davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
BESSEMER LANDS JOHNSTON.
 JIMMY MORGAN AND REAGAN

out for the outfield. although he has played other positions
 R, E. Reagan, who was called Rip Reagan. played last season with the Decatur club and with the Meridian team in the Cotton States league There he played shortstop in about 7os games. He batted .243 and fielded abot1t 940 He Is said to be good youngster and q fast fielder. He will no doubt try out for shortstop or third base.
 Jimmy Morgan is a Birmingham boy, who has played year or two of pro fesslonal ball and is rattling good fielder.
 Manager Hickman expects to land a man or so from the Barons and will try to get heavy hitting outfield. If he can do this then the infielders will be youngsters who are good fielders Four pitchers will be carried, includlne himself. He says if he can get into good shape he should be able to win a few games. He began working out a few days ago with the Barons.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
M'BRIDE REVIEWS
 LIFE'S HISTORY

Clyde McBride is not a veteran by any means for he is just 26 years old. He has been playing with the Barons since 1910. Mcbride is of Irish descent and is proud of it. He has been playing ball for number of years and has been with pro- fessional teams since 1908.
 He was smitten by Cupid during the past winter and is another Baron who, has recently married. He is a good hitter when he is in good condition and good fielder. His first season here was successful one. for he made but two errors throughout the year
 q was born just 26 years ago in Will Transport, Pa, 'on october 3. l was edu- cated in the public schools there and played on baseball team in that city. When 1 was IS years old went to Ne braska and Kansas, where I played with the different independent teams in those states. l played good ball for them and attracted a bit of attention.
 "A friend of mine knew John Tighe, who was managing the Rock Island team in the Central association, and he recom- mended me to him. l went with the ROCK Island team as third baseman in 1908 and played the entire season. 1 batted PAY that seoson and fielded well. In 1908 returned to Rock Island and played for my first season in the outfield. That year was d good one for me. and I batted .276 and fielded about 9SO. Molesworth draft ed me and I reported the next season for spring training.
 q managed to make the team that sea- son and played left field for She Barons. That season. I played throughout and made but two errors in the outfeld and really l don't believe ] should have made those 1 batted 27S and also stole few bases.
 'rhe next season l hurt my hand to- ward the beginning of the season, and as the Barons were crippled up I had to play anyway. That was the reason l did not do so well last season. However, I hope to he in good shape this season. and if | do round into the proper condition am going to make them all hustle for po- sitions.
 'I am just feet inches tall and weighs l62 pounds I live in Rock Island. H.. in the winter, where I am employed as inspector in the Rock Island Flow fac tory l have never played any other sport to any degree. l am going to do my best to stay here this year and hope to have a good season."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
[EW[S[A
LHSH AiJIH All | mpirc southern Association

During my career as an umpire l have won and lost many a game by some de cision. No doubt l have often erred, os sll umpires do, but I gave the plays just as 1 saw them Naturally a number of these decesions have not met with the approval of the fans Often they have i'm pressed this fact me in a rather forci- ble manner. 1 have been very fortunate in having few freak decisions come up in my work as an umpire
 As all umpires know, players in a de- sire to cover mp mistake, often shift the blame on the umpire, or a least at tempt to do SO. During my long career as a player, l often saw the umpire draw a lot of censure for situation that was caused by the player. This fact recalls a little incident that happened at Nashville last year in n game between New Or leans and Nashville. The score was very close, and near the end of the game Nun son of Nashville hit for what was appar- ently good for three bases. l noticed he missed first base by quite a wide margin as he rounded that bag. The play at third was close, but I declared him safe. At this stage Johnson, who was playing first for New Orleans, and who had also
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
SOMETIMES STARS ON CORNER LOTS ARE OVERLOOKED

Derrill Pratts rise to fame has been spectacular. Only few short years ago he was playing shortstop for the Uni- yersity of Alabama in the spring and in the fall for the same institution was punt ing the longest field goals ever recorded in American history.
 Following his college career, he hung as a well ripened plum for the first who approached to shake off. Montgomerys manager the rotund Ed Greminger, as a result of certain persuasion, agreed to give the youngster an opportunity. From that start, within less than ten months, Pratt has reached a pinnacle on which he is viewed as one of the most promis- ing young ball players in the United States.
 During the spring of 1910, Greminger whose astuteness, alas was not in pro- portion to his avordupois, permitted Pratt to strain his arm in throwing to bases. This accident resulted in the soungster making a trip 10 Hattiesburg Of the Cotton States league. Gremnger was so careless, furthermore, and so un- Hppreciative of the value of the man he ido lnfOuEna puIeSt dCcluenl ulSCONeftu that the string by which he attached Pratt was not of very much strength. Any manager could have broken that string without a violation of the pro- prieties
 Gene Demont, while scouting for Char lie Frank of the Peicans, urged that al legged to be willy mogul to grab the young iraD. Frank pretended to do so, but aidr.t
 As a result, Pratt returned to Monteom- cry in the spring of 1911. The people of the Capital City told Johnny Dolsbs, whc, Fortunately for Montgomery, had suc- oeeded Gremjnger as manager, that an over-touted lemon was Derrill Pratt One night in the Exchange Hotel, Dobbs asked this writer for his opinion of the player, and as a result heard the pre- diction that Pratt would prove to be the most promising young ball player who had broken into the southern league from amateur circles in a hundred years
 For some reason Dobbs was impressed. In the spring Pratt reported. After workout of week or more, the manager told the writer that his expressed opinion was correct. Pratt finished the season with the Billil<ins and was to the infeld of that runner up aggregation what Jad
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
BILL" AND "LIL"
 COME SATURDAY

