The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-21
COAL BARONS ARE
DROPPING IN TOWN
Several of the Players Arrive
Ready for Practice
FRANK SMITH IS DELAYED
Brown and Campbell Are Both Look
ing Fine-Tom Rensford Has Been
Appointed Secretary and Treas
urer of the Rioters Club.

One by one the Coal Barons dropped in
town yesterday, and by sunset six Of the
pennant chasers had been shown to their
rooms and received the good wishes of the
fans They will all be rested today and
some of the men will engage in prelm-
mary practice this afternoon.
The players to arrive so far are Mana
ger O'Brien, Third Baseman Jimmy
OBrien, First Baseman Mcconnell
Catcher Brown and Pitchers Rudy
Schwent and Campbell.
Duffy, Mcclure, Mierick, Partridge.
Fitzpatrick, Clarke and Cavander are ex-
pected today. Nothing has been heard
from Outfielder Mdlar but he will prob
ably arrive before Monday.
Fur business reasons Frank Smith, the
big pitcher, says he will be unable to
leave Pittsburg before April l. He Is en-
gagged in the tranfer business and as this
is the busiest season of the year "smitty''
says he will have to stay with his faith
er a few days longer kilograms galore
have been sent urging him to be here in
time to pitch against Matt.-ewson of
New York next Friday.
Brown and Campbell Look Fine.
Brown and Campbell are both looking
fine and say they have taken excellent
care of themselves during the winter.
Campbell has been on the Pittsburg fire
department all winter and says he has
| prepared himself to escape the malaria
| this season.
Brown has been employed with a sur
| veying corps selecting routes for street
car tracks in and around Pittsburg.
A large crowd of fans, including Presi-
dent Brown of the Rooters' association,
met the boys at the train and gave them
a warm welcome. Baseball headquarters
were crowded all afternoon with lovers
of the sport who had called to shake
| hands with the old and new players.
The appointment of Tom Rensford as
secretary and treasurer of the Indepen-
dent Ancient and United order Of Root
ers was announced by President Brown
yesterday and has met with general APP
prevail. While there was considerable
contest for the place. the appointment
of Mr. Rensford had been expected and
he had prepared himself for the office.
He has a number of buttons which he
will give to the rooters who will call at
the Stag.
At the Park.
The news of the arrival of the baseball
players spread over town rapidly and
| several business men took ride out to
West End park to get a glimpse of the
new men. They were disappointed. how
ever. as the men were too tired for prac-
| tice.
The ball park has undergone many
changes since last season and now re-
sembes one of the big parks in eastern
cities.
! The main grandstand has been extend
ed to the edge of the old bleachers and
a negro grandstand has been built at the
far end of the open seats. This will give
a seating capacity of about $500.
| f. G. Shepard, president of the baseball
association, who has had the work in
charge, has arranged the grounds adj
mirably, and nothing has been left I'M
done that will add to the comfort of the
spectators. A portion of the new grand
stand will be set apart for ladies and
| their escorts, and no smoking will be al
| lowed spectators VIII be allowed to
smoke, and in fact make themselves as
comfortable as possible in all the other
stands.
A large force of hands were busy yes
terday scraping off the diamond and put
ting it in shape for early practice. The
ground is very firm, and all that is need
ed is the loosening of the surface dirt.
Joe Spanier in Line.
Joe Spanier, who has secured the lem
onade, celery cola and peanut contract at
the ball park, has been given a place
in the Rooters' parade on opening day
He will appear in what he says will be
the SWEETEST turn out in the bunch" Joe
has been appointed distributing clerk of
the Rooters' club, and will also be chair
man of the committee on soft drinks
He has already taken the oath of Of
fee.
N. A. c. C. WINS FIRST GAME.