “Hurry Up”
Yost, the Michigan coach, who is one of
Rickey’s old pals, and he urged Branch
to help Bill out in the race for the
bunting in the Kavan&ugh circuit if he
had any Browns to put on the block.
He haw been working out with the
Browns down in the hot Florida sun
shine for the past two weeks with Rick
ey's crew*, and it may serve a useful
purpose after all, for it looks as if there
is a bare chance that Bill will have to
again don the spangles and hold down
first base. Between Artie Hogman jump
ing to the Federals and the Vols’ claim
on Wilbur Kraft, held by Portland,
Schwartz's plans for the first station are
pretty well up in the air. Bill figured
that it would be nuts to have Kraft re
turned from Brooklyn, with Daubert hav
ing a copper riveted cinch on first base,
but when the Dodgers got ready to turn ,
the former Pelican bark, Portland horned
in and held up the player on whom '
Schwartz had his heart set and around
whom he had built his 1914 club.
Schwartz does not believe that Port
land's claim will hold even under the J
new' ruling handed down by the national 1
commission on the railroading of veteran 1
major leaguers to the minors, and writes ]
back that be is not at all worried over f
the situation.
President Shropshire lias written to *
President Kavanaugh for an Interprets- i
tion of the change in the drafting rules
but so far the judge has not handed t
down his opinion. ,
Bill is particularly anxious to land a i
•ocond-sacker from the Browns, as well (
a third-basing party, for the only can- 1
didates for Clayton Perry's old job is
George Rust, a semi-pro from the Ark- (
ansas wilds and he is too uncertain a 1
proposition to fisk for the regular job. 1
Harry Rpratt, who performed around the !
last turn in 1913 and who come in the
trade for Jud Daley, will not be hack,
•for he has cut up so about being allowed
to report in June that President Shrop- 1
•liirp has written Harry that be can 1
Jvst go along and take the job, and not
falnd about ever reporting to the Vols. j
' INDIANAPOLIS TEAM
LEAVES FOR SPRINGS ;
Indianapolis. March 7.—Jack Jlend
•feks, manager of the Indianapolis
American association team, departed
Y*ith a squad of 12 players today for
the spring training camp at Hot
(Springs. Ork. Others were to join the
party on the way.
Work
f’/ld.C
Idle Shotgun
YOU can get the thrills
of limiting every week
at your local Gun Club.
Always plenty of game,
you may be “some shot,”
but the flying clays will
fool you at first. *
Write for free booklet ‘ The \
Sport Alluring” and address
of nearest trap-shooting club.
D« Post Powder Ce.
mmmmmmmmmmmmam
I
BILLY SMITH MAKES
FIRST CUT IN 1914
SQUAD OF PLAYERS
Wood and Schmidt First to
Retire From Competition
on Atlanta Team—Six
Places Settled
Atlanta, March 7.—(Special.)—Mana
ger Billy Smith of the Crackers has
nade hfs first cut in his squad of oan
lidates for positions on the 1914 team.
Pitcher Wood and Inflelder Schmidt,
loth semi-pros, are going to be cast
idrift. The former has quit the game
ind has entered business with his
brother in Alabama. The latter is con
sidered entirely too light for this com
pany.
First Baseman Amason. star of the
Georgia Tech college team last season,
las been signed for a try out, but lie
Kill probably be shipped to some inall
?r league for more seasoning.
Six Places Settled
Six places on the team have been
settled. There will be no contest for
left and center field, first and second
jase and two places on the pitching
staff.
This will leave 22 men to battle for
me outfield berth, two catching berths,
me shortstop, one third baseman, three
iltchers and a utility man.
Eible at first, McConnell at second.
Long in left, Welehonce in center and
Dent and Price in the box. are the men
ivlio are certainties. The first four
lamed will probably face the opposi
ion of the Crackers in the batting or
ler as the first four in this order, Mc
Connell, Long, Welehonce, Eible.
