The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-11
| WORDSWORTH IS
 FAST GETTING HIS TEAM IN SHAPE Manager Talks About Pros poets For Year On the
 Diamond NEW MATERIAL TO
 BE GIVEN TRYOUT MoIey Says He Is Making No Claims For Pennant, But Thinks He Has Foundation For Mighty
 Good Team
By JACK BETHEA

Baseball sap is rising and if the warm weather continues the fans will soon be- gin to blossom. Whisperings of dope are heard on the street corners at present and speculation Is keen as to the Baron team for 1911.
 Manager Molesworth is here. busy mak- ing arrangements for the opening games and the spring training of the Baron squad The men will report on March 8, which is less than a month away. On March 1 the Philadelphia Nationals will arrive In Birmingham and will remain until March 20 During the time they are here exhibition games will be played with the Barons and the fans will have an opportunity of getting a line on the new men.
 Every contract for 1911 has been sent out by Moley as no holdouts have been reported He is expecting to begin to get contracts back in a short time.
 Prospects for good team this year are better at present than they ever were before at this time of the season. stated the manager yesterday. in discussing the team. T am depending greatly on getting
  and have line on several good ones.'
 A number of last years team will re- turn this year, but they will have to fight for their positions. Mcbride will again play left field, the chubby manager will amble in center. while it is possible that Messenger will return. If he does not make good in the big league he will be returned to Birmingham.
 Three of the infielders will return. Mo Gilvray will play first, Marcan second and Ellam will handle the short field Elliott will be behind the bat and Ryan will be given chance to make good. He will have to do better than last year if he is retained, states the manager Emery, who played third base in 1910, will try for the catching staff this season. Fle- harty, Bauer and Wagner will be the nu- cleus for the pitching staff. All of them are good ones and are in good condition.
 Try Out New Players
 A number of new players will be tried out. The hole at third base will be filled with Phelan, who was secured from Cin- cinnati. Phelan comes to Birmingham with the highest recommendations. He hit 1875 in the Central association and made creditable fielding record It is thought that he will make a good man.
 Davis will play right field temporarily until Molesworth secures the fielder he is counting on getting from the big league. Davis Is from Meridian and in case he fails to make good will be returned there. The manager is confident of securing d good man for the right garden if Messen- ger makes good with the majors.
 For the pitching staff Kent has been bought from the White Sox and accord ing to all reports is a good one. He was not quite fast enough for the big circuit, but will probably prove star in the Southern Trough has been draft ed from the Central association and Che nault will come from Seattle, Wash, in the Northwestern league. The men are all big fellows, being six feet high and weighing over 175 pounds Molesworth picks Fleharty, Wagner, Kent and Che naut as the ones to make good With the pitcher from the majors this will make a good pitching staff and one that wi,l be hard to beat.
 Molesworth has secured Pratt from the New England league and Vance from the Texas league to try for the backstop Pratt led the catchers of the New Eng iand league and Vance made good with San Antonio. Vance plays the infield and outfield, and will make good utility man. He is no slouch at the willow, 50 tis said.
 Exhibition Games
 The exhibition games will begin as soon as Manager Molesworth whips his material into shape. The Philadelphia Nationals will have several games here during their training.
 In addition to those games contracts have been closed for two games with Rochester A game will be played at Redwood on March 22, and the day fol- lowing both teams go to Anniston for a game. On March 25 Birmingham will play Detroit. March 2S McGraw's Giants will be entertained, and the day follow ing the Highlanders will have a game. On April 2 and 8 Toronto will play here.
 These are all the exhibition games that are arranged for, but 1t is probable that mere will be played. The Birmingham fans will have treat in the games with the Phillies and will be enabled to get H good line on the local players. A force of workmen are busily at work on Redwood Field, and when the opening game of the season occurs 1t will be the prettiest field in the south The infeld will be sodded, as well as the out1eld, and the diamond will be in prime cond- ton. Heaters have been installed in the dressing rooms for the convenience of the players in spring training. While I am making no claims for the pennant, believe that we have the foun- daton for a mighty good ball team" said Manager Niolesworth yesterday afternoon. "All of the old players retained are re- liable men and good hitters, and I am confident of developing my new men into | fast players.
 Birmingham fans need not worry about the team for 1911, as we will be well up | in the race. have had no trouble with | my men and am determined to have har- mony. I expect to get pitcher and an outfielder from the major leagues that will be stars in this company. 1 "On the whole, I feel greatly encour- | aged at the outlook for 1911. "In regard to the other teams in the | A aAn no WYo e