The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-08
BASEBALL FEVER
 GETS NEW IMPETUS Coming of 0'Brien Sets Fans
 and RooterS Agog OUTLOOK FOR THE SEASON From Present Indications It Looks as If Nashville, Little Rock and Sir mlnsham Will Be the Three
 Strongest Teams.
OUTLOOK FOR THE SEASON


 With the coming of spring the baseball players who have spent their winters in the north, have begun their invasion into the land of Dixie, and ere long the swish of the bat" and the skipping of the nit will De joyful sounds to the ears of the fans After six long months of miserable waiting they will be called to arms, and the old grandstand and smoker at West End will ring with the roofing of the rooters
 Since Manager O'Brien's arrival base ball has been given a great impetus and already comparisons are being made as to the relative strength of the various teams forming the league for the com ing season. It is a rather difficult task to size up the clubs until the actual practice begins. as much will depend on team work, the merits of the individual player notwithstanding.
 Masters in Team Work.
 Fisher of Nashville and Finn of Little Rock have proven themselves masters in the art of team work and they have frequently won games from clubs com posed of superior players. Heretofore Birmingham has been lacking in this particular line of work. and the result is apparent Tom OBrien, the new manager, Is an adept at getting all there is in a team and putting 1t into action with clock-like precision. With this management he has won two pennants for Albany, and unless Finn and tlsher are exceedingly smart they may well look to their laurels No man in the country knows ball players better than Tommy O Brien, and if at the start of the season his club Is weak no one will be quicker to observe it than O'Brien.
 From all signs now showing 1t looks as if Birmingham. Nashville, Shreveport and Little Rock would be the three strongest teams The effectiveness of Birmngham's 8 pitchers was known all over the circuit last year. and with Campbell, Frank smith, Denver and Keenan to start on this year the Coal Barons feel secure. The infield has been materially strength tlGut dS ueiNt AliS iiSi NAc Ii"S SNN -AA the fence corners.
 Strong at Many Points.
 Nashville has always been weak on pitchers but exceedingly strong at other points. This year the team will be weak ened by the absence of Abbatlchio from second base, but Fisher has signed loi of fine young pitchers. and he believes | e.. At any rate, the fans can always count on Nashville coming out near the top as long as Fisher does the head work.
 Little Rocks team Is practically the same as last year, as Finn has retained Delehanty at third base. It seems to be the general opinion among those whose ideas are valuable that Little Rock will make another sharp fight for the pennant.
 Shreveport has signed lot of the great est htters the Southern league has ever seen and under Bobby Gilkes leadership the lives of many opposing pitchers will be made miserable during the coming warm weather. Shreveport according to form" should finish in the first division.
 Memphis can always be counted on to show up with a good club, but as yet Charlie Frank has made few announce ments that will give an indication as to the strength of his club
 Uncertain Quantities.
 New Orleans, Atlanta and Montgomery seem to be very uncertain quantities but from a cursory glance al the list of play CTS, the former would seem to be a little stronger Atlanta as might be expected is somewhat torn up over the change of management, but Alb Powell rarely dis appoints his followers. Montgomery being new in the league will naturally encoun- ter many difficulties that the old stagers will not have to contend with. The men dence of a strong combination, but 1t is understood that Lew Whistler Is very busy securing the country for good men.
 The Birmingham enthusiasts are wish ing sincerely for a strong team at Mont gomery. Considerable rivalry of friend ly nature has already sprung up between to fight 1t out for the top notch, the race would be for blood and furnish the most exciting sport the fans have witnessed fol years
 Active practice will not be begun by the Coal Barons until March 20.
 
 IN NEW QUARTERS.