Bill McGlvray and 'Lil" Marcan have written to Manager Molesworth that they will arrive Saturday. Bill is stopping at Hot Springs, where he Is boiling out and has been working there since Monday. He writes that he is going to get into condition and that he expects to have his usual good season.
 Marcan has written from his home in Milwaukee that he will roll into Baron vile Saturday and that he is in good shape. He expects to make second again this year and will no doubt make the youngsters hustle to beat him.
 When these two arrive in the village there will be but one player who will not be in Birmingham. George Yantz has steadfastly refused to come to terms, and it seems will stay out of baseball rather than play for the terms that "Moley" has dictated. However, Moles- worth is not worrying about catchers at the present time for Lemon and Dilger look exceedingly fine.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15

Manager Gordon Hickman announced yesterday that three more ball play CTS have been signed by the Bessemer club. Clifton Johnston, brother of Jimmy Johnston and Dock Johnston, signed a contract yesterday. He has never played professional ball, although be is older than Jimmy. Rip" Reagan. who played last season with Decatur, also sent in his signed contract, while Jimmy Morgan, a local third baseman, was signed.
 Clifton Johnston has had no experi- once excepting that he has played with different amateur and independent teams. However, he comes from fine ball playing family and Manager Hick man took him on that recommendation alone. He is just about the size of Jimmy and is 2i years old. He will try
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
BOB MESSENGER PICKED UP sS75 IN CITY SERIES
MESSENGER IN BIRMINGHAM
 ANXIOUS TO BEGIN PRACTICE
Bob Pulled Down S875 in Chicago City Championship But is not Seeking Investment Molesworth Says That St. Louis Game Will Be Played Despite Bad Weathet
 Players Troubled With Stiff Joints

a pair of water wings and were blessed with the knowledge of swimming, there might have been very interesting game Since the players reported there has been but one day suitable for practice and that was Sunday. 68
 The players are yet stiff and sore The catchers complain, while all the pitchers are more or less out of condition Bill Foxen and Kane are exceptions, as they have been doing indoor work The only first baseman is a little stiff about the waist.
 Molesworth believes that the weather will break and that the grounds will be in condition for the game to be played Saturday with the Browns. He said last night that if the weather was fair today the grounds would be in good shape. St. Louis is not in as good shape as the Barons.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
GREATEST STARS LEARNED
 BASEBALL ON CORNER LOTS
Story Der Prats Rise to Fame and Advice to Managers to Watch Work of Local Product-How Southern League Overlooked Ty Cobb, Nap Rucker,
 Dixie Walker and Others
BY HUGH W. ROBERTS

Daley was to the outfield and Bill Bailey 10 the pitching staff.
 Last season Pratt tied Red" Smith, another college boy, incidentally, for bat
 ting honors. They had an average Of .316 with the stick. II is unnecessary, in view of the experiences of Jackson, Wheat, Daubert, Speaker, Kirke and others, 10 state that a man who can hit .3o0 in the Southern league can hit .300 in any other old league. Therefore. it Is a safe prediction that Pratt will sting the ball for the St. Louis Browns as hard as he stung it for Montgomery. In view of the fact that St. Louis, in recent history, has not been a power in the American league, there is regret among the friends of Pratt in Alabama that he did not iand with the Giants, the Tigers, the Athletics, or the Cubs. But
 there is another side 10 the argument When St Louis latches on to half dozen other Pratts, that team will rank with
 any other in Ban Johnsons circle. For
 the good of baseball. it is necessary, in
 other words, that the weak clubs he
 strengthened.
 The writer has come to the conclusion that the adage, "A prophet is not with out honor save in his own country should be changed to read: "A star bail player is never developed in his own state"
 IT. Cobb, for instance. never performed on q team of the Southern league. al though he was born, reared and grew to manhood in Georgia. Dixie Walker lived for many years within a store's throw of Redwood Field, but he was never given commission to hew down opposing batsmen for Birmingham. Nap Fucker was given tryout by Atlanta. but received the can before he had had time to show what he really possessed. And the instances are inntmerable. In the case of Pratt. it is the merest ac- cident that he was developed in Alabama Greminger was highly skeptcal. Other
 managers couldn't see him with a micro scope.
 There is a great opportunity presented 10 managers of clubs in the smaller leagues. There are other Ty Cobbs in existence. They are today playing around the corner lots of Birmingham. Atlanta, Memphis, New orleans and even Mont gomery.
 We are glad to note that Manager Hickman of the Bessemer club of the Southeastern league has signed a dozen local boys. He should give everyone good chance to show his worth. The ma jority may be too weak for regular season work But some of them, it is probable, will develop.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
Barons-Browns Game Will Occur

