The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-16
CLAIMS BUT FOUR
 PLAYERS BY THE DRAFT ROUTE|
FRS WANTED-ONE PURCHASE, TWO RECALLS AND MANY HELD ON RESERVE LIST

Birmingham put in drafts for only four players, several others originally on the list having been gobbled up by major leaguers. The four are:
 Pitcher Trough, Keokuk. Iowa, Central association.
 Catcher Yantz. San Antonio, Texas league.
 Catcher Onslow. Dallas, Texas league.
 Pitcher Byrd, Anderson, S. C., Caro- lima association.
 These men were recommended to Man ager Molesworth very highly, and if he succeeds in landing them he will be sat isled that he has found one or more valuable stars, who, up to the present time. have wasted sweetness on the desert air
 In this way, from the vast horde of the unknown in past years, Manager Molesworth gathered Dickson Ellam, Nc Bride, Emery, Elliott and others who have made good in this and other leagues.
 Birmingham to date hasn't purchased but one man. He Is Johnson, a brother of the dangerous Doe" Johnson of Chat tanooga, who Is now starring in the Gen. tral association. He led that league last season in stolen bases, has purloined about 40 this season, and is hitting high CT than 300.
 Birmingham has recalled from minor leagues:
 McTigue. pitcher, New Bedford, New England league.
 Boyle, catcher. Haverhil1, New Eng land league.
 Birmingham has reserved:
 c. Molesworth, Roy Ryan, William Mo- Gilvray, Arthur Marcan, Roy Ellam. B. Emery. Clyde Mcbride, E. Fleharty, |. Wagner, Otis Stockdale, Lou Bauer, Mo- Cain Robinson. and. Bill Douglass-in fact, all the Barons of this season save Covaleski and Messenger, who have been recalled by the clubs owning them, and Elliott, drafted by the Boston Nationals.
 Next spring. in case the Birmingham drafts go through, the Baron team will be made up of those players mentioned above. It is probable, however that an other purchase will be announced within the next few days, as an infielder Is be- ing considered at fancy price who will make an ideal man. And when the sea son Is on, there is no doubt but that others from the majors will be induced to come southward
 It has never been Birminghams policy to draft score of men and buy a score of others and reserve a score of others.
 As is known, Birmingham already has good nucleus for next season. Me Bride and Molesworth are certain to make good in the outfeld, and there is every reason to believe that Johnson will deliver the goods as he is man of ex- ceptional promise. In the infield, Nc Gilvray, who, had not Jackson been in the league this season, would have been the star in hitting. run getting. and base stealing is a certainty for the first cor ner. The same can be said of Marcan, who is an excellent fielder and who uses his brain to great advantage.
 And in the box there Is good nucleus around which to build, F1eharty, Bauer. Wagner and Stockdale. It is safe to predict that a first water star will be drawn from the majors before the season Is well on.
 It Is generally believed that Birming- ham will again secure the services of Bob Messenger. Certain correspondence has already taken place in this regard, and 1t is almost certain that if Messenger is not carried as a White Sox regular he will star in the Birmingham outfield next sea son. Some do not believe that Messenger is quite strong enough for the major, but that he Is a bear" in this circuit, goes without saying.
 Very little hope of regaining Elliott is entertained. Catchers are in demand, and there is no doubt but that Elliott is the star of this circuit. And catchers are hard to get. There Is little hope of Boyle, who was on the ground last sea- son. and Ryan is a doubtful quantity So of the four drafts put in, two were for catchers, Texas leaguers, who made good this season.
 Pitcher Trough, who was drafted from the Central association, comes with a brilliant recommendation. He may de- ;n+a