The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-03
BIRMINGHAM FEELS GAY
THINK THEY HAVE THE GOODS
 IN o,BRIEN's GANG.
The Good-natured Rivalry Between Montgomery and Birmingham Will Be the Most Healthy
 Feature of the Game

Birmingham, April 2-(SpeciaD-Not.. withstanding the Birmingham baseball players have so far failed to snow any extraordinary ability, the fans in tnis city are confident that by the time the season Is to open up that each ana every player will have gained that practice and will have become more acclimated as 10 pc in shape fo rthe pennant contest. BIT mingham fans are delighted over the fact that Montgomery is in the league this year and while there is much rivalry as to the abilities of the two teams the rivalry is of friendly nature and the in the confession that If Birmingham can't win the pennant 1t would be pleas ing to have Montgomery get It.
 From the practice games played with arguments have arisen already as to the qualifications of the local team. It is the opinion of the majority of the people who have witnessed the games already played here with New York, Chicago and Bos. ton, that there Is some good material here. While the games have been prac- tically one sided, the fans have not overlooked the fact that several of the salary as does the whole team in Bir- mingham. Nor have the fans" forgot ten that the two teams occupy differ ent class altogether.
 The presence in the city of former Southern League players is relished much by the local people.
 The anticipations of the management in Birmingham are that the grounds will be crowded every day game IS played here. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad will be asked to put on cheap rate to Montgomery on such Sundays when Birmingham and Montgomery cross bats and 1t Is not improbable that rate of one fare for the round trip will be of- fered. If such is done it Is believed that several hundred people will make the trip on Sundays when the two Alabama teams .trxNv ev-xr will he given a royal reception when lever they come here and the contests between the two teams on the West End grounds here will be witnessed by the largest team will be the best attraction in the Southern League in Birmingham this year. Manager Whistler Is we'll liked here and the fans" say that his team will be given every consideration.
 Manager O'Brien of the Birmingham team has been watching the work of his team closely, He has very little to say further than that he team is going to work out all right and at he proper time will be found in shape. Some of the play CTS at present are sick while others are yet stiff from their idleness from the field during the winter.
 The West End ball park in this city has been greatly improved since last season. The grand stand has been improved and the diamond Is being raised some. The bleechers have been nearly doubled and grand stand TOT the negroes, Wno are not bad patrons in this section. has been built.
 The Boston National League team will finish its engagements here tomorrow. On the 4th the Milwaukee American Asso- citation League team comes and then the Cleveland American League team comes along for three practice games. The Gin cinnati National League team will be here 4-pril 8, 10 and Il and St. Paul's American Association team will play here April 1S and IA. Then there will be thirteen days intervening before the Southern League starts in and this will be employed in further practice games and hard work on the part of each player.