Flanagan Han Edge
Nixon of last year’s team, Flanagan,
he leading batter of the Three-I
eague last season, and Kirchor, the
eading base stealer of the Virginia
eague, will battle for the vacant right 1
leld berth. On dope, Flanagan has the
dge, though Nixon is very much im
proved over last season.
Lynch, the leading third baseman of
he Three-I league, and a .300 hitter: (
Ianush, utility man of last year’s ,
’racket's, and Broadwater, a semi-pro,
vill contest for the third base job \
Jennings, with Hartford in the Enst
rn association; Schwind, from San An
onlo in the Texas league, and Walsh
i semi-pro, will battle for the short
itop berth.
Dunn of last year's team, Reynolds,
rom Beaumont, in the Texas league;
rtunch* from Syracuse, In the New York
Hate league, and Walsh, a semi-pro.
.re the catching candidates.
For the three vacant positions on the
turling corps. Kissinger, with Memphis <
ast season; Hedgepath, Efird and Per
yman from the Virginia league; Law
ence, leading tvvirler of the Appalach
ian league; Browning, from the Texas ;
eague; Doscher, from Jersey City, and
indler, a semi-pro, are the contestants.
3. A. C RIFLE TEAM
_
.ocals Pile Up Total of
995—Warren Wins,
However
Washington, March 7.—The eleventh
ir.eek of the Interclub r'fle shoot finds
Varren still undefeated in class A,
irfth the District of Columbia and
Cleveland tied for second place. War
on was high gun for the week, making
97 out of a possible 1000, within one
point of the record. Other high scores
srere Birmingham and Cleveland, each
vith 996.
In class B. King's Mills holds the lead
vlth Htlllwater. Minn., and Boston as
unners up. Among class A scores was
Varren, Pa., 997 vs. Birmingham. Ala.,
95.
Among ( lass B scores was Louisville,
Cy„ 933 vs. New Orleans. La., defaulted.
BROWN WILL REPORT TOMORROW;
INITIAL GAME NEXT SATURDAY
The Former Billiken Wires
Moley He Will Reach City
Monday—Grimes
in Fold
_ j
GAME IS SCHEDULED
NEXT SATURDAY WITH
CLAY AGGREGATION
Hardgrove. Harben, Magee, Grimes
and Murphy Reported Yesterday.
Seventeen Men Have Put
in Appearance—Tragres
ser a Good Pegger
ny ASA ROUNTREE, JR.
Deciding, like Burleigh Grimes, that it
would be best for him and all parties
roncerned to stick with organized ball,
“Curley” Brown, the belligerent south
paw' secured from the St Louis Browns,
has wired Manager Moiesworth of the
Barons that he will report here Monday.
Brown’s decision to report has lifted a
big worry lrom Moley’s mind as the for
mer Billiken had been seriously con
templating Joining the Federal league,
from which he had several offers.
Another malcontent—Grimes—came to
turns with Manager Molesworth yester
day and signed his contract for the 1914
eason. Grimes reached the city Friday
and after a conference with the Baron
leader formally bound himself over. Not
until then uld Moley know how close he
:anw to losing the young right hander.
Crimes had received offers from the Chi
cago, Brooklyn and St. Louis clubs in
the Federal circuit and was almost on
:he verge of toppling over when lie real
ized that it was to his advantage, and
• Is only, to stick with the vested inter
ests. The former Lookout is in fine shape
\nd anxious to get down to work.
First Game Saturday
Only six more days remain before the
nitial game of 1914 will be staged at
Rickwood. Next Saturday the Barons
vlll take on the fast amateur team repre
senting Clay, Ala., and the nookhs will
lave a chance to show what they can
!o under fire. Arrangements for the
;ame were completed yesterday by Moley
vith Wares’ manager of the Clay ag
jregation. Following this battle no other
exhibition game will uc played until
darch 19, when Louisville will be enter
ained. Games with major league teams
vlll *hen follow close behind, one be
ng scheduled for nearly every other day
hereafter.
Baron fans will get a chance to see
he Cleveland team in action this year,
dolesworth having closed a contract with
President Somers for exhibition games
tere on April 6 and 7.
