Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-07-29
BY Percy H. Whiting.
*" HARLEY HEMPHILL IN

ueTeSllIndleQ tne strength
of the Southern league"
So many people said when the for
mer Highland outdelder was re-
duced TO the ranks
But it was impossible.
No man could have underesti-
mated the strength Of the present
Southern league.
II is the weakest in all history.
The Southern association of 1912
lacks many thousands of being the
cheapest league in all history 1t
is not the Youngest 1t isn't the
Oldest 1t isn't even the slowest
But it is the weakest. Oppose
the present eight clubs against
those which played in the strongest
league of all history and the teams
OF the current league would lose
four out OF five games.
If the Birmingham team wins
the pennant this year it will be one
of the weakest teams that ever per-
formed probably the very weak
est since the lamented Newt Fisher
copied
1t numbers one really remarkable
player, Almeida That let's 1t out.
The only other things the team is
noted for are team play, spirit
eyIngor ana u,iUipopaec II &c tho
"wilingest" team of all history and
Is playing better ball considering
it's normal ability. than any other
team in the South ever did before
just as the Atlanta team this sea
son has been playing the worst
bah in the world, considering the
natural and proved ability of the
individual players.
7 Asst wears league was tolerably
- strong The team that won the
pennant wasn't any wonder. But
the general class Of the league was
tolerably high 1t numbered some
really good hitters in Pratt Red
Smith, Butcher. Northern, Kirke
and Daley; some good tielders in
Schwartz. Jordan, Marcan, Manush,
Elwert. knapp and Lindsay. and
some fair pitchers in Hess, Max
well, Aitchison, Bair Kent Prough,
Finlayson, Benton, Demaree, AL
len. Wagner and FoXen.
The 1910 league was another that
was fairly weak The pennant-
winning team New Orleans. was
largely made up Of Hess Joe Jack
son and Manush. with a few M
ers" The only batters OF the
league outside Joe jackson were
timers -MeGilvray, Swacina,
Molesworth, Meek and schwartz.
Hess and Coveleskie were the only
notable pitchers The other leaders
were veterans like Frank Sparks.
Theodore Breitenstein. Whitley
Guese. Tom Fisher ana Piggy"
Paige
In 1909, the last year Atlanta won
the pennant, Bill Smith had a pref
ty strong team here. and one that
could trim the present league lead
ers with ease The league. on a
whole. though, was not exception
ally strong 1t numbered some real
ly great players. like Jake Daubert.
Wheat Kirkpatrick. Perdue. Hess.
Maxwell and Suggs but that let IT
out
The Nashville team that won the
pennant of 1908 was another joke.
Barring Jake Daubert, Hub Perdue
and Humpty McF1yeen il didn't
have bail player that lasted
through the season and the club
numbered such Jokes as Jack
Hardy and such old-timers as Kel-
mm Wiseman. East Bay and Sea-
Dough
It was a great league, perhaps
the greatest though even IL the
strength wasn't concent ated in
any one team !, had Iris Speaker.
Lord Beals Becker. Molesworth
Ghen in his prime) SHenline Baer-
Vald ga bear that YEAR, McENeen.
fom Downey Jake naubert Ow-
ems Zack Wheat Dolly stark.
Breitenstein sin tbr beast form or
his ga oell, Roy Castlcton. Hub
rerdue Russell Ford Prince Gas-