The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-31

pl ably h.. up in the pitching staff.
 The Pelicans were strong in pitchers last year but at that there were several back-sets in this particular depart ment. One of those was the failure of Bert Maxwell to round to form, and another was the slowness of Theodore Breitenstein in showing the form that later in the season proved that Breiten- stein was Just as much of bear with his eId southpaw as ever.
 Manager Frank thinks he has gather ed the best pitching staff for the com ing season that he has ever had. Here is the pitching lineup:
 Pitching Force Good
 Otto Hess, George Paige, Theodore Breitenstein and Bert Maxwell of last years crew; Al Klawitter, last season with Memphis; Bill Graham, formerly of Shreveport, St. Louis, Chattanooga and Macon; Sam Lanford, who led the Carolina association pitchers in 1907
 There's not much gainsaying that's a good pitching staff. Charley Frank thinks that 1t is about as nifty a staff as any minor league team can boast of
 Frank says he has five catchers signed up, but the names of only four are known. These are John Mitchell. Gribbens Shriver and Edwards, the lat ter Georgia youngster. His catchin g staff doesn't look exceptionally strong. in fact 1t looks weak in quality if not in number. Mitchell didn't get much chance last season, but he was a fail ure in what little he did. The Dutch man lost great asset In Jim Laftte, the fireman-ca tcher who will be with Billy Smiths Chattanooga team next season. But if Frank lost good man in Lafitte he surely annexed a good In Jo.I~ traded Lafitte.
 Johnston Will Be n Star
 The Pelican leader believes that John ston will be his star this season, John ston will be played on first base and If ne develops as rapidly as Frank thinks ne VIII he will bring a good price from some big league club, for there are about half dozen major league clubs looking Tor frse basemen. There is a dearth of first basemen, and any man who shows well on the bag in Class A league is corSidered worth pretty near his weight in gold.
 Manager Frank hasn't decided how he Will shape up his infield The only four lhneiders he has garnered so far are Johnston, Joe Pope and the two stand bYs, George Rohe and Bill Lindsey. Rohe will probably play third. This is a spot where the Pels will be weaker than last year. They don't grow many third base men like Frank Manush.
 Henry Butcher will be depended on to do lot of the Pelicans' heavy sticking next summer, and to bring about this consummation Frank will shift him from left field to center. Butcher played the sun field at Pelican park all last season, and it affected his batting Hejs logi- cal 300 swatter in company like this, and Will doubtless show it this season.
 Hyder Barr Retained
 Hyder Barr. who has been in Charley Franks fishing camp on the coast nearly all the winter and is in grand shape, will play the sun field. John Weimer will stay in right
 Instead of sending down one pennant to the Pelcian club for last years work the pennant manufacturers have sent three, evidently under the impression that there are three flag poles at Pelican park. Manager Frank says each flag sig nifies years victory, and he intends to win the Southern league championship for the next two years to come
 Whether the Pelicans will be any stronger after the big league teams come and go remains to be seen. It is believed, though, that Frank will ask for nothing more than a catcher.