The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-03
VAUGHAN ARRIVES
 LADEN WITH DOPE Manager of BaronS Talks About
 Prospects for Team HAS A THIRD EASTMAN Thinks Birmingham Has First Divs. ion Team and That New Or
 leans and Memphis
 Look Strong.
HAS A THIRD EASTMAN


 slag a rumbling welcome was heard yesterday when Harry Vaughan, manager of the Barons and premier first base man of the league, unloaded from Queen and Crescent train about noon The rum ble in the mount that guards the des- tinies of West End vas echoed in the hearts of fandom for this is the forerun- ner of 1905
 Harry is looking as fit as a fiddle and brings with him the cheery news that Birmingham is certain to have a good team this year, that he ig busy signing men and that the prospects are very bright for the Barons landing in the first division.
 When he had unpacked his baggage load of "dopep for the fans. made the rounds and told his old friends how glad he was to be back in Birmingham, he disclosed certain matters which will make the heart of the expeetant rooter glad within him.
 heDoTI MdfCn O.
 Harry is here to make some prelimi- nary arrangements for the corralling Of the entire team on West End March 5, and a letter will be sent to each and everyone today notifying them that they have just one months freedom before the crack of the first bat in preliminary prac- tice will be heard.
 Today he and Secretary F. G. Sheppard will take a trip to the park and there decide on many improvements which will be made some for the accommodation of the players and some for the public. The baths and dressing rooms under the grand stand are to be enlarged and ev- cry thing done for the boys, and number of other improvements will be made in the grounds and grand stand.
 Other Deals On.
 The big guardsman of the initial bag will be here three or four days and then he will chase back to Cincinnati where he has several matters to settle before coming to Birmingham for the season. Among other things he has several im- portant deals on tap and he expects to
  those with whom he is figuring
 In talking last night Harry said
 Well I am glad to be back to the old town and this year we will see if we cannot make the winner of the rag get out and dig. We will have a good team, and the fans need not fear. I was mighty unlucky in landing certain men, Bono. Woodruff and Donohue, the latter a short stop who was with the Phillies last year and a crack-a-jaclS. was just ready to close a deal for him when he was swapped for Kahoe to Indianapolis.
 Man for Third.
 But I have fine player for third already signed. He is Frank Hafford and has the goods with him according to the very best dope that I can procure. He played last year with Lowell, Mass, and batted 347. This record was out of 124 times at the bat. He graduated from Georgetown University and played third base on the teams of 1S97 1898 and 1899. He played with Greensburg, Pa, in 1899. also with New Haven in 1900 and Lowell in 1903. Ashenback had him south one season and tells me that he is a fine man. The commission on awards had just turned him loose after his case had been under advisement and I captured him. A big league tea-l wanted him.
 'As you all know we have Matthews and Clarke as backstops two of the best in the south and men who will hit this year if I am not mistaken. The pitchers we have are Reagan, Ginger Clark, Cowboy Clark Pylant, Sitton, Wagner and probably one other good man. Of course I will play first, Piggie Ward, second: Hafford, third; Billie" Smith and Hennessy in the field; Moore for shortstop. and think he will make good: and Miller, the long boy who skipped from Birmingham once before will also be in the field
 Miller Is Coming.
 Miller is anxious to play with Birming- ham this year. He has written me and of course he belongs to us. He batted 316 in Zanesville, o. Besides these have deals on for another fast fielder and pitcher or two We are well fixed with pitchers. We know that Reagan, Pylant and Ginger Clark have the goods, and that out of the remainder we are more than apt to get two others. We also have Lynch as utility man. 'I think the Southern League teams will be about as fast this year they were last year. There are number of old faces gone and new ones imported but the new ones are uncertain while the old ones we know about. It looks on paper like New Orleans and Memphis have the. strongest teams, but then you cannot tell as eacn have many new 1 faces.
 Try Out Youngsters.