The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-19
CHATTANOOGA WILL
 HAVE GOOD PLAYERS
Baseballe Fans Are Satisfied
 With Prospects
PITCHERS HIGH GLASS
and Possibly a Catcher to Make the Team Superior to
 All Others


 (Special.)-Practically the only source of stimulation to the fans here at present is the anticipation of the fact that Man ager Billy Smith will be successful in his mission to the meeting of the leagues at New York, where he went in search of catcher of undoubted ability and two hard-hitting outfielders. The Lookout manager has already secured one man, Outfielder Waldron, formerly of Scran- league. but his batting average is so low, even in that league, that the local bugs are of the opinion that smith acquired him only for use in a future deal. To bolster up the catching department, which at present is composed of Higgins, Uz- man and Lafitte, the Lookout manage ment was especially anxious to acquire Sid Smith, the chesty Cracker. but the recent sale of Mig Clark by Cleveland to St. Louis puts a permanent quietus on that deal, as 1t indicated that Sid will be given permanent berth with the Maps.
 The outfield of the Lookouts for next season unless new material is acquired, will be nodded from Reidy, Waldron, Collins, Zacher and Viola. This, in the opinion of the fans, however. is prepos- terious, as of the entire list now avail able Zacher and Collins alone are con- sidered even possibilities. Reidy Is a sensational fielder but Is not conspicuous enough with the stick to land, while Viola and Waldron are not Class cali bre in any respect. The permanency of Collins himself is considered doubtful here, because of his shyness with the willow. The fans are not discouraged, however, as Smith has been given carte blanche in a financial way, and, with unlimited monetary backing, the bugs are certain that he can land two men whose ability will place the Lookout out field in a class by itself. Zacher is ex- pected to prove a star in this circuit.
 It is when the local bugs gaze over the personnel of the Lookout fiinging staff for 1911 that they really grow ob streperous with enthusiasm and the dawn of the approaching spring dons roseate hue, for this squad Is undeniably the peer of any in the Southern league The coterie of local fingers is now composed of Benton, Covalesh, More, Demaree, Siever, Wagner, Flowers and Justus, and to this aggregation 1t is rumored that Carmichael last year with Buffalo and the property of the Cincinnati club, will be added The local fans are especially glad of the acquisition of Benton as the failure of Manager Dobbs to acquire this man last year before he went to Macon was one of the chief grievances of the bugs against him. Benton, after the close of the season in the Carolina as- sociation in 1903, offered to come to Chat tanooga in the spring of 1910 for trans portation alone, but Dobbs refused to give him a try-out.
 No one here fears, either, that Cova- leskie will be unable to come back The fans are conversant with the fact that the Pole failed disrnally in New York last October while filling the box for the Reds, but they do not anticipate repe- tition of the occurrence on any South ern league diamond. Because of the certainty of Benton and CoYaleski stick ine the fans here are positive that Siever will not be given berth. as Smith would have no need whatsoever for three southpaws. The regular staff when the season opens is practically sure to be Benton, Covaleski. More, Demaree and Carmichael, the most efficient quintet of hurlers ever assembled upon any team 
 in the grand old circuit.
 The 1911 infield is practically deter mined upon already with the exception Of the identity of the guardian of the initial sack. The possession of this will be entrusted to either Murch or Lister. The rest of the infield will be Hulswitt, Sentell, short, and Perry third. The more optimistic of the fans argue that there is a possibility of regaining from the Boston Americans Stephen Yerkes the class of the league at short last season, for next years guardian of the third sack, but the more conserva- tive supporters of the winter league do not think this probable. The rumor gen. erally prevalent here is that Yerkes. In case he does not begin next year his actual work as understudy of Charlie Wagner, will be given a berth on the Pacific coast As third baseman Yerkes would be great improvement over Perry, as his whip is far superior to the latter's, not to mention the fact that he will outhit him 70 to 50 points.
 The local fans are far from being dis satisfied with the Lookouts as they now stand, but although the present aggrega- tion would make a creditable showing in the race they are positive that the two weak spots of the machine, the receivers and outflelders, will be perceptibly strengthened before the tap of the bell in April.