The age-herald., 1902-03-23

| S games will agree with him.
 Two Things Which Count.
 There are two things above all which count in baseball-good pitchers and heavy batting Haller has seen this and has wisely looked after both those ends of the rope. He has not however, over looked the necessity of good fielding as he has signed class that can trot any gait set in the Southern League
 There is a big husky man going to play centerfeld named Sorbor, familiar ly known as "Sox" and he is said to have a favorite pastime of knocking the i cover off the ball whenever hits are need l ed. In fact here Is a surprise for the fans: There Is not a player signed on the Birmingham team who bats under the 295 mark
 The only person who has yet shown a cruel spirit towards the Coal Barons is a writer on the Memphis Commercial | Appeal. He bravely asserts that he sees no chance for Birmingham to win In l other words he can figure something out 1 for all other teams but Hallers men. It must be that he has not forgotten that | Fourth of July reception to Mr. Shields who was pounded for several dozen hits | when they were not needed This same writer facetiously refers to the Birming-
 
 He means that Haller's team is com posed of lot of old men or in other words dead ones." Now when it comes to old times if the Memphis writer will glance over his list and pause at the names of Breitenstein, Frank ct als he l can jerk thirty years or more out of the | history and make ante-bellum proceed ings look as fresh as an automobile race.
 Team Arrives Tomorrow.
 Manager Haller and all of his men are expected in the city before tomorrow night and will have their first practice on Tuesday. The new uniforms have arrived and are of the best quality. The | travelling uniform will be blue with red | stockings, belt and a cap of blue cloth l surrounded by. narrow strips of red. The l home combination is grey and black very much like the uniform played in last l season.
 On account of the great boosts which have been given the Coal Barons it l is feared the crowd will be rather too l critical at the first games as the men 1 Will not be able to show what is in them | until thoroughly seasoned The Independ- ent, Ancient and Amalgamated Associa- tion of Rooters has this matter in charge, 1 however, and will see that none of the l local players are roasted" until given
 
 l license will not be accorded umpires and they will receive criticisms and instruc- l tions from the prominent rooters from | the first moment they appear with an in 1 dicator.
 Don't Like Johnstone. Speaking of umpires, the local order of rooters, though having implicit confi- dence in President Niaklin judgement, are not altogether satisfied with his se- l lection. Two of the men, Chic and Stickney are unknown here and will be l given the benefit of the doubt but Cline and Johnstone have been heard of Cline is all right and sticks to what he thinks is right but doubts creeps all over a Birmingham Rooters frame at the men,. ton of Johnstone's name They will not forget reports sent out about the deal Mills and Boles both got at Nash vile. Johnstone has never been in Bir- mingham. however and the feeling may be dispelled by good conduct before the season ends.
 The Past Week Quiet. The past week has been quiet one in the Southern baseball atmosphere and if there is anything doing its a secret. All the managers are laying low hold ing on to what they have. Each outward ly feels that he is winner and the race promises to be close The invasion of the American and National leagues into the ranks of Southern players has some what disconcerted certain managers but if anything the result has been beneficial and will tend to make the fight harder.
 Alb Powell drew his hand away back in the winter and is standing pat looking over his cards at the scramble outside. He feels sure of the pennant and is only ol,a fn at who disagree with him. There is no doubt he is rather strong in the box and the infield but witnal Birmingham can give him cards and spades on pitchers.
 Over in Atlanta there is nothing do- ing" The only recent incident of import ance was the purchase of Pitcher Pfrom from New Orleans. For some unknown reason Birmingham has it in for Atlanta and that team will always draw large crowds at this place. Rooters are al- ready discussing forming an excursion party to attend the Fouth of July games in the Gate City.
 Shreveport Has Nothing to Say.
 Shreveport is one of the few cities hay ing nothing to say about its baseball team but tip is going around that the Louisiana team is strong on playing. though it may not have the crowd draw ing propensites desired.
 Nashville has something like twenty or twenty-five men signed and Newt Fisher is starting out after the pennant again. Baseball men, however, fail to see where in he can pull down the rag with his present corps of players.
 Little Rock says she is just as strong as ever and the rooters there who bv the way are organized like Birmingham are jubilant over the retention of Skopec.
 Memphis has lost Dusty Rhoades but Charlie Frank claims to have others just as good. It is significant, however. that he recently made a proposition to take Wilhelm off Hallers hand
 Chattanooga is the quietest town in the Southern League just now but it is said they are ready to deliver when the times comes and also that this delivery will be made right here in Birmingham. The first game will be played April 26 and the