The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-15
Nashville Wants Purchase Money for First BaSeman
NEW ORLEANS LOSES ROHE
Advance Information About the Sea- sons Schedule-"ChieF' Trimmer Organizing a Strong Combina-
 ton of Ball Players.


 a peculiar nature and at this time il looks like Mike Finn and Newt Fisher. the Nashville moguls. have worked the double cross on their first sack artist. It may be day or two before the whole thing is made known, and the fans here and in Nashville are waiting patiently to learn who Is in the right in the af- fair.
 Elsey wrote Manager Vaughan some weeks ago stating that he had been prom ised his release and asking for a chance with Birmingham. Manager Vaughan showed the letter to several baseball writers, in confidence, and in reply to Elsey stated that he would not talk bus mess until the release was announced as fact.
 Some days ago Elsey wired Manager Vaughan that he had obtained his re- lease from Finn and Fisher, and immed- lately Vaughan made him a proposition. This was accepted, and later a contract was sent to Elsey, which he signed and sent back. The contract was received by Vaughan yesterday.
 Finn and Fisher informed the Nashville
  sey would be released, as they did not want him. Then they opened negotiations with Atlanta for Bob Stafford, and pur- chased the former Pelican first saeker for 800. As soon as it was announced In Birmingham that Elsey would sign contract with the local club however, Finn and Fisher made a statement to the effect that they would insist upon being paid S3O0 for Elsey's release.
 It appears to the man up the tree that a valuation was placed upon Elsey only after he succeeded in finding club which would give him a chance. Whether or not, Elsey obtained written release from the Nashville club Is yet to be learned here. II is not doubted that he obtained some kind of release, but if 1t was verbal only 1t will not hold and he remains the prop erty of the Nashville magnates. If Finn and Fisher released Elsey and now want to claim purchase money for him, they are taking a peculiar stand and are put ting themselves in queer position with the baseball world.
 Frank May Lose Rohe.
 There are indications that Charley Frank, long ago dubbed "astute," has been caught in a net of his own mak- ing, and that he will permanently lose the services of George Rohe, who covered third base in fine style.
 Rohe was sold to Comisky's Chicago White Sox the latter part of last sea- son. and played well with the big aggre- gation, covering second base after Sam Dundon was hurt by a pitched ball. The deal between Frank and Comisky is said to have been only another "covering-up" game by which Rohe would return to New Orleans this season.
 Rohe, however, Is making a kick about the affair. He was instructed some days ago to report to the New Orleans club, it being said that he had been released by the White SoX. Rohe started in- vestigation and learned that every club in the American and National leagues will have to waive all claim to his services before New Orleans could get him. He intends to carry his case to the National Commission.
 All in all. it looks like New Orleans will not have Rohe on third this sea son, and there are also prospects that Stanley and Williams will not wear Peli- can uniforms eitber, owing to the same conditions surrounding their cases.
 Stafford for Nashville.
 Up in Nashville the fans and the base ball writers are jubilating over the fact that Big Bob Stafford. the man who hits the ball in the skies 999 times out of 1000, but cannot line it out straight, has been purchased from Atlanta. and will be a member of the Ffnny Fish tribe this season.
 Stafford was a good first baseman and a craclSerjack hitter when Abner Powell found him in the North Carolina State league, along with Jakcy Atz Jimmy Smith, Wen French Heinie Deisel and others who were added to the New Or leans bunch some seasons back. Somehow Stafford lost his habit of driving the ball out on a line, and he has never been able since that time to do anything with the ball except to lift it high enough for almost any fielder to get under it in plenty of time