The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-18
WITH THE SCRIBES

Chattanooga Times: Who'll be the un- knowns and unexpecteds to startle the Southern league this season?
 Last year brought two brand new stars who slipped into the league unlabeled ex- oept as members of the great milky way of recruits.
 Derrill Pratt, tried out by Greminger in 1910, was a rank failure. Big Ed let him go to the Cotton States. He found by accident that he could recall him and did so. Johnny Dobbs took Pratt be- cause he found him on his roster He saw something in the old University of Alabama star and kept him. Most man. agers on the basis of Pratt's 1910 record, wouldn't have gone to the expense of paying his transportation to camp. Johnny's judgment was rewarded with the best new ballplayer of the season.
 The other surprise was one Red Smith, old Auburn star. Red" had been "kinder' forgotten He had played over in the Carolina circuit and batted 24O or so in Class D. Some wise friend tipped him to Nashville. Brooklyn players com ing through here last spring after play ing Nashville whispered that the Vols had a third sacker who was star. His name was smith, as near as they could remember 1t. only Reds Atlanta friends knew twas he
 Atlanta Journal: The sale of Catcher Jack Tonneman to the Memphis club by New York was deal arranged some weeks ago when Tonneman was first turned over to the Yankee outfit by the Boston Americans. The transfer was made with the understanding that he went to Bill Bernard in case he did not make good with Wolverton.
 Before he was transferred Manager Wolverton conferred with Manager Hemphill in regard to the player and the local mogul turned him down. He is well fixed for catchers and did not think the acquisition of Tonneman would bolster up the staff in the least. Tonneman is a good catcher with fine head hut he can't hit especially hard and this bars him for the Crackers. We want hitters and hittei.s we are going to secure.
 
 Commercial-Appeal: Until the many re- cruit, twirlers have performed before the Ilnanagerial. lamps of Boss Bernhard. the pitehing Separtn,ent will remain doubt full qauntity. Kisinger. Newton and Allen are mon of tried ability This trio know
 
 help to a few of the finer points of the game They will be given thorough try out.
 It is the younger nlounders, ot whom almost nothing is known, that will come in for the greater part of the Big Skip per's time. Willis, who comes from Bur ! lington, looks like the hest bet on paper Clark. the laddybuck purchased from | Waterloo, is also worth a wager. Hf baffled some of the major league batsmer over at the springs and from all accounts l handled himself like classy curver ' Smith and Love are two real uncertain. ties Thexs are known to possess the requisite size, huge hunk of ambition and nice slice of confidence. Whether they are immensely strong beyond that ] however, couldn't he ascertained from g single slat at the duo tossing the ball ir l practice.
 1 Another catcher may also be landed Hickey Brennan, who, incidentally. is the | life of the party, is a fairly good catcher and will more than fill the bill in a pinch But it is understood that negotiations are on for another big mitt artist, and ii is possible that Cowboy Jack Adams is the fellow.