The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-09
BIRMINGHAM ID
 REGISTER KICK
Should Not Be One of the
 Western Teams
GOSSIP
SOME LOCAL
Brmineham's Diamond To Be Covered With Grass-"Dad' Laroque Re- tires From the Game-Ban-
 quet at Little Rock.

The reception of an invitation to at tend a banquet to be given by ldtoie Rock in honor of the other seven clubs of the Southern league. and the arrival of Charlie Murphy's annual pass to the games of the Chicago National League club. are indications that the spring Is preparing to burst into bloom, and that the baseball sap is gradually gaining Ve- loety in it's ebb and flow
 Tie banquet of the Little Rock club will occur on February 22 and com memorates the birth of George Washing ton. The spring meeting of the South ern league occurs on that date in the Arkansas capital At this meeting the schedule of the league will be adopted.
 While 1t Is hoped that harmony will prevail at this meeting, it Is sincerely | hoped that the Birmingham delegates will raise such a row that the present plan to reckon Birmingham as a member of the western circuit will be shattered beyond redemption.
 Sentimentally Birmingham should not be with the west because Birmingham prefers to remain with Atlanta, Mont Gomery and Nashville. because Birming- ham cannot affiliate with New Orleans, Memphis and Little Rock, because Bir- mingham does not care to begin the sea son on foreign territory and end the year out of sight of it's own fans. For hnan- cial reasons, Birmingham does not care to be recokoned with the west, for when the western clubs play among themselves it will mean bankruptcy for the Barons
 
 i Little Rock and return and Memphis and return The longest distance between Birmingham and a member Of the east ern division is that between Birmins- ham and Nashville. Every member of the western division is further from Bir- mingham than Memphis is For moral reasons, Mobile should be the fourth member of the western circuit. Mobile is geographically more of western city than Birmingham is, and Mobile sup planted a western city.
 Placing Birmingham with the west is all rot and the officials of the local club should dig up the hatchet right now
 In the way of signing new players, nothing definite has happened this week. The outfeld is intact and couldn't be improved upon. Meek, on first, and Wal ters, on second, are certainties. Meek states that Downey, the youngster to play third has plenty of valuable goods. An effort Is being made to land Dickey James for the position of shortstop, and a young college chap is being dickered with for the same position. Then, there Is just possibility of Demont returning to the fold.
 Raub will catch, and Meek, who knows him, declares him good. For the other catcher, plans for the signing of Bill Douglass, formerly with Little Rock, are on foot
 Abel, a pitcher with a southpaw from Texas will probably be signed to boost the slab-corps
 Birmingham is to have grass dia- mond. The grass will be set to growing right away, and when spring blossoms there will be plenty of 1t.
 Last season Birmingham had the only diamond without grass in the Southern league
 Dad Laroque one of the best known ballplayers in the south, has announced his retirement from the game. He has been with several Southern league cities, notably Birmingham. Last season he managed Austin in the Texas league. Laroque has also figured in the Cotton States and South Atlantic leagues.