The age-herald., 1898-03-22
TWO GAMES WITH CHICAGO Deal Almost Closed for April l3
 and 14th. TICKETS SENT TO PLAYERS HaIIer Will Be Here Wednesday and the Others WiIlBegin Coming in Tomerrow-Base-
 ball Gossip From Everywhere.

On April 13 and 14 the people of Birining- ham will have the opportunity of seeing of the fastest teams of ball players ever gotten together. On those days the local team will do battle with the Chicago Colts who are now training at Waycross, Ga.
 Yesterday Secretary Eaton received a telegram from Manager Tom Burns asking if those dates were open. MT. Eaton im- mediately wired that they were, and the deal is considered closed.
 Not even the most sanguine of the "root- ers'' expect the Birmingham club to win either of the games, but if the score Is any ways near close every one will be satisfied. The Chicago team is considered stronger this year than it has been in a long time, and Manager Burns expects to land some where near the top in the National league.
 Tickets were wired ten of the players yesterday and they will begin to arrive in a couple of days. One is expected today. Switzler, the long twirler, will not get here until a few days before the season opens.
 A letter. was received from Manager Haller yesterday saying that ne would be here Wednesday. He says he has fast
  in thedr ability to keep near the top Of the heap.
 Work began on the ball park yesterday and will be pushed rapidly to completion.
 Ardis Smith left yesterday for Raleigh, N C.. where he will join the Augusta team, with which he has signed for the coming season.
 The Savannah fans do not think they were treated fairly In the schedule Iheir team does not have a holiday game at home. Charleston is in the same pox. Mobile and New Orleans each have TWO boMdays at home, while Birming ham, Montgomery, Atlanta and Augusta each have one.
 The Galveston Sand Crales will play in Nashville March 27, 2S 29 and 30, and on April Manager Kelly will lead his black birds against the Chicago team
 The following ex-Southern Leaguers will be with the Chicago team when they play bere. Danny Friend and Connors, of Att Ianta. '93: Bill Everitt, of Atlanta, '93 Bert Briggs. of Little Rock, 95, and McCormlck' of New Orleans, '95.
 The following players have been signed bv Montgomery: Catchers, Outcalt and Locke: infielderS, hOlcneli, 0idii', T y iiii and Delehanty; outfielders, Violet, Hart zell and Kerr; pitchers, Armstrong and Harper
 Manager Burns has made an important announcement regarding his policy toward the Chicago catchers. It was to the effect that one man will play consecutively until he is injured or in danger of becoming stale. rather than alternating at the back stop work Anson's successor reasons that the constant practice keeps the receiving end of the battery in better form than 1T he lays off every other day, and that his batting eye Is better for the same reason.
 Pitcher Norton may not appear in TO- routo uniform this year. He wrote Arthur Irwin some time ago that he was going to the Klondike, but the odds are against him going. Norton was with Atlanta in 1896.
 Boston may sign Jerome Bradley, the crack pitcher of the Princeton College team. He is said to be worth s1OO,O0O and he wishes to play professional ball for the sport there is in 1t. Hls