The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-28
BIRMINGHAM AFTER
 WHITE SOX TALENT Probable That Messenger Ru-
 nor Is Mistake BARoNS' FINE NUCLEUS Outlook for Next Season Very Platter ing-some of the Gossip of
 the Winter season--Per-
 due Expected
BARoNs' FINE NUCLEUS

It is reported that the Chicago White Sox management has disposed of Robert Messenger to Louisville.
 This report, however, published in the Sporting News, emanated from Birming- ham and not from Louisville or Chicago.
 The Birmingham Baseball association has heard nothing official on the sub | ject. but there is reason to believe that the report is founded in error.
 Yesterday morning. for instance, let ter was received from Charles Comiskey, owner of the White sox, in which the writer stated that he had several valu- able men to dispose of, and that he would | be glad to give Birmingham the first choice President Baugh immediately wired Comisl1ey that he needed catcher, pitcher and an outfielder. Pres | ident Baugh also wired Manager Moles- worth to go to Chicago and endeavor to close deals with Comiskey.
 | Later in the day letter was sent Co., miskey in which President Baugh stated | that he would like to procure the ser 1 vices of Messenger for another season. | He explained that Messenger was a | drawing card here, and that he had ren. | dered Birmingham good service. It is expected that definite news concerning the Messenger rumor will be received | soon.
 At the present time 1t appears that Birmingham has an excellent nucleus for team next season.
 Tra no txun a air,- | ties in the persons of Molesworth and Mcbride. McGilvray is fixture on first. 1 For the remaining infleld positions there are Marcan, Ellam, Emery and Phelan. | As is seen, one other rattling good | man is needed for the outfield to make | that department as good as 1t was last season. The infield is better than last season, for in addition to the players of last year there is Phelan, obtained from Cincinnati. Phelan is considered an ex- cellent man. both in the field and at the | bat, and 1t would cause no surprise in the | league were he to take rank as the lead | ing third-sacker of the circuit
 Birmingham is stronger too, behind the bat than last season. Elliott will re- turn, and Elliott Is a tower of strength. In addition, there are Ryan, also of last seasons team; Yantz, a recruit of the Texas league; Boyle, a product of the spring of 1910, and Pratt, youngster out of the New England league. Judging | from his work of last season Ryan will
 not be retained. Boyle is too light, il
 is supposed, and there is considerable
 doubt concerning Pratt. But the reports
 of Yantz are fattering, indeed. 1nforma.
 ton from Texas is to the effect that
 while he Is a good catcher-though ir
 need of finishing touches-he Is also a good infielder, and a fairly good hitter
 But with five catchers the management Is not satisfied, and, as stated above, is after another receiver from Chicago.
 The nitcbiug department at the pres ent time is questionable. Of last sea- son's team there will return Fleharty, Bauer, Stockdale and Wagner. Two strong youngsters who are highly touted are Trough of the Central association and chenault of the Pacific Coast.
 There is still chance to land Perdue, Boston, who obtained the Gallatin prod uct from Brooklyn, has promised to turn him over to Nashville in case he is not retained. Nashville will let Birmingham have him. It is not believed that Per due will deliver the goods in Boston. In the first place, he doesn't want to, and he is very anxious to come to Birming- ham. And there Is still some doubt about McTigue, although in the general squabble there is great probability that Birmingham will lose out.
 | Should Messenger be recovered, or some other man as good as he, the sole remain | ing need of Birmingham consists of one | or two absolutely reliable fingers. Of course, in other departments strength could be added, for no team is too strong, especially in it's pitching and catching departments. As stated above, Birming- ham is already endeavoring to close deals
 with the White Sox for valuable men
 And then Philadelphia, which trains hero in the spring. will turn over to this city | the choice of It's surplus men.
 And with, Rick Woodward, President Baugh and Manager Molesworth deter
 mined to land a winner there is no req
 danger that Birmingham will be found out of the first division when the gen.