The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-07-15
BRILLIANT CHANCE THE BARONS
HAVETO LAND LEAGUES TROPHY
Comparative Strength BoS and Pes Positive ernngng Franks Plans
ScmesHOnes Baseball Figure Fear That Management
Wouldn't Have the Pennmt DBipaed, Etc., ETC.

If the intermost thought of the several
legitimate sporting writer's about the cir
cult was made known it would be virtual
| ly admitted that Birmingham and New
Orleans, today. at least have the best
chances to land the pennant of the South
ern league. In other words it Is known
about the circuit that Birmingham
an New Orleans have at present,
the best teams in the league, and that
in the course of events, in case there
occurs no strike or serious accident. one
of these two aggregations must necessar-
lily land the rag of battle.
This opinion bars the other two MEM
bers of the first division, Shreveport and
Atlanta. Today, either New Orleans or
| Birmingham outclasses either of the re-
naming two members. Shreveport, in
spite of the fact that 1t has recently
strengthened by the addition of Catcher
Powell and Centerfelder Kennedy, cannot
land the pennant with Tom Fisher being
the sole great slab artist of the clan. At
lanta, since receiving the reinforcement
of a new fielder, Brown and a new pitch
| er, Duggan, will also be one of the lead
ers in the race but there evidently ex-
lists something which has and will impede
the Firemen in their race for the rag.
There is some reason based on past his
tory which places Atlanta beneath Biz
mingham and New Orleans. Montgomery
harhors one of the best teams in the
league, and since the acquisition of Walsh
will be a strong contestant for first de-
gree honors with Memphis. Atlanta and
Shreveport.
But while the strength of the remain
ing aggregatons is not discounted by any
means, 1t is a fact that today Birmlng-
| ham and New Orleans occupy the central
position in the Southern league race.
Baseball Honesty.
| In figuring on the probable outcome of
| Birmingham and New Orleans, it Is nee
essary to consider that great, though
tacit, factor in Overwhelmingly. On the
other hand, it is necessary to figure on
whether or not the local management de-
sires the pennant, and on whether or not
| Frank magines that his decreased attend
| ance of this season will be enhanced next
year, in case he fails to land the rag
By baseball honesty, referred to above,
| is meant the possibility of certain west
ern clubs, in some of which Frank, or his
relatives, owns stock, and over others,
games to the Pelican manager when the
home stretch is reached, and when every
game will be of the most vital Importance
| and significance In Memphis Frank un-
| questonably has a wonderful influence,
was made patent by the statement of Sec
rotary Tom Mccullough. of the Memphii,
which was to the effect that no decisive
step is ever taken without consulting the
| Dutchman." In addition to this influence,
which will be judged of vast Importance,
| the uncle of Manager Franks WIFE, Mr..
| Coleman, with residence in Memphis,
owns, or has in his name, the majority of
| the shares of the stock of the Bluff City
franchise. Now, the question devolves
itself into this: In case Memphis is out
| of the running. and the race is between
| Birmingham and New Orleans, will Frank
| win the games that he has against Mem
| phis with so much ease that the eyes of
the east will be involuntarly thrown
| wide open.
Franks Influence.
The last New Orleans Memphis series
all the games OF which Frank won, caused
some suspicion. In several of the games,
| Memphis outhit New Orleans, and in one,
| the only bingles obtained by the Pellcaas
were made by Manuel. the pitcher. In
addition, when Breitenstein, the Pelican
pitcher. who was acting umpire, became
| involved in a difficulty. and was es-
corted from the park, Frank refused to
allow the game to be continued until
Manager Babb, the star third baseman
of his opponent. left his position, and
assumed the robes of the field judge. Now
| 1t Is unquestionable that Memphis was
| vitality weakened by the absence of Man
ager Babb from his accustomed position,
and why he consented to thus weaken
his team, at the direction of the opposing
manager, is one of the interesting ques-
tons of the circuit today. What Is true
of Memphis, Is also true. to a certain
degree, concerning Shreveport In other
words, a remarkable friendship exists be-
tween Frank and Gilks. Further. Gilks
| has been credited with the statement
| that Birmingham could not win a PEN
nant. because the other arrangements in
the league would see that this end was
| not reached This statement was made
In Atlanta. according to the several sport
ing editors Of that burg, and was never
! officially denied, in spite of the fact that
| Gilks intimated that correction would
be published in the Shreveport Times.
| Immediately on the return TO his home
| city Now the question is: VIII this de-
| termination of Gilks cause him to lose
easily to Frank, in case Shreveport Is
out OF the running, and If the pennant
must fall either to Birmingham or New
Orleans?'
The Common FaIlacy.
There is a common falacy in baseball
| that a pennant winning city Is never
again a city of rabid "cranks" after the
landing of the rag. Those who hold these
views point to Nashville and to Memphis
and even to the comparatively poor at
tendance in New Orleans this season. But
| It Is not necessarily true that a pennant
causes the fans OF a city to lose their
interest. and the local management has