The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-23
JOHNNY DUFFY HAS.
SIGNED A CONTRACT
Birmingham Again Secures the.
Fast Little 0utfielder
OTTO WAGNER Is SIGNED
Harry Vaughan Is Expected to Arrive
In Birmingham Today-Is En- Route
to Auburn-Players Are Anx-
Ious to Report.
OTTO WAGNER IS SIGNED

Johnny Duffy the crack fielder OF the
Southern league, has signed a Birming-
ham contract and will play centerfield for
the Coal Barons one more season.
| Duffy will be paid a salary higher than
any Southern league outfielder, and If
past records count will most certainly
earn It, Several of the Western league
teams made him proposition. At first
his terms were too high for Birmingham
but Tom O'Brien began quiet negotiations
and last night secured the contract OF the
little fellow that made Slagtown howl
last summer.
The signing of Duffy will cause a
change in the line up of the outfield, but
gives to Birmingham a trio OF iielders
which no team outside of the big leagues
can approach. Duffy will play centerfield,
Billy Smith will play right field and
Lynch will cavort in left. If anybody
can top this outfeld he has the opportu-
nifty of trotting out his candidates.
Brown, who would have played in right
field, will be used as general utility man
and substitute catcher.
Another Pitcher signed.
On top of the glad news of the signing
of Duffy. Manager O'Brien has received
the contract of Otto Wagner, who star
tied the Pacific coast last season in the
outlaw league. OBrien has been after
this man for six months and has at last
secured his contract through a personal
friend living in Toledo. Billy Smith
writes that he has batted against Wag-
ner and regards him as one of the great
est pitchers the country has ever pro-
duced He will be one of the stars of the
Southern league With Wagner. O'Brien
thinks he has a pitching staff equal to
that of any club in the southern circuit.
The outfield cannot be surpassed. The
pitching staff Is strong and no one has
better infield. The chickering's for a good
second baseman continue and OBrien has
two or three good men on his staff. He
will make an announcement as to the
right mans identity within few days.
Notice Sent Players.
Manager O'Brien has sent notices to all
the players to report in Birmingham on
or before March 10, and get ready for the
practice games with the New York Ma
tionals beginning March Is. He has re-
ceived several letters from the players
saying that they would like to report
early and were anxious to get in the
game. 1t was originally intended to have
them report March 15 but the manager
has moved the date up five days.
Harry Vaughan, who was expected Sun
day. will probably arrive this morning
from Cincinnati. After spending a day in
Birmingham he will go to Auburn to
coach the college team and will report
here March 10 for active service.
Hopkins at Work.
Sis Hopkins. who has been signed by
Birmingham, is now engaged in coaching
the University of Virginia team. He will
report on March Is as O'Brien will not
consent for any of his players to be out
later than that day.
The improvements at the park are near
ly complete and the old grounds now
present pleasing appearance. The
bleachers are entirely new and their seat
ing capacity has been increased from 800
to 1850. The grand stand and smoker
have been securely braced and are abso-
lutely safe. The squad is now engaged
in leveling off the outfield so as to pre-
vent washes from the rain. Maj j. C.
LaCoste. who has charge of the work,
is doing an excellent job and says he
will have everything ready within a few
days. Besides being a skilled engineer
the major is a baseball enthusiast and is
doing this work purely for the love of the
sport.