The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-02
WILHELM SIGNED
WITH BIRMINGHAM
Favorite Pitcher Returns from
Boston Berth
GOSSIP OF THE GAME
Wordsworth VIII Be DeIayed-Many
Players slgned-Lauzon May
Have GarvIn's Position on
Probation.
GOSSIP OF THE GAME

The receipt of a signed contract from
Pitcher Wilhelm yesterday set at rest
all doubts as to the coming of that twirler
| to this city this season. The fans feel
better now, and tomorrow or the day
after, when Walters contract arrives, and
Newt Fisher puts the seal of approval
on the Elsey deal, the fans will be so
pleased there will be no way for them
to express themselves.
There was lots of dope of a minor ma
ture to be had yesterday at the ballyard,
where Vaughan and several cohorts spent
the afternoon seeing that the home plate
was properly placed and the pitchers
rubber slab was given the right tilt.
The crowd was continually chatting
about the bunch of men signed by Man
ager Vaughan, and several of them Sc
lected the best available spot on which
to plant the pole that is to carry the
1906 championship bunting 1t was figured
that a spot near the end of the Stag
pile would be the best site of all, and
there the fiagpole will be planted.
The Score Card Matter.
Manager Vaughan announced last night
that Third Baseman Montgomery had
closed all his connection with the score
| card for the season, and that hereafter
the player will have nothing to do with
! 1t.
1.-The score-card is in the hands of the
printer said the big mogul, and Mont
gomery has no more to do with it now
! than you have. We thought 1t best 10
close out with him, in order not to have
| trouble Of any kind. The score-cards ara
now in the hands of the printer, and will
be out promptly and in fine shape"
Molesworth Detained
Gladys Wordsworth will hardly report
in Birmingham until March 10 or there
abouts. A letter was received yesterday
| from the fast center fielder by Manager
| Vaughan, in which Wordsworth stated
that Mrs. Wordsworth is seriously i'll and
he will be delayed somewhat in reporting
| for duty
Reporting for Duty.
| Manager Vaughan received a letter from
relatives in Cincinnati in which he was
informed that his mother is still seriously
| i'll, although slight Improvement has
been noted in her condition the past few
| days. Should her condition change for
the worse at any time Manager Vaughan
will go to Cincinnati to be with her.
The Birmingham Players.
Manager Vaughan has twenty two men
| on hand, of which number signed CON
tracts from nineteen are safely slowed
away in the desk at the ball club office
The men vino have not yet sent in their
contracts are Catcher Garvin, Pitcher
Dessau and Shortstop Oyler but Garvn
| and Oyler are expected to forward their
signatures by the end of the week Con
tracts are IN from the following play
ers:
! Pitchers Wilhelm, Clark, Reagan. Sal
lee, Pylant, Utter. Jones' Ballard; catch
er, Matthew's; first basement Newman,
Elsey and Vaughan; second basemen,
Walters and Hayes; shortstop, Aleott;
| third baseman, Montgomery; outfielders.
| Gear, Moesworth and Smith.
| 1t is a safe proposition that quite a
number of these men will not be retained.
Each club can carry fourteen men only
during the season. so that five of those
who have already signed contracts will
be turned loose. The chopping will not
be done for some time yet, although 1t
is probable Manager Vaughan will not
have all the men come to Birmingham as
this may not be really necessary.
Field Captain Talks.
| Just as soon as the fans are satisfied
on one subject they begin figuring on
something else. The latest thing that
has come up for discussion is the ques-
ton of the field captainship.
apnaors m he tho consensus of onio-
ion that If Vaughan is in the game he
himself will direct the movements of the
players and will do the signalling. How
ever, it appears now that Esey will oc-
| cupy the initial sack, and the fans are
| figuring on having Montgomery or Lou
| Walters given the leadership in the actual
fights on the field. Montgomery seems
! to have the better of the argument SO
far, probably because the fans know
him better and are acquainted with his
knowledge of the game.
Garvn Still Headstrong.
Nothing has been heard from Catcher
Garvin yet, and Manager Vaughan will
wait only another day before he starts
active campaigning for a substitute. The
big manager has In view a player who
| would do very well as a holdover, and
might even make out all through the
season if he behaved himself in Ed.
Lauzon
Lauzon has just returned from a tour
of Yucatan and is in fine shape. He is
ready to go into the game at once and
has made many promises to the scouts
of the Birmingham club to act right and
"cut out" the dissipation If he is given
a chance with the club.
Manager Vaughan has not yet given
| the matter very serious consideration.
but in case Garvln does not send in his
contract within the short time remaining
OF the present week it is probable over
| lures will be made to Lauzon. The Mo-
bile boy is a good catcher, can hit the
ball often and hard when he keeps
straight and is a valuable emergency
player on first and in the outfield.