The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-02-03
MANAGER VAUGHN
COMES TO TOWN
Speaks EncOuragingIy of 1903
Prospects
FEW CHANGES ARE NOTED
viii Send Out Contracts and Close
Certain Pending Deals-Gos-
sip of Those Who
Are certainties.
FEW CHANGES ARE NOTED

With the arrival of Manager Harry
Vaughn. active steps towards whipping
into shape the Birmingham baseball team
will be begun Immediately. The first
! movement will be the sending out of con-
tracts to all the old players, and to
the others who have been signed. So far
none OF the old heads have been disposed
Of, either by sale or trade although
| several deals are pending. and the fans
may rest assured that at least one or
/ more OF those who sulked throughout last
season will not be given an opportunity
to star during the ensuing summer.
Manager Vaughn arrived yesterday at
noon, and is temporarily homed at the
Colonial hotel He has come to stay. and
! will begin sending out the contracts this
morning. Numerous "dyed-in-the-woof
fans, having already forgotten the dis
NAL failure of last season, and filled to
the brim with enthusiastic anticipation,
gathered around the veteran leader yester-
day afternoon, fought over old battles,
and they planned for the new.
Manager Vaughn Hopeful.
The manager brought little actual news
other than that WHICH The Age-Herald
has published.
The most cheering statement made by
the manager was that the prospects
looked exceedingly good, far better than
their appearance on paper. He mentioned
numerous deals and trades which would
be of interest but which, because of
| their incompletion he wished withheld.
AS he has always done, he refrained
from winning pennants' in February,
and did not paint the picture one Whit
more roseate than he thought it deserved
In spite of that fact, he appeared cheer
full, and youched for the statement that
! Birmingham would redeem itself this year
He based more on the fact that there
would be no internal dissentions this
season to tear the team to pieces than
on any celebrities that have or will be
signed
With very few exceptions, the team this
year will be identical with that of last.
The Teams Nucleus.
In spite of that fact, however. the
team has not been selected by any means
Manager Vaughn is little fearful con-
| corning catchers He declared that Raub,
the Tri-State backstop, who has been
signed, is endeavoring to secure his re-
lease, not because he desires more sal
airy, but because he has heard that fever
was perpetual epidemic in the south.
Manager Vaughn, will insist on Raub
/ coming to Birmingham, or retiring from
the profession. While offers have been
made for Garvin, no trade has yet been
made Mobile wants him for $500, and
Memphis would be pleased to buy him.
i However, Manager Vaughn doesn't see
fit to sell Garvin until he is certain of be-
| ing able to fill his place. AS is known
Meek and Meyers. out of the Cotton
| States, will be contestants for the initial
! corner Inasmuch as the Walters NIGEL
| veen deal has failed, Walters will in all
| probability be again on second Downey,
from the Tri-State, will be played on
third. Manager Vaughn has a deal on
| whereby James, last season with Mem.
! pills. may be bought by Birmingham as
candidate for third. The outheld, with
Houtz, Smith and Wordsworth, is, of
course, intact, and will probably be the
mainstay of the team.
How About Pitchers?
In the way of pitchers, there is con-
siderable doubt as yet. 1t is certainty
that Manager Vaughn will not worry him
self and all the fans again with Rip
| Ragan, although berth for Rip has
not as yet been found. Manager Vaughn
is not putting any dependence on be-
ing able to get Wilhelm again, although
he stated that Manager Ebbetts of
Brooklyn, learning that Wilhelm did not
play Sunday ball, has expressed to him
his fears that the pitcher would be of
decreased value. Ginger Clarke and
Turner will be returned. Mcneil, the
New York Slater is already on hand
Robinson, from the Cotton States, will
report. Manager Vaughan is dickerng for
| left handed twirler from Texas, and
is again feeling for Durbin, the little
cannon cracker of the Chicago Nation
ais. There is a chance of Christall, last
season with Memphis, coming to Birmng-
ham. A young pitcher, Loudon, will be
brought down from Cincinnati but Man
ager Vaughan was candid in stating that
he would hardly be ripe for this season
Concerning Rumors.
Concerning the rumors that have been
promiscuously heard about Birmingham,
Manager Vaughan could give very lit
tie encouragement.
He did not believe that Osteen, the
utility shortstop of the Chicago Ameri-
cans, could be obtained, although he
stated that Cosmiskey had agreed to
turn over to him young pitcher and an
inhelder on certain conditions
The announcement of the retirement of
Gene Demont had not reached Manager
Vaughan, so he could not give anything
out of an official nature
Gardner has reached Panama, but will
return in case Birmingham needs him, is
willing TO pay his passage. and double
his salary. Inasmuch as the local out
field is intact, 1t is safe bet that Gard
ner will not be in the Baron gardens
this year.
Manager Vaughan will not play Alcock
this season, but will endeavor to find him
berth. The manager has had a very
clever letter from Ginger Clarke, and
the pitcher Is not only willing, but anxi-
Gus to return to Birmingham and redeem
himself.