The age-herald., 1898-01-14
 MAGIC CITY BALL PLAYERS Will Play in Various Leagues
 This Season. JOE BURKE WILL BE TRIED By Local 0rganizatlOn-Birmingham Will Give a Southpaw to Richmond and One to
 Columbus, of Western League.

Birmingham will be well represented on the baseball diamonds of the United States this year.
 This city has had the reputation in the past for turning out some of the best base- ball material of any southern city. and she will not fail to sustain her reputation this season.
 Probably the best known pitcher in Br- mingham is Oscar Street. Street was last year with the Columbus team of the Vest ern league and Dubuque of the Western as- sociaton, ard is still on Columbus reserve list. He will play there again the coming season. He has received numerous offers, but under baseball regulations cannot ac- cept any of them unless he secures his re- lease from Columbus. The Boston club of the National league has made Street an offer, but he prefers another year in a minor league before he accepts a place in fast company. Street is "southpaw" and is an exceptionally heavy hitter for a pitcher.
 Ardis Smith, Birmingham's most promis- ing catcher has signed with Charleston of the Southern league. Smith first earned his reputation to wear the init at the University of Alabama where for three years he held splendid record as a catcher and am all round player. He played for a while in the Kentucky State league. His work there was so satisfactory that his release was purchased by the Louisville team of the National league, with whom he played during the remainder of the season. Among the smaller Alabama towns "Ardis'' is considered something of a ''phenom.''
 Ed Conniff is another left-handed twirier with splendid record. Conniff has signed with Richmond, Va, and that team is expecting to ride straight through to the pennant on his puzzling, curves. Con- mfr played with this team last season, and his work was so well noted and liked by several of the national league managers that he has received two or three fiatter- ing offers from them. But, owing to his inability to obtain a release from Rch- mond, accepting any of them is out of the question.
 Jim Leighton, catcher and a first class all round infielder, has signed with the Oil City team of the Pennsylvania state league. Leighton also has a long record behind him, and all of them are good He played second base on Birminghams last team, and did some excellent ball playing.
 Joe Burke, first baseman, is an all round good player, being especially strong at the bat. He has played with several strong semi-professional teams throughout the south, and in Ohio, and has been promised a trial by Birmhngham.i Burke is splendid specimen q of physical manhood, being 6 feet inch in height and weighing 1so pounds. gro
 Not a thing new -,s developed about Birmingham. n The Age-Herald a short time ago, the off, cers and stockholders of the local organiza- tion will meet in the near future and com plete all arrangements for the selection and outfitting of the team.
 Allan l.. Eaton, the secretary of the as- sociation, is still in Ohio making arrange ments and looking for material. He is expected home tomorrow.