The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-26
WORDSWORTH HAS
 SIGNED MORRIS Led Sally League and Finished
 With St. Louis
PHILLIPS WRITES OF MOLLY
Big Batch of Contracts Signed. Molesworth Wants One More Pitcher and Then He
 Will Rest.

Manager MOleSWOrtb strenS SIheneu Ills prospective inheld yesterday when he purchased from the St. Louis Nationals Morris, a second baseman and shortstop.
 The purchase price was S750
 Last season. Morris was second base man and shortstop of the Savannah team of the South Atlantic league, and man aged the club Savannah finished second in the race and led the third club almost as far as Savannah was led by Jackson vile.
 At the close of the South Atlantic sea- son Morris was purchased by the St. Louis Nationals and played with that club until the close of the National league season. Molesworth saw him work in Cln- cinnau against Cincinnati, was attracted by his spectacular work and laid plans for his acquisition.
 From the records Morris is a grand in- fielder, though comparatively an ordinary hitter He led the South Atlantic second basemen and shortstops in fielding play ing second H games and shortstop 99. It is seen that he was in every game of the season. He played 23 games with St. Louis.
 His South Atlantic record follows:
 As second baseman, H games, 6l put outs, 60 assists, 1 errors; percentage .9oS.
 As shortstop, 99 games, 206 put-outs, Sl1 assists, S9 errors. percentage, $50.
 Hitting, 12O games; at bat 4l0 runs 70, hits 91; percentage .222.
 With the acquisition of Morris, Manager Moesworth announces that he rests with the exception of his pitching staff. He will acquire one other frst-rate twirler in case such, in the opinion of the manager, A.E.. atl cd It la is of big league experience.
 Manager Molesworth is satisfied with his team, and can see where no other manager around the league has anything on him"
 Yesterday he received a very fine letter from silver Bile Phillips, the old Southern league twirler, who. writing about Molly, had the following to say:
 Molly was easily the best man in this league last year. He worked in 30 games, of which number he won IS. It is a matter of record, too, that seven of his 12 defeats were by the scores of to O."
 Flattering reports of Kane, catcher, and Raftus, third baseman, both with the Binghampton club of the New York State league, continue to reach local baseball headquarters.
 Two young travelling men of Binghamp- ton were in the city yesterday and one of them, A. D. McMichael, had the fol- lowing to say:
 "Raftus was easily the best infelder in the league He is a good hitter, exceed- ingly fast around third and good base runner. He is scrappy. and contests every point. He is a college man and an Elk. He conducts himself as a gentleman.
 Pat Kane is an excellent young catch CT, a hard worker and most aggressive man. He often gets into trouble with the umpires on account of his desire to win. He will fight you, too, and the way he devoured Outfelder Duffie, who was formerly with Birmingham, one sultry afternoon is well remembered by Bing- hampton folk.
 T think you have two excellent men from the New York State league, and predict that both will make rattling sue cesses in the southern. Kane is an ex- ceedngly hard worker. As the record shows he caught 100 games, 40 of when were in succession
 The news of Kane made Molesworth feel unusually good. With such hard working, serappy young player to assist Raub. the manager feels that he is strong behind the bat and it really appears as if he will have nothing to fear in this department.
 Rastus, from all accounts, and there have been many, one of which is his record, is an excellent man. hard hit ter, a great base runner and fine field CT Ellam comes eXcellently recommend ed, although not as much is known con- cerning him as some others whom Moles- worth has signed. Morris on second ap- pears from his record in the South At lantie to be fine innelder, and Bowen of Lynchburg comes with recommenda- tions second to none. GygH from all ac- counts is an excellent youngster, fast and hard hitting, with great speed. Doug lass, as everyone familiar with baseball knows, is a safe first baseman, hit ter far better than the ordinary, man of experience and long head.
 That intield does not look bad.
 According to Molesworths plan, Bowen will be retained as the utility man. Lar sen will probably be 'farmed.'
 Quite a bunch of contracts were re- turned yesterday with signatures at tached Among the number were those of the veteran Bill Douglass, Shortstop Ellam, Pitcher Laird of the Cotton States and Catcher Paddy Kane
 The contracts received to date are those of the following: Kane, McGilyary, FL lam, Douglass, Laird, Bauer, Fleharty, Moore, Molly, Hemp, Johkers, Bowen, Gygli and Ford
  line. Dickson and Raub are still out. Raftus and Raub have agreed to sign on arrival Tickets have been sent to both Morris, who was purchased yes terday, will probably sign without trou- ble, and while two contracts have been sent to Henline the notice of the recep lion of either has not been received. But no trouble with Henline is expected, oe- cause Henline has been favored by an increase in salary, which everyone real izes he deserves.
 Of the above list of players, all but Hemp, Laird and Johkers are fairly well known to local fans. Johkels is young catcher who desires to advance in his profession Last season he was with Mattoon of the Illinois league. So highly was he recommended that Molesworth &C., ouired him in spite of the fact that has two excellent men for the backstop de- partment Laird, season before last was star twirler in the Cotton States league. Last season he worked but short while before he was downed by fever. Bir mingham has received several applica- tions from would-be purchasers of this young man, the most pressing one com ing from Roy Montgomery, manager of the Zanesville club of the Ohio State league, who knows the youngster and what he can do. Hemp Is a St. Louis semi-professional who was recommended by Cincinnati's great scout, Louis Heil- broper. Last season as is known when a third sacker was badly needed Bir- mingham endeavored to secure this youngster, but parental objections pre- vented him coming.
 President Baugh and Manager Moles- worth returned yesterday morning from