The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-17

southern league has been played.
 The race was exciting from the first to the conclusion of the final day of the season. On the final day the pennant was won.
 Taking an early lead in May the Peli- cans have set the pace for practically the entire year. In July 1t was generally conceded that New Orleans had cinched the pennant beyond redemption. Towards the middle of August, however, the Mont gomery Billikens threatened the sway of Manager Frank of New Orleans, and there was prospect of the team of Man. ager Dobbs landing the rag until the Pels met that aggregation and put them temporarily out of the hunt. Following the elimination of the Billikens, the Bir- mingham Barons became the rivals of -he Pelicans, and it happened that after a most sensational race the former were within half a game of the latter up 10 ten days ago. Then the Pelicans met the Barons and disposed of them as they had disposed of the Bllikens.
 When the Barons were eliminated the .Billikens again assumed the role of chief ~-%@ Pelicans not practically flung into their column three luscious victories, was, from the first jump, apparently futile. So New Orleans, twice in succession. wins the pennant of the league.
 : In addition to the three cornered race for the pennant which has kept the fans of the league on the qui yive for several weeks. there has been additional excite ment over the race for second place. Montgomery and Birmingham were the principal actors in this play, too. For a long while Birmingham was favored to win But New Orleans defeated Birming- ham four times in succession, and Mont eomery, having proflted from the gifts in victories of the New Orleans club, soon after. met the Barons and defeated them. There has never been a doubt as to The occupant of the fourth position in the race, Nashville has held that honor for several weeks. Manager Schwartz made fine record during the season. He opened with what appeared rank bush 5leaguers,' and made team of their rem nant increased by worthy collection of talent from the big show. Chattanooga, though hailed in the beginning of the race as the best aggregation of the cir cult, has found itself at the conclusion of the race in command of the first place in the second division. The greatest disap- Dointment of the season was the com 4paratively miserable showing of the LOOK souts of Chattanooga. Memphis. consid- cred at the beginning contender for rf.,t1, place Mobile gets seventh, and Atlanta follows as the salted down champion of ,the noble order of tailenders. The At .aanta Crackers have been in the hole foi the greater portion of the season.
 The league this season was not enSre- ly free from politics. In June, for in stance Manager Frank of New Or Jeans, realizing that should he main stain his team intact the race would become so one sided that it would be en- tirely devoid of interest. got busy With the pruning hook He sent pitcher, an outfielder and an infielder to Cleveland, turned Maxwell and Foxen. two excellsnt pitchers over to Birmingham, and gave George Rhoe, his veteran third baseman and field captain. to Mobile. By the SC movements, Frank made of what would shave been an uninteresting race one of
 
 the league, and at the same time furnished such excellent sport that the fans of the circuit, enthused, freely turned loose the shekels, out of which baseball is made. As a matter of fact, 1t Is presumed that the cities, Atlanta excepted, which gen. orally make money, profited as result of Manager Franks shrewdness. Chatta- nooga, on account of its expensive team and the disappointment caused by the Mod of that has nrOhalD1V made no money this year.
 2 But for the result of the games be- tween Birmingham and New Orleans and Birmingham and Montgomery, it would be safe to say that Manager Molesworta' s cam, when disadvantages of all natures are given due consideration, has played the most wonderful baseball of the year in the Southern league. And in other respects, Birmingham has proved itself the real backbone of the association.
 AS is remembered, in the very begii- ming, the Birmingham players fell prey to accidents which have followed with marvellous persistency throughout the entire season. First Pitcher Wag- ner fell, and dislocating his shoulder, has been of little value for the entire year. Then in Mobile Roy Ellam, ori1- liant shortstop, sustained fractioned collarbone, and his absence from the bat tie, cost many sweet victories. Then phe- Ian sustained a fracture of the nose which put him out of the game for a while and impaired his playing for several .yveess Mowrey, right fielder, in sliding Unto second base, broke bone in his right foot and has not played in sevcrli months% Jimmy Johnston, right fielder, 3sofne weeks ago, just the fight for the pennant held q promise of Baronial sue cess, was struck on the head by pitched ball, and has not since stood in shoe leather. Disappointments, born on the first day of the season, have followed 10 s- the end. Much was expected as is re- ,nembered, from the Philadelphia Nation als ysho trained on Redwood Field. Now rev. an ouLiieder, obtained from tha. team. broke his leg, as explained above, soon after his utilization with the Barons TWO pitcher. Wilhelm an Schettler. were absolutely worthless and were discarded. Another disappointment was the hitting slump of, Manager Monesworth and Left fielder McBrde. These two players. in the season of 1910. hit around the .30) mark. Neither. in the season just passed. hardly escaped the 225 mark. Pitcher F'e- harty who was counted mainstay proved worthless to Birmingham. Other incidents of the season were the spi,Sns of Catcher Elliott by Manager Swacina of Mobile, necessitating the temporary .retirement from the game. Of that hril- liant player. and a strafning of the mas cles of the legs Of Moesworth, whlcn made his playing. even up to the last day, very ordinary in comparison With lhe sterling fielding of which he IS capable.
 But through it all. the Barons pore themselves bravely. Manager Molesworsh :!