Five more Barons reported for work
•'esterday. This quintet was composed of
Pitcher Omar Hardgrove. Pitcher C. H.
larben, Outfielder Jame* Magee, Pitcher
3urleigh Grimes and Pitcher Murphy.
Harben was secured from the Galveston
dub in the Texas league; Magee from
Cowell in the New' England; Grimes from
■"hattanooga, w|lle Murphy is a seinl
jrofessional from Gaithersburg, Md., near
dolesworth’s home
Mills, a semi-professional first base
nan from Dayton, O.; Lis ulso i3ut in his
tppearance.
Seventeen Men on Hand
Moley now has 17 men on hand, nearly
nough to make up two teams. Those
vho have reported are: Knisely. Nolan,
lardgrove, McBride, Tragresser. Was
ter, Johnson, Sloan, Flttery, Scokel, El
is, Clarke, Mills, Harben, Murphy, Ma
gee and Grimes.
The remainder of the infield and out
ield candidates are due to report tomor
ow. Fred Dilger has written that he
vill leave Indianapolis today and will
each Birmingham tomorrow' ready for
ivork.
The arrival of Hardgrove wai unex
pected as he had previously written that
iis child was sick and he would prob
ibly not be able to get here before the
niddle of the month, llardy is in better
physical condition than ever before and
ie anticipates having the best season of
ds t areer. Moley is expecting great
things from him this year, and is of the
opinion that he will prove the mound
nainstay.
Short Practice Yesterday
On account of the cold weather yes
erdxv only a short and light practice
ivas held. Some of the men are com
plaining of soie muscles and Moley in
tends to let his men take things easy
jntil Old Sol comes out in full array.
The more the Baron pilot sees of Tra
^resser the more he is impressed with
ds playing. The young catcher pur
chased from the Boston Braves is quick
>n his feet and possesses a deadly whip.
Urn greaser gets the hall to second almost
3it a line and Moley believes that he
COMES N UNEXPECTEDLY |
■WimiiP—111 ' — ' 1 ..
OMAR HARDGROVE
Unable to resist the call of the game any longer, the little Baron
right hander breezed into the city yesterday looking fit as a fiddle
and eager for work. Hardgrove wrote President Baugh not long ago
that he would be unable to reach Birmingham before the middle of the
month. He arranged his matters, however, sooner than he expected and
beat it south.
AE^JRCH^TwiLirBE.
DERRILL PRATT DAY
Local Fans Planning Warm Reception for Pratt Whe He Comes
to City on March 24 With St. Louis Browns—Banquet
at Press Club Will Also Be Tendered Team
March 24 will be Dorr'll Pratt day in
Birmingham.
On that date the St. I.ouis Americans
will invade the Magic City and admirers
if Birmingham's prominent representa
tive in Ban Johonson's organization are
planning to give hint a warm reception.
••••••••••#••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••'
ATHLETIC REGULARS
LEAVE FOR FLORIDA
World’s Champions, Headed
by Thomas, Off for
Training Camp
Philadelphia, March 7.—The regulars'of
the world's champion Athletics left here
today for Jacksonville, Fla., to Join the
jther members of the Philadelphia Amer
ican League team in training there under
Manager Connie Mack. The party was
headed by Ira Thomas, who yesterday
was appointed captain of the champions,
succeeding "Danny" Murphy. The lat
ter' goes to the Baltimore International
League club. Others in the party were
Catchers Sehang and Lapp, “Chief" Ben
der, "Stuffy" Mclnne*, Eddie Collins,
Amos Strunk, "Rube" Oldring and Eddla
M urphy.
"Jack" Barry, who was Injured while
practicing with the Holy Cross team at
Worcester, Mass., several days ago, will
join the Athletics In a few days and
Frank Baker will go south In about a
week, being detained at his home in
Trappe. Md., by illness in his family.
.........m
will lie one or the ’'est pegging catchers
in the Sold hern this season.
