The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-04
McCRANE HAS SIGNED
NEW PITCHER AND ONE CATCHER
 FOR MONTGOMERY.
The Receiver Is Aces who Games From Duluth Minnesota Messrs Amerine and Durett
 Are Happy.

The McCrane matter is at last set tied for keeps and the crack south paw will be a member of the siab department of The Climbers. This year.
 For the past few days the atmos- phere in the region of baseball head quarters has been surcharged with thick, acrid mist of an ominous sulphudlc ting that presaged diaster for the future. Both President Amerine and Ike Durrett wore the same cheerful expression on the faces that is seen on a man when he floats out of a dentists office with a bit of rubber between his teeth.
 Yesterday there was a most marvel ous transformation, and both the president of the local Association and the manager were wearing smiles. It was like this; few days ago telegram came from Connie Mack say ing that he had had talk with McCrane and that the pitcher had re- fused absolutely to come South. This meant that 1t was all off as far as l getting him on the Montgomery team ! this summer and it looked foggy up the creek" around local baseball headquarters Yesterday the light | broke through the clouds in dazzling radiance. his groundhogship having evidently turned loose his grasp on 1 the sun A few hours before The first beam came in the following telegram from Connie Mack.
 'McCrane has signed contract. Will 1 forward it at once"
 | This makes the local pitching staff look decidedly strong. Two left handers and six righthanders. and out of the eight twirlers it should be easy to pick four up-to-date men. The
 righthanders include Roy Hale, John | McMakin, Jack Lee. Germaine, Frye, and May with McCrane and Boyle as
 the once to play havoc with lefthand | hitters --..-
 The box denartment looks good.
 Can you beat it?
 But this piece of news is only the | curtain raiser. 4 sew minutes after
 Macks telegram yesterday morning
 came another one that brought more
 smiles to local halldom. A catcher bv the name of McAlccs with whom the local association has been nego-
 tiating for some weeks was landed
 yesterday morning.
 Some months ago President Amerine
 wrote to McAlecs and asked him if he
 was free to sign fer the coming sea
 son. The catcher replied that he was reserved by the Duluth club but that if MT. Amerine could get his release
 he would be glad to GO business with | him. MT Amerine then wrote to Maager O'Day of the Duluth club in regard to McAlees and was told that he would sell the catcher for q price
 which he named. lie said in his letter
 that the reason he would not keep the catcher was because he could not pay
 him the money that he asked and
 which he frankly admitted that he
 deserved. Toledo in the American As | socfation has also been after McAlees 1 but they baked at the price set hv 1 ODay. This fact was wired President 1 Amerine by the Duluth manager and
 Mir Amerine immediately teIegraphed
 the money to Duluth and bought the < catcher outright. Yesterday morning a telegram was received asknowledg-
 ing the receipt of the money and saving that McAlees would return his signed contract at once.
 McAIces led the Northern league record with the Duluth club; 94 games, 1 103 hits with batting average of | 299: in fielding he had in 94 games j5S1 putouts. 137 assists and 25 errers- | 71S Chanccs-with fielding average of 966 This gives Durrett three men | for his backstop department Smith i Beech and McAlees. And as only two | catchers will be carried one of them will have to became acquainted with the local tin can,
 | This makes two mon for that eagle eye of Ike Durretts 10 get busy with +his spring, and as only IA at the out side will be carried his little hatchet will have to work overtime in de- lcapitating seven of them. Just now inc list foots up five infielders, eight pitchers, three catchers and five out fielders.