The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-13
SLAG PILE SETTINGS.

The news that Harry Vaughan, the big guardsman of the initial bag for the Ba- rons, would soon be in Birmingham has awakened the dormant love of baseball that has been smouldering during the winter months, and the tongues com menced to wag yesterday.
 The fans feel that if Harry lands Wood ruff for third fast man and heavy hit ter, for short, and possibly another field CT, Birmingham will figure pretty exten- sively in the race this year for the rag that Memphis Is floating high over her grandstand
 Lew Whistler seems to be wide awake In the scramble for good material for the southern penent chasers this season. He has signed about a score of men to open the season with, and it Is said that his corps of slab artists Is something won derful to behold. He has laced onto Suggs of Jacksonville and Thatcher of Augusta and Macon, both of the South Atlantic league, and the former of the two artists promises much Added to these are Stockdale, Stultz, Streit, Ehret and Farmer Brown, all of whom are capable of delivering large packages os that ar ticle known as ''the goods" It looks very much like Lew will be in pretty good shape when the spring practice com mences.
 
 The Atlanta Journal is telling a few jokes illustrative of the ready wit of Arlie Lathem by way of commemorat- ing the departure of this judge of balls and strikes from the Southern league. Among others Is the following told on Johnny Duffy, the crack centerhelder of the Barons last year:
 That time he warped the howl of John ny Duffy is a good example of his style of work
 "The Baron was up with a strike and two called balls in a game at Piedmont Charley Smith was working that day against Minahan. The lanky one shied a wide bender over that slipped a good foot from the plate.
 Strike two bawled Latham.
 And then as Duffy wheeled to cut loose his loud roar the Umps added like a fash
 IIully Goo! But that was rotten one. Johnny Didn't come within a foot of the plate
 "How could you kick at that?' re- marked Duffy afterward. I couldn't say a word for minute or two
 'The speediest runners are not always the best base stealers," is 8 gospel which Sam Crane breaches to his readers--and he adds: There are few faster men on their feet than George Browne, Of the Giants still he Is not good at sliding or stealing. He can get around the bases on long hit with the speed of the wind and very few players If any, can beat him in getting down to first, but that lets him out. He hasn't the knack of get ting the start on the pitcher.
 Bill" Dahlen is like selling platter alongside Browne as a sprinter, but ne is much the better base runi-er Bill can wriggle away from a baseman like an eel and manages to get the start-the jump on the opposing twirler.
 It may be Intuition, but 1t appears to me as if Dahlen uses his head a bit better than Browne. Devlin is another good base runner. but he is not so very fast as a sprinter.
 Then there was Mccormick. the ex- Giant That youngster could get oown % first like a house afire but he was anchored after that. He couldn't steal money. let alone a base. He didn't know how to slide, nor could he get start Manager McGraw saw McCormick's s weakness as a base runner at once, and in Savannah last spring he took him away out in the corner of the field and kept him at running and sliding for hours at a time, but he couldn't beat into Me Cormick's head the knack of throwing himself away from the baseman. And as long as Mccormick plays ball he will always be a poor base runner.
 Base running should be fostered instead of knocked.
 The schedule committee of the South ern league will meet In Shreveport about the goth of this month for the purpose of arranging the schedule of games for this season. On the committee are Newt Fisher. Nashville; Abner Powell, Atlanta, and Charlie Frank. New Orleans. Presi- dent Kavanaugh is also expected to at- tend the meeting.
 It is probable that Birmingham will have a representative at this meeting. and 1t is expected that Secretary Sheppard will attend This city is anxious to get the two holiday games, Fourth of July and Labor day
 Newt Fisher expects to do all of his own back-stopping this year, assisted sometimes by Reisinger, who will. how ever have a different position on the team. Newt Is weeninx and moaning over