Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-08

YES, SPEAKING OF SPORTS
III
interest in Baseball Is InCreaS-
ing Daily.
SOUTHERN LEAGUE TIPS
lust Now Tennis Is the Fad of the Athletic
Club Wheels in Birmingham Are
Multiplying.

Since the announcement of the officers
of the Birmingham Baseball association
in. yesterdays State Herald interest has
increased wonderfully. Men who before
did not care to talk on the subject now
hail the men on the inside and ask for
items of interest and the prospects for
obtaining shares of stock in the associa-
ton.
President Jacobs yesterday afternoon
backed up the statement of the State
Heralds sporting editor as regards the
roster of men secured for Birmingham
by Manager Strouthers, which appeared
In the Mobile Morning Journal and was
reproduced in these columns. What the
personnel Is no one but Mr.. Strouthers
can today assert.
The lumber for the grand stand, fence
and players quarters arrived yesterday
over the Central railroad, and tomorrow
morning a large force of hands will be
put to work by Contractor Wells getting
everything in shape
Little Rocks Southern league team is
now complete. News comes that Mana
ger Mcfarland has secured the sigma
lures of "Jocko" Fields, Adams and Rel
nick to contracts. The entire team is
expected to arrive in that city within the
week and at once go in training.
The Sporting News this week has a
lengthy letter from Mobile signed Ala
bama," which tells how the Gulf City
succeeded in getting in line with her sis
ter cities of the Southern league. Much
credit is given President Henry Powers
for his untiring efforts in waking up the
roosters and fans, and he Is reported as
having subscribed $l0O to the fund. At
the all important meeting the secretary
announced that the total of subscriptions
to the fund was $4,000, of which $3.50 was
for season tickets Permanent organiza-
ton was effected as follows: David p.
Burns, presidents George G. Garner, vice
president; Charles Shaffer, treasurer; E.
V. O'Connor, secretary, and the following
constitute the governing board: E. 10.
Posey, J. Howard Wilson, Fred s., Cox
and j. l.. Mueller.
A special correspondent of the Sport
ing News writes that paper from Mem
phis announcing that Manager Frank
has secured team which will land that
club well up at the end of the Southern
league season. That plucky manager,
to show his feelings as regards ball in
that city, subscribed 5000 to the enter
prise. The personnel of the team has ia
miliar names, and is as follows: Pitch
ers, Wittrock of Cincinnati, AL Mauck of
Princeton Ind, Fred Ossenberg of Ev-
ansville, Ind. Ross" Miller Of Corydon,
Ind; catchers, Eddy O'Meara of Chicago,
John Fagin of Cincinnati; first baseman,
William Fuller of Greenville, Mich; Sec
ond baseman, Frank M. Long of Chicago;
third baseman, John M. Cedar of Cincin-
NATL shortstop, George Dolan of st.
louis; outfielder, John Flournoy of Knox
Vile; left fielder, Charley Frank.
There are many lovers of the national
sport who will no doubt be pleased to
know that Manager Powell of the Cres-
cent City aggregation of the Southern
league is well fixed financially. Mr..
Powell gained friends and fame all over
the southern circuit by his manly ball
playing with the New Orleans team. He
was a pitcher whose work could always
be relied upon. He has secured for this
season that prime favorite, Little Will
lie" York, who always received a well
come cheer from the fans whenever he
appeared upon the local field ABB has
also captured the Richmond "phenom,
Houseman, who Is accredited with being
a "crackerjack" Sechrist and college"
Smith have been signed as pitchers, and
also Joe Dowie, who is a favorite I'm the
Crescent City.
Nearly every ball town In the Southern
league was represented in the Sporting
News of this week What's the matter
with Birmingham? But never mind. the
Magic City needs no boosting. Her team
will forge to the front and force recogni-
ton by first-class, clean ball playing.
Manager Strouthers Is saying nothing,
but silently saving wood. and when the
proper time comes will show the fans and
rooterS that the successful issue of 80 S
season will be repeated, and then, per-
haps, something will appear In that we'll
known journal as to the home folks. 1t
would be well for every one to keep his
eye on Strouthers.