Danny Clarke, an lnfielder who played
last year with Merid'm in the Cotton
States league and Gadsden in the Qeor
gla-Alabama league, has also begun at
tracting attention by his speed and he
looks exceedingly good for a youngster,
he being only 19 years old.
FEDS WILL PLAV7IN
PIRATES’ OLD PARK
Pittsburg, March 7.—The home grounds
of the Pittsburg National League team,
for a score of years. Exposition park,
will be taken over by the Pittsburg Fed
eral League club this season.
The first act of Kdward Gwynner, who
has purchased control of the Pittsburgh
Federals, when he returned here last
night, was to announce that the stands
would be remodeled and enlarged, and
that the playing field would be improved.
A new board of directors and a, new set
of officers will be named next Tuesday.
“Brownie” Gessler, who will be re
tained as manager, will leave for Lynch
burg, Va., with his men next Thurs
Jay.
ROSTER OFREOS
ALMOST COMPLETE
_ *
Alexandria. La., March 7.—With the
arrival of Catcher Clark today at the
training camp of the Cincinnati Na
tionals. the roster of the team was
completed with the exception, of Mar
Rans and Pitcher Douglas of Rome,
Ga. The team has been favored with
good weather and lias settled down to
routine training.
REVOLVER MATCH
PLANNED FOR APRIL
Springfield, Mass., March 7.—The an
nual Indoor championship of the Unit
ed States Revolver league will be held
the latter part of April. At the end of
the twentieth match Dallas, Tex., the
only southern contender in the, meet
ing, stood fifteenth among the 25 en
trants. with six matches won and
twelve lost.
The consent of President Baugh has
been gained to make this game a special
one and arrangements are being made to
give Prat: a rousing welcome.
A trophy will be presented him when
he strides to the plate for the first time
and several other little surprises will
also be tendered him.
Following the game local fans will take
the entire St. l#ouis team to the press
club and where a banquet in honor of
the local boy on Its roster will be W’aiting.
Roy Kay and J. Jutz, two close friends
of Pratt, are in charge of arrangements
and they hope to make this day one of
the best special ones ever seen in the
"ity.
It is expected that a majority of the
local fans will join in the movement to
honor Pratt and that the specied day
will he a howling success. <
W PURITAN WHISKEY is I
■1 ONSTRATED and ESTA V
Hi “Demonstrated” as to qus D
Hi judges of whiskey all ove H v
HI over 40 years ago. I
HI To be had of leading deak H
Hi for it. He’ll tell you it’s al H
H\ rou’ve tried it. ■
I Full *
12 Full
EXPRES8 PR
• -4M -
HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD
HA VE A STRONG NINE
Baseball Practice at Central High Starts Tomorrow—Many
Veterans Have Returned—New Material Is Plentiful.
Hurling Staff Coach Courleux’s Only
Worry Is Schedule Announced
That the baseball germ is exceed
ingly contagious and spreads with ra
pidity when it once appears, has been
>nce again exemplified In Birmingham
since the Barons have begun traili
ng. With the opening of the train
ng season the sap began to rise in
:he various educational institutions in
Birmingham and now nearly all of
:hem have either inaugurated baseball
jractlce or Intend to do it in the near
Juture. .
During the coming week the Cen
tal High school baseball squad will
nake its Initial bow, as Coach Cour
eux has served notice that diamond
iractice will be In vogue dally, cora
nencing tomorrow.
The Crimson nine this year should
ie one of the strongest that has been
urned out during the past several
years as many of last year's aggre
gation are still in school to serve as a
mcleus, while there also is plenty of
lew material on hand to draw from.
Hie veterans returning this year are
^aptain Davis, shortstop; Manager Jen
kins, first base; Myatt, outfield; Han*
by, pitcher, and third base; Jones,
catcher; Beasley, catcher, and Gillem,
lecond base.
Narly 40 new men will also be out
For the team. Among those who have
registered with Coach Courleux are
bowman, pitcher; Didlaki, pitcher; Ba
ker, pitcher; Hobart, first base; W. Ba
ker, outfield; Bite, catcher; Beslie, out
field; Wingo, second base; Hilliard,
Lhlrd base, and McBaurlns, outfield.
