The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-04-08


the White sox last fall, is showing up
In excellent form. both in the outfield and
in the inileld, for oomislSey's team. Man
ager Jones thinks he will fit in most any
positions
After Manager McGraw permitted big
Claude Elliott to wear out two or three
benches at the Polo grounds, he has trad
ed him for Pitcher Ferguson and the lat
ter probably will go into retirement for
two or three years, doing board warm
ing stunt. while what should be the most
important period of his base bali career
fades away.
Sam Crane says that Third Baseman
Moriarity of the IIighlanders is a dead
ringer for Devlin. the third saclSer Of the
Giants. Moriarity seems to have his
hands always in the right place for
ground balls, knack that Lajoie has
down so pat that his rivals say the ball
never takes a bad bound for Larry.
Many ball players have sore arms.
Later it will be sore head.
II that $4,000 balm a Chicago court
handed a fan recently goes through there
will be plenty of willing targets this
season.
George Tebeau, at a meeting of the
Western league a few days ago, foisted
the Victor ball on the league. George is
the king of that organization.
One Cleveland writer is frank enough to
admit that in some departments of the
game Wagner is the superior of Lajoie.
Frosty Thomas is still counting his
feelings somewhere and has not shown up
for Mike Kelley. Rather late spring
anyway.
Billy Fox is down. to be the field leader
of the NTllers again this season. It's been
Captain Fox for several years.
Claude Eliotte will have to work now
for living He pitched about ten games
in two years for McGraw at New York
Tebeau will make him earn his living at
Louisville. Elliotte ought to be good after
two years rest,
my system is to take chances says
Johnnie McGraw. 81 want my team to
take more chances on the bases than any
other nine. Baseball is game of chances
and you've got to take them to Win
"Richie, the catcher whom Comskey
surrendered to the st. Louis Browns, is
in the class with christy Mathewson,
Fred Tenney. Roy Thomas and Dave
Foutz. He refuses even to think about
baseball on Sundays. Possibly Comiskey
was "on.'
Pitcher Reulbach has an ambition to be-
come some day the greatest pitcher in the
country. He goes to bed early every night
and takes excellent care of himself. He
Is studying medicine in the off season.
Clarke Griffith has selected the team
which shall start the season for the High
landers. 1t is: Chase, first base; Will
Hams. second base: Elberfeld shortstop;
La Porte. third base; Hahn or Dough-
erty, left field; Conroy. center field;
Keeler right field. Mcclure. Thomas and
Kleinow will do the receiving; Chesbro,
Putnam. Hogg, Hahn, Newton and orth
are the twlrlers, and Yeager will be
utility man.
Bob Unglaub has thrown himself away
cheaply Boston offered him $4,000 and he
signed with the outlaw Williamsport club
for $3.50. Unglaub claims that he was to
receive $500 extra money last season II he
played one-thrd of the games and. while
admitting that he was one game short of
this number. thinks he was entitled to
the bonus. Manager Collins denies all
knowledge OF such a side agreement.
Tony Mullane recently loosened out n
few kinks. II could still jump in and
win few games" remarked the old-time
star. But I guess umpiring is trouble
enough 1t was Just fifteen years ago this
season that I pitched a no-hlt game while
with st. Paul. That season, too, / worked
out twenty-inning game and ten-round
battle, both drawn contests can still
throw ball something like 10 yards.
which isn't bad for has-been. I guess.
however I'm through with the active part
OF baseball. so far as getting back in the
game is concerned"
McGraw says that Matthewson does
not use one-ffth Of the speed he did dur
ing his first years In the National. TN
stead, he is mixing 'em up, throwing In
curves and slow balls" says the little
manager. THAT fall-away ball that Mat
thewson works With such deadly effect
is due TO the fact that he has long fingers.
You've got TO get your fingers clear
around that ball to throw the fall-away."
Dave Fultz has been delivering a series
vania. He says that while all ball players
do not lead Chrstian-like lives he has
had their respect to a man once they UNI
derstood his motives and sincerity. Re-
vivalist Billy Sunday long ago gave the
same testimony and added that his friends
among the ball players had often greatly
aided him In his work.
Bunting is essential to success In base
ball" says Ned Hanlon. land for that
reason we are practicing that game pretty
regularly. In this practice the batsman
not only is benefited, but the pitchers and
the infielders get a line OF work that
does them a lot of good. Bunting teaches
them to be on the alert, point that many
pitchers and infelders overlook. to the
great detriment Of their teams chances
for winning"
10 no11oioia fraa hand