The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-10
BASEBALL GOSSIP


 Harry Matthews and Frank Hafford, catcher and baseman, were the new faces among the baseball squad at the ball park yesterday afternoon The latter is a new face on the Birmingham team but Matty Is an old favorite and one whose familiar Its all yours, Harry" Is good to hear.
 Matty is about twenty-five pounds lighter than last year. and he seems to so portly and he Is handling himself better.
 You can just bet that I am in con dition," said Matty yesterday afternoon. 'I am tickled to death with the team Vaughan has signed, and we will make some of them hump for place way up in the first division.
 Atlanta has d good team. l have been there for three weeks. Of course no one can tell about Jordan and what he will do as manager. He will have to make good right now or his name Is Dennis. If Atlanta loses half a dozen games the early part of the season there is nothing to it for him except to pack his clothes and go back home. On the other hand if
 
 Hafford is a little fellow not much heavier than Jimmy O'Brien. but if ap- pearances go for anything he is a much better player than the erstwhile third bagman ever dared to be. The new man on third comes from the Ne..- England league where he played third for Lowell, and his fielding average was well over .950 and he batted better than 300 for two seasons he was with the team.
 eff lIlalr hraakG with fbid year." said Hafford last nig.t. T will make good with Birmingham This league Is faster than the one l came from. but 1 believe that I can deliver the goods if nothing goes wrong. They tell me that Vaughan is a fine manager and gives all the men a square deal, and l like the town from what have seen of 1t.
 "I want to make good with Birmng- ham for this town has a great reputa- tion up in our country, and players feel that if they get a good berth in Bir- mingham with the Barons they are all right. I am in fine condition, never bet ter in my life and l think l will be able to hold things down without any trouble
 On the field yesterday it was impossi- ble to tell anything about Hafford's work as the grounds were wet and Harry did not work the boys out very long. From what little work he did 1t would seem that he is fast and safe. In a little practice at the bat he seemed to have the goods with him. He brought couple of bats with him which are crack-a- jacks, and all the team wanted to try them. They were turned especially for him by a friend last year. and they are solid and well balanced.
 For an hour yesterday Harry had the various pitchers warming up, among them being Dessau. Fitzpatrick, Salee, Pylant. Wagner and Matthews. Matty was catching for the pitchers, and he thinks mighty well of a couple of the new ones.
 If the grounds dry off little by today the team should have a good practice. Yesterday 1t was impossible to use the infield and all the work had to be done in the outfeld. As soon as two or three more of the players arrive Harry will be- gin to get the team in shape and try the men out at their various positions.
 Murdock, Carlos Smith. Billy Miller, Dusty Miller, Billy Smith and Viola are to come yet for the outfeld. and the two Clarks. pitchers. are yet to arrive, as well as Schiappacasee. inflelder. and Clarke. catcher. All of these men. and the two Lynches, infielders are yet to re- port
 Hennessy has received an offer from Binghampton in the New York State league to play Tn the field. They have offered the little center fielder pretty good money but he says that Brming- ham looks good to him this year, and that he expects to wind up the season here, and that with a good fielding and batting average
 "We play the Giants on Friday or Sat urday. March r or 1s," said Secretary Sheppard yesterday. T have just wired to Manager McGraw and asked him which day would suit him best. I think that Saturday would be the best day, as many people can get away Saturday who cannot get off any other day in the week.
 'So the first practice game will be next week, and the Giants will be our first victims. The Improvements In the grand stand and the park will be com plete the first of next week. and every thing will be in readiness by the time of the first game"
 A telegram was received from Gin ger'' Clark yesterday asking that the routing of his ticket be changed. The change was telegraphed yesterday. and he should report Sunday at the latest Cowboy" Clark is already on the way to Birmingham, so the pitching stan will be about complete when they arrive.
 Vaughan had fourteen men out train ing yesterday afternoon Three or four