Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-16
BY Percy II. Whiting.

TT OW about getting Billy Smith
to take over the Atlanta
team before it returns
home? The plan has been suggest
ed to the directors of the Atlanta
Baseball association. OF course
the directors don't admit yet that
they have arranged things with
Billy Spith, but they want him and
he wants to come and there are no
strings tied to him, so it ought to
be tolerably easy.
Also, don't be surprised If he
takes over the team on Septem-
Der l.
The local directors are utterly
disguised with the showing Of the
team since Alperman took It over.
They admit that Whitley" has
tried hard and they Ike him Is
man and as a ball player, but they
don't see any especial reason why
the team under his management
should lose IS per cent of its games.
OF course. now that the news is
out that Smith is to have the team
next year Alperman's hold over
the players win naturally lessen,
SO a new deal is advisable
TT is believed by the local dlrec-
tors that President O, r. An
drews will be delighted to let Billy
Smith out any old time. 1t is pre-
sumed that he is going to put FL
berfeld in Smiths place, anyhow, so
there is everything to be gained
and nothing to be lost by turning
Smith loose, 1t viii save him some
salary and it will enable the new
manager to take hold Of the team
and to study out its needs with
view of plugging the holes next
season. If Smith stays with the
Lookouts it will be a mere matter
of finishing out the season any old
way.
If Smith can be secured to take
hold - the team by September l
there will be lot of advantages.
He can study out the situation and
make plans for next year. He can
look over the new material care
fully
And think Of the crowd that
would greet him if he should make
his re-entry into Atlanta on Sep
TENDER >. which is Labor day.
tt MESS the Chattanooga club
= makes Otto Jordan the man
aver for next year Billy Smith viii
almost inevitably have him back
here playing second base in 1913.
smith knows what he owes to
Joldans help in winning two pen
nants for Atlanta. Jordan was
captain of the team both years
And smith pronounced him the
best second baseman in the world.
The directors of the local club
know Uo their moderate sorroWo
how popular Jordan is. They want
him for sure.
President Andrews of Chatta-
,nooga, will surely be willing to let
Jordan 60. provided he does not
keep him as manager Jordan and
Elberfeld are both i'm effect candi-
dates for she management It,El-
berfeld is given the job he will
naturally not want Jordan on the
team.
From Jordan's standpoint the
change would bee ideal otto has
said that he would rather captain
the Atlanta team than manage the
Chattanooga team--o. that's the
report anyway This is Jordaus
home and he wants TO play with
the Atlanta club.
OF course nobody rs going 70
stand in Jordan's way If he can
get the job of manager in Chatta-
nooga it is the biggest thing that
can fall to has lot, and Bill Smith
will be the first one 10 congratu-
late him. as ne did when Jordan
succeeded him as manager in At
lanta. But if he doesn't land that
Job it is almost'a ten 10 one bet
that ne will be back here at Sec
ond base next spring
A I'D what of Alpeman2 Well
n it's a good bet he will stick, as
sAortstop or as third baseman. or.