The only department that will cause
-oach Courleux any trouble this sea
son will be the pitching. None of last
year's moundsmen are on hand and a
new crop will have to be developed
from among the recruits. However,
there is some good material on hand
in Henry Baker, Robert Hanby, Allen
Low man and Didlaki.
Tho cacthlhg staff this year will l»e
unusually strong. Hal Beasley and
Charles Jones, regulars of last year,1
are back, while Roger Bite, a new man,
is on hand to supplement the work of
this duo.
The Crimson infield this season will
l>e composed of veterans. Jenkins will
be back at first: Hanby at third, and
Davis at short. GHlem and AVingo ap
pear to be the most likely candidates
for the other infield position.
Myatt is the only varsity outfielder
in school this year and the other two
positions will have to ho taken care
cf by youngsters.
Present indications are that Coach
Courleux will be in no such predica
ment this year as he was in 1913 when
he had to develop three entirely new t
teams on account of the regulars be- *
ign pre\*ented from playing either by
faculty regulations or being injured.
Last year he was limited in material. '
but moav he has plenty to fall back on.
The folloAving tentative schedule has
been arranged by Manager Jenkins:
April 1—Bessemer High school, at
Bessemer.
April 3-4 —Sixth District Agricultural
school, at Hamilton. l
April 7—Ensley High school, at Eas
ley.
April 9-10—Talladega High school, at
Talladega.
April 20—Ensley High school, at Bir
mingham.
April 25—Leeds High school, at
Leeds.
April 29—Bessemer High school at
Birmingham.
May 1—Sixth District Agricultural
school at Birmingham.
May 9—Marshall County High school
at Huntersville.
May 13—Bessemer High school, at
Bessemer.
May 23—Shelby County High school,
at Columbiana.
May 28—Ensley High school, at
Ensley.
FOXEN VISITING IN CITY;
SWANCINA LEAVES TUESDAY ,
_ I
Bill Poxen is back in town.
Having a healthy desire to renew' some
of his old friendships made while he
was wearing the Baton uniform, the
veteran southpawr stopped over in Bir
mingham late Friday might on his way
to Florida and will vemain here for
several days.
Most of yesterday he spent visiting
various friends and talking shop at base
ball headquarters with several players
who have been wintering here.
Bill is yet undeccided about playing
with Wllkeebarre during the coming sea
son. He is first going to Florida, after
which he will make up his mind about
reporting.
Harry Swacina, formerly with Mobile,
And later with Newark in the Interna
tional league, will leave Tuesday for
southern Pines, N. C., where the Balti
more team will train.
Max Zielminlski, one of the greatest
little athletes ever turned out by the
Central High school, has signed a con-*
tract for the coming season with the
LaGrange club in the Georgia-Alabama
league. !
TEN PIRATES '
START SOUTH “
Pittsburg, March 7.—Led by Manager j
F. C. Clarke and Business Manager
John H. Dailey, 10 members of the
Pittsburg National league club loft to- ,
night for Dawson Springs, Ky., to
spend a week working out before go-,
ing to Hot Springs, Ark., to begin train
ing^ The players were Wagner, Mow
ley O'Toole. Cooper, Conzelman, Delhi.*/
Mamaux, Gibson, Daley and James Kei- >
ley. Other players will join the squad
on the way.
STOLEN, FROM 25TH ST. AND 2D
AVE., SATURDAY, II P. M., TWO BA Y
MARE MULES AND FLAT-RED FARM
WAGON; LOADED WITH FLOUR IN
HARRE0, AND SACKS: THREE DUCK
ETS LARI); SACK POTATOES; THREE. i!
CHAIRS; THREE ROLLS CHICKEN
WIRE AND BUNDLE DRY GOODS;
LOT TOBACCO. REWARD FOR IN
FORMATION OR RETURN. J. H. TAY- j
LOB, 217 N. 21ST. PHONE 24 MAIN.
..-I- , ..