Yesterday the ball players warmed the stoves and "cussed,, Jupiter Pmvius for his constant batter. Such stories as If it. was warm and T sure am sore were frequently heard.
 Charles (Bob) Messenger arrived early Thursday morning from his home in Maine and the boys seemed glad to see him. He looks to be in good condition and says that he was on a farm all winter. Messenger made ss75 out of the series between the Chicago teams and has notiyet been able to get rid of it. However. he is not looking for an invest ment.
 The boys will go out to Redwood this morning at 10 o'clock and slip about the muddy field. Yesterday, if each had had
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
Shillings Resigned

New York. March 14.-Although Car roll Shillings' contract with Charles Pohler was terminated a short time ago it is to be renewed and the jockey will go to France to join the stable which was shipped last Sunday. MT. kohler decided to dispense with Shil- lings' services because there is so lit tie for a flat rider to do on the French jumping courses He was loath to lose a clever rider. but finally made ar engagements whereby August Belmont is to share in the services of Shillings. Between them they hope to find plenty employment for the jockey.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15

noticed Munson missing first, called for the ball. Receiving same. he touched the bag and l instantly declared Munson put. Munson was naturally sore. but you can imagine my surprise when he uttered these words of protest.
 If you intended calling me out, why didn't you call me out at third instead of first then l would have received credit for a two base ht?"
 Undoubtedly what would have been the hardest decision of,my career was avert ed because of an oversight on the part of the Atlanta players Memphis and At lanta were batting hard for the pennant, both tied in the race, and only a few games to play. Atlanta had three run lead. With two out and man on second. the batter singled, scoring the man from second, who by the way, missed third base by yard. Had any Atlanta pla yer seen the play l would have been forced to declare the runner out, retiring the side. Memphis made three more runs that inning, just enough to win the game. Atlanta finally won the pennant by a scant margin. so the game didn't figure as prominently in the outcome of the race as l thought it would
 Copyright, w. G. Evans, 1912
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
Baseball in St. Clair

odenville, March 1t-(Special.)-The baseball outlook at the St. Clair county high school is not bright, although much promising green material is out for the team. But threei players from last year will return. They are Swafford, Y. Hurst and Mize. Swaf- ford was the star catcher of St. Clair county last year He was the heaviest slugger on the team. Y. Hurst, who was the substitute pitcher last year, will be back this year, and will try for first pitcher. Carl Hurst is known as the baby" pitcher because of his size His height is feet inches and weighs so pounds. He is very speedy and has a nice assortment of curves. The high school will arrange games with all of the teams of St. Clair county.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
WITH THE SCRIBES

Mobile Register: Manager Mique Finn can tell many. many stories of baseball,
 baseball players and incidents of the
 game, and he don't mind telling one occa- sionalls on himself. as the following sprung at his expense by Musgsy Mo
 Graw, during the recent visit of the new
 Gull chief to the Giants training camp. will show.
 It came up over the world famous
 Bugs" Raymond, the gentleman of wa ter wagon" fame, because he refuses to ride said wagon. While Finn was look ing over and discussing different players he wanted, McGraw told him that he would like to dispose of Bugs and knew
 of no one he would rather see get him than Mike.
 "Why, I don't want him. Mike replied,
 in answer to McGraw's query as to how
 he would like to purchase Bugs McGraw insisted that he would make
 Finn a good man and near caused Mike
 to faint when he announced that he would
 take 5000 for Bugs"
 Five thousand.' gasped Finn. "Yes." answered McGraw. "Fivo thousand what?" shouted Mike
 Beers" answered Muggsy. l Mobile Item: Manager Finn had four
 more of his men to report to him last night and they will be out in uniforms today. The bunch that came in last night
 was Dee Walsh, the fast shortstop of the Mobile club; Catcher George. Miller.
 Pitcher Tom Gilroy of Miami and Pitch CT A. A. NueIle of the St. Louis semi- professional team.
 | Walsh is somewhat overweight, but this will come down with some severe work outs. He has sto battle this year with Joe Kneaves at short and some warm
 stuff is looked to be pulled off. l Chattanooga Times-The proposed trans- 1 fer of Gene Demont and his bunch of "Litttle Pels'' from the Carrollton avenue ball yard to Algiers will hardly occur. | Though this information was not given
 out officially. President Lewis of the Cot
 ton States league. who spent Sunday in ! New Orleans, did not seem particularly elated in arranging to shift the Demont | enterprise. The Cotton States executive
 intimated that the understanding between
 Demont and the other c. S. L~'mags" at
 the time of the Yazoo City transfer was
 that all of the contests would be played at | Pelican park.
 | It is likely that the offer of the Algiers people will be turned down within. the next day or two by Demont and Heine-
 mann, as both of the local officials have
 made several trips across the river and
 do not act as though they were favoraby | impressed.
 Unlike other seasons in the Cotton 1 States league. President Lewis is of the opinion that the twin campaign this year
 will result profitably for everybody con- | cerned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
Gulls Report Fast

