The age-herald., 1898-03-26
FIRST PRACTICE OF THE SEASON Boys CaYOrt0d About to Pleasure Of the
 Spectators. MORE OF THEPLAYERSARRlVE StF0atOr, an Indiana Pitcher, Is the Lat
 est Acquisition. SWlTZER WILL FLOAT THE PENNANT The Coming Games With Chicago Arousing Interest-More Players Will Get Here
 Today-Gossip of the 0ia-
 mond From All About.
SWITzER WILL FLOAT THE PENNAN1

The Birmingham ball players did their first praoticing of the season yesterday afternoon at West End park.
 H. A. Willig, of Williamsport, Pa, pitch CT; John H. Veitch, third baseman, of Brooklyn, N. r.; Frank Reilly, right fielder, of New Albany, Ind, and George Vallen- dorf, infieder, of Monotowoc, Wis, arrived yesterday morning, and participated in the practice in the afternoon.
 Tho men showed their ability to play fast ball, and, considering that it was their first work in several months, their playing was superb. All cavorted around the field like 2-year-olds and went after everything that came their way. Laporte promises to make an excellent catcher, and his throw ing arm Is especially strong. He gets them down to second with an easy motion that will make him a terror to base stealers
 The pitchers did not let themselves out much, but from their work it could be seen that they have numerous curves, shoots and drops in their repertoire
 Switzer, the Fair Haired
 Swltzer. the fair-haired, blue-eyed, moon- f1Xer was there and his attitude was the sole topic of conversation among the spec tators. It is said that the management intends to plant his feet in center field and use him for the flag pole, from which the pennant will fly at the end of the season.
 Manager Haller will have his men out at the park every afternoon now until the season opens, and where match game is not being played regular practice will be carried on.
 The first game will probably be played on Tuesday. From that date a game will be played every day except Sunday until the opening of the season. The two games with Chicago on April 12 and 13 are already causing much interest. The crowds on those days are expected to be the largest ever as- sembled at West End park.
 The rest of the players are expected to arrive today.
 Another Pitcher Signed
 Yesterday morning Manager Haller signed Lee Streetor of Salem. Ind. Streetor is a pitcher of excellent reputation, and is expected to play winning ball for the To- cals He is the fifth twirler so far signed.
 The Savannahs are practicing every day and Weikart, the first baseman, is lining them out in great shape. He promises to be one of the heaviest batters in the South ern League He resembles Roger Connor, the celebrated first baseman of the New Yorks.
 The end of the week will see seventy pro- fessonal ball players in Savannah. The Chicago and Baltimore teams will be there and probably Boston,
 The Browns have left West Baden Springs for St. Louis.
 Monte Cross probably will be the tempor- ary captain of the Philies.
 Outfielder Jones probably will be given trial at Brooklyn's short field.
 Tim Hurst probably will appoint John Clements captain of the St. Louis team.
 Pitcher James, southpaw, has reported to the Cleveland club at Hot Springs, Ark.
 It is probable that the Chicago club will send Catcher Malachi Kittredge to Omaha.
 The Washington club has sold Catcher Dixon to Minneapolis in the Western League.
 There is talk of Western League players forming a combination to resist the pres ent salary limit A sufficient number could not be secured to make the hold-out effective.
 Ed Green, the millionaire Texas nabob, and son of Hettie Green, is one of the packers ofthe Class r. Texas league. MT. Green is the richest base ball fan on earth
 Nap. Lajoie refuses to sign the con- tract offered him by Philadelphia. It calls for $2, 100, with $200 additional if he doesn't booze The Frenchman thinks his "booz- ing" should not be so heavily handicapped. The Massey College team yesterday after noon defeated the Ninth Avenues by a score of 13 to ?. The Ninth Avenues only | secured to hits off of Cefalu, the Massey | pitcher. A game between the Massey team l and Howard college has been arranged.