Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-27
HAYES HARD LUCK.
His Montgomery Team Struggling to Keep
 Out of Last Place.

Out of Last Place,
 Montgomery, May 21.-(Special Corre- spondence Sporting News .)-Just now Montgomery is having lively tussle with Chattanooga fer the distinction of tail end positoin in the pennantrace. The regularity with which Hayes men have been losing games abroad, up to the sec ond engagement with Little Rock, would seem to furnish pretty good claim for an early attainment of this unenvlahle place, but 1t does seem that their luck is beginning to change and we are encour- aged to believe that a start for the top has been made. If it proves that we are cheated of this hope, we still have the consolation of knowing that the league is yet in it's swaddlng clothes and the season entirely too young to even think of losing heart. And there is still an other thought from which we have no trouble in extracting solid chunks of comfort. While the boys have been los- ing games, they have been playing in creditable form, if we except that re- markable Memphis performance in which they yielded up nine full grown glaring errors and made less than half that number of runs Now it. Is true that for yellow ball playing this record is very hard to beat, but the infrequency of such exhibitions icharitab1y inclines
 
 opinion that the boys were contending against a combination of adverse cir cumStanceS, an explanation of which failed to appear in the published account of the game One swallow does not make a summer, neither does an ocea- sional of game" constitute a just predicate for roast" and as your cor respondent does not believe in this method of heroic treatment as a means of subserving the interests of baseball. words of reproaeh and reproof are omit ted.
 The two games in which our new pitch CT, Maloney, has officiated demonstrates his pronounced ability for mice work" He has succeeded in creating a good inn presson among the fans here, who be- lieve that when he is shorn of that fear ful wildneSs and possessed of a con- mand of the ball. he will be entitled to companionship with Clausen and Bailey. The incident of the week has been the signing of Left Fielder McFarlane. who is to join the team in Nashville. Hayes has had his lines out for this man for some time, and that he has succeeded in landing him is a source of general satisfaction. He has fine record, which leads us to expect great things of him, particularly at the bat, where he is said to be exceptionally strong. With this addition. I see little room for improve ment in the team, which I think is ade- quately equipped to hold its own with the best of them. If I am much mis- taken in this estimate, l will at least enjoy no monopoly In my disappoint- ment, for all Montgomery is pretty much a unit in the opinion. Latimer, the teams utility man, has been given his release A two weeks trial of the SCincinnati Strong Boy" demonstrated his unftness for league company, and Manager Hayes wisely concluded to let him go He is a singular character and his peculiaritieS made him the victim of many practical jokes while here. Independent of his records as a victim. to the Jocular propensities of his fellow players and the feat of making the long est home run of the season, Latimer accomplished little to distinguish his brief term of service. lD. 3
 All the cities in the league seem to be patronizng the game except Memphis Just think of 900 people representing the total attendance on the six games played in that city between the local team and the Montgomery and Little Rock clubs and that, too,~ when Lewis is giving them championship ball and leading the leaguel An average daily attendance of 150 people is hardly cal culated to strengthen a towns right to membership in as lively an organization as the Southern league promises to be
 Out of the six games Hayes men have played abroad they have won two; if they can maintain this average for the
  isfied. Their next engagement is with Stallings' Nashville team. Nashville has been very fortunate on her home grounds and it may be that We will be unable to break her spell of good luck. though we are counting on at least one game of the series New Orleans seems to be playing it hard just at present. The loss of six straight games plays havoc with averages and shapes a thorny road for club to travel: but then the fans after all are a flckle set and quick to forgive. Powell will suf- fer martyrdom for while, but with re- turning victory his skies will brighten And thus it is with them all Success is the magical but inexorabie rule by which managers and players are judged, and as for those who judge them. today they will weep for Caesar slain, while tomorrow they vote a monument to Brutus. EIZZIL.s COLD WEATHER.