The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-06
SOME MINER GOSSIP
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS.

The baseball sap is slowly rising.
 Everywhere the fans are beginning the annual discussion, a discussion which will continue until the last days of September.
 The announcement is made that Billy Smith has signed SS players, the most valuable of the recruits being Tom Fisher last season manager of Mobile Montgomery announces that Spike" shannon will not be returned. Little Rock announces the acquisition of Clayton Perry, the best third baseman of the league, who last season was ob- tained by Detroit from Montgomery. Local contracts are rolling in and Manager Molesworth will arrive be- fore the conclusion of the present month.
 Every city Is busy preparing for the ensuing season, although few are say ing very much at the present time. Nothing comes from Charlie Frank, and Bill Bernhard is quiet. Charlie Babb is among the bushes hunting un- knowns who, under his management, invariably star.
 At this time of course nothing can be told of the outlook. The managers have received their five cards put have not discarded and drawn again. From a local standpoint, however, very little is expected of Mobile next season. Tom Fishers place will be one hard to fill, although Tom, 1t is under stood, was not too popular among the l fans. But there is no better ball player in the south than Fisher, and no more popular man in the game than , he. George Reed Is an old hand, put it would cause no surprise were his team to take the place occupied by Bir- mingham last season.
 Montgomery does not present very strong hand. So far, Chambers has ] landed no one whose coming springs a sensation. Perry is gone and Shan- non. Dr. Thomas remains, and he Is a good one. and Greminger, too, is bet ter than the average. As stated here l tofore. Chambers is very anxious to | land Gene Demont for his 1909 short stop. Just what will become of Pope | is unknown.
 Just how Birmingham will fare is | a ouestion that is worrying local fans ! at the present time.
 l There is one thing certain, nobody | is going to make predictions. At the beginning of last season, every ran l thought Birmingham had as good a | team as was in the league, and BIT l mingham finished on the bottom. so | 1t is very likely that everyone Will l wait and see for himself
 l Molesworth was given instructions i to get a team for 1909. He has been 1 hustling throughout the winter ana ms every recommendation was acted upon favorably. If he wins, he will have all the credit; if he loses he Will nave l himself alone to blame
 l MolesWorth is removing all the old and familiar faces from the landscape.
 He is filing the gaps with young blood.
 There will be no member of the team who knows more than the manager, and 1t will be easier for the hefty out fielder to get along with young blood 1 than 1t was with the old. l Young men have ambition to succeed. | Their play is more spectacular They are going to advance always. It is not a retrogression. Therefore, it Is reasonable to presume that even though Molesworth's team loses as | many games as last seasons aggre-
 gatton. the season will be more inter
 esting than last
 Molesworth, however, is very confi- dent. and it may be that he will flash
 a big surprise. Everyone hopes so, at any rate.
 The Baron outfield looks very prom