Mobile, March 14.-Pitfhers Demaree and Campbell. who were With Mobile last season. and First Baseman Rowan of the Mobile club. arrived today. Rowan will take Swacina's place, the latter going to Newark.
 Manager Finn of the Mobile club will not get a man from Cleveland this year. as he says that Charles Frank of New Orleans has the option on everything already
 Manager Davis of the visitors will push his players through a basketball game with the Young Mems Christian associa- tion team before tomorrows
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
No Game, Rain

Fort Worth, March 1.-The sched- uled practice game between Texas Christian university's baseball team and the Detroit Americans at Monroe, La, Sunday has been cancelled because of recent heavy rains.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
Memphis Gets Schweitzer

Cincinnati, March 14.-In a decision made public today by the national base ball commission the complaint of Al Schweitzer against the St. Louis Amer ican league club was decided adversely to the player, and his release to the Memphis club of the Southern league was held to be valid.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
Walsh in Atlanta

Atlanta, March 14.-(Special.) )-Piteher Walsh and First Baseman Phelan re- ported today Two more players are to report yet. The game scheduled with New York Saturday will probably be called off
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
Mackmen Defeat Texans

San Antonio. March 14.-Shawkey. Sal mon and Brown, pitching for Philadel- phia today's exhibition game against the San Antonio team of the Texas league, held the hits down to total of four and the Philadelphia team won ' to 3.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
Turtles Yet sto Report

Pitchers, Ksinger. Ferguson, Willis
 Tompkins; infielders, Abstein. Moulton
 East, Crandall: outfielders, Baerwald Murphy, Swalm.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15
Turtles in Camp

Commercials l-Appeal-Catchers, Brennan Dayton; pitchers. Bernhard. Newton. Al len. Love, Smith, Clark; infielders. Netzell Miller. Sheehan, Moulton; outfielders Kerr, Dashbac, Schweitzer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-15

An octet of Irishmen who are star ring in the big league. The action pie ture show Eddie Collins of the Phila- edlphia Athletics Con the lefp and Mike Donlin, who is now with the Pittsburg Pirates. The portraits above are of Marty OToole of Pittsburg ton the lefD and Larry Doyle of the New York Giants, Below Doyle is Big Ed Walsh of the Chicago White Sox. At the bottom are, left to right Roger manager of the St. Louis Cardinals Danny Murphy of the Phil adelphia Athletics and Ed Sweeney O the New York Yankees.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-03

One report on construction shows that
work on locks was done at st. Francis
willie. Croton. Belfast, Pennington.
Bonaparte, Bentonsport. Keosauqua.
PittsburE, Litchheld. Orvi,le. Iowaville
Alpine and White Breast. A report
also shows that one summer nearly half
the men employed on the work were ILL.,
EGG. wylie. rate man for the Greater
Des Moines committee. has returned
from Washington, where ne gave testi-
mony before the Interstate commerce
commission in the Iowa rate cases. he
had the remarkable experience that no
was not cross examined by the at
torneys for the railroads. Only once
was a start made to question the ac-
curacy Of his exhibits and then he I'M
mediately showed that the figures were
those OF the interstate commerce COM
mission itself. which stopped all CON
troversy. Mr.. Wylte Ia well pleased
with the presentation OF the Iowa cases
at Washington and confident that some
excellent results will be obtained In the
way OF reimbursement OF the freight
rates affecting iowa points.
The railroad commission Ia engaged
In securing from the shippers OF Iowa
some definite information on which TO
base an inquiry as to whether or not
the shippers are asked to report on
carload shipments. giving the weights
as reported. and their own weights. ana
the reported weight OF the cars and the
stenciled weights. This will be OF ad-
vantage to the commission In consid-
ering many matters to come before that
body,
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-03

medicine a dag. could not walk more
than a hundred yards without resting.
'.My friends told me to take Peruna,
and 1 did so. now feet that Peruna
has saved my nfA It is the best medi
cine on earth, and ] would not be
without it,