The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-17
BOTH TEAMS STACK UP
 WELL ID THEIR SUPP0RTERS
Montgomery Ball Park Has Many Dis advantages For Spectators-The Barons Are In Good Condi-
 ton For Hard Games.
BY HUGH W. ROBERTS.

Montgomery April 16.-(Special.) Ut will
 be surprising to the Birmingham fans to
 know that Montgomery doesn't think
 well of the Barons.
 And, it matters not how the present series is terminated. unless Manager Ryan makes some changes, the visiting
 Birmingham players do not think the Pretzels will finish high.
 To a student of the game, however
 both teams are good. although from the
 Birmingham viewpoint, the Barons are decidedly the better aggregation.
 But there are some very valuable men under Manager Ryan's guiding hand. He has several good pitchers, among the number being Thomas, Stackpole Van Anda and Helm Baxter, on first, is a splendid performer, and has the fine points of the game at this fingers ends. Perry, on the keystone, was one of the leading third basemen of the league last season, and seems to be delivering the goods in the new position The local fans are delighted with the showing of big Ed Gremlnger on third, touted as an ex- ceedingly hard hitter. Germinger can not hit a curve ball, however and this inability might prove his undoing In his first years experience in the Amer ican association. he hit .3O5. Last year, In the same company, he hit 265. Rob ertaille attributes this slump to the fact that the pitchers soon learned that d curve ball was his Jonah. Pope at short shows great speed in fielding his position, but cannot hit bull with a fiddle.
 Montgomery's outfield is weak, Henline being the only gardener worthy of trot- ting in fast company. Ryan is dead one, and the prediction is made that he will be forced to retire to the bench as a non-playing manager before the end of a month. Billy Smith, it is remembered, after graduating from the South At lantic, had Ryans idea that he was stout enough for Dixies major. ,iale was compelled to yield to af pes'ell 2nd
 hsfn will be forced to 'sr<zz Shannon and messitt, especially the former, are capable receivers, though
 neither is the man that seabaugh was season with the Pretzels.
 Ryan is underestimating the strength of the Southern, and though he may get
 off well. the indications are that he will
 not be able to maintain the pace. Montgomery's ball park is two miles from the city proper. and the cars here run like elevators in the Birmingham Commercial club building.
 The field is exceedingly rough, the out CT gardens, in addition, being as hard as flint. A line hit smashed with force | unless stopped by a fielder, will go tc ! the end of the patch.
 Montgomery's grandstand Is as out l doors when the rain falls unless 1t hap l pens that J. P is spouting in a per
 pendicular direction. Wednesday after.
 noon. when a heavy rain broke up the l game, the downpour. driven by a stiff i wind from the north, glided into the grandstand unhindered, playing havoc l with merry widows spring suits anC tempers.
 Leaving the park, it is necessary tc pace some 300 yards to the car track This path is easily muddled, and the sight of the 5000 returning after the opening game, stepping tenderly against the oozing mud, was one that reminded
 of that day in Birmingham when the fans of both sexes were compelled tc walk the fence or swim.
 Montgomery's score board is directly tc the front of the batter and interferes with the sight of the man at the pan. The advertisements on the field fence, too, are painted in white and black; this also put. ing handicap on the man with the stick The press box Is in the grandstand, di. rectly in front of the partition reserved for ladies and dudes. and directly behind the home plate. The proximity of the | scorers to the general attendance makes them the prey of the curious and the l questioner.