The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-19

three are excellent hitters, and if they play under the southern sun next season the managers would do well to strength their fences. While with Birmingham Dele hanty hammered as hard as .341. During his sojourn in the Southern league some years ago, Heulsman hit .361 Lord is an- other fierce hitter.
 Of course, Frank Delehanty's tempera- ment will be a handicap to New Orleans. He is quarreasome, discontented and crab bish. His experiences with the local club are well remembered.
 However, returning to Franks outfield, it is not believed that he will be able to land the trio referred to above. It seems that he has cinched the deal for Delehanty, the least desirable of the three, but concerning Heulsman and Lord there is plenty of room for doubt. Heuls- man Is the property of Kansas City, and it is not believed that Monte Cross who will manage that organization, will turn such a valuable man over to Frank. Heulsman is a fine hitter but can do nothing else, being poor outfelder and a very ordinary man on-the paths.
 Bill Bernhard returned to Nashville last week., but told the scribes of that city very little that cheered
 He could give no information relative to the deals whereby the baseball writers had already landed three or more val uable men from the Cleveland outfit. It was even announced that Lister would not be returned again to the Southern league, but in case of him being imma- ture for big league company, Lajoie would turn him over to Toledo.
 A player by the name of Robertson has been signed to play first McEl- veen will play second and lansing third. There is no man for short, and Doc Wiseman is the sole outfielder.
 Everybody in Nashville is hopeful, but there is no cinch of the pennant by any means. However, the season is still young, and there is no occasion for de- spairing.
 Memphis does not look exceedingly strong, either. Of last seasons infield Babb, on third and Carey on first will alone return. Richards has announced his retirement from the game and Ed Hurlburt the big catcher, has followed suit.
 Owens is the only catcher on the string at this writing though Dan O'Leary, the Atlanta cast-off of last season, Is being offered inducements.
 For pitchers, Babb will return Stock dale and Shields of last seasons outfit, both of whom are good, beyond doubt In addition, he has Savidge and Schwenk two stars of the South Atlantic last year; Schultz of Meridian Swift of the Penn sylvania- Ohio and others.
 Redman, Cranston and Vogel are three young infielders to whom Babb will give a trial. None of them is well known
 Donahue an Evansville star, has been obtained in a trade for the outfield. Fox of Albany, and Cox of Winnipeg. will try to fill the remaining positions. While the outlook in Memphis is not any too bright 1t is remembered that Babb has been able to finish high up every season, although in the beginning of some of them he did not look exceedingly strong.
 From Montgomery, Atlanta and Little Rock very little news which was not pub lished last week comes. Atlanta, as stated, has one of the best machines, on paper, in the league, as Billy Smith will return the majority of his old players.
 It was announced last week that Mont gomery had signed Merriman, a six-foot southpaw from the Central league, whom Gene Demont who knows him, describes as very fine.
 Little Rock is quietly getting together a machine. so quietly in fact that very little can be heard concerning it.
 Little Rock right now. is making active preparations for the spring meeting of the league, which will convene there February 22. President Kavanaugh has made the statement that inasmuch as this will be the first meeting that Lit tie Rock has entertained during the last several years, he hopes every man in- terested in baseball will be on hand, the stockholders, officials of the league, the managers. sporting writers, and as many of the players as can be present. It is stated, in addition, that President Pull liam and Johnson of the National and American leagues. might be present at the banquet The entertainment commit tee expects to make the occasion one long to be remembered.