The Detroit times., 1912-03-23
BY R4LPH 3. Y0NKER.

BY RALPH IL. 1ONhE h.
MONROE, La, March 23.-The TiG-
ers will be back in Monroe for their
spring training next year. This IS
practically an assured fact. When the
first contract with President Navin
was made in 1911 II was for one year
with an option on five years more.
In the Tigers returning 10 Monroe
this year, Colonel Anderson. CHEZ
booster for the city, takes 1t that the
Tigers are thoroughly satisfied and
will be here for at least the remaining
four years.
And from what can be seen here,
It looks as If the Tiger management
is satisfied that Monroe Is the best
place that can be secured. Not that
there may not be places just as good'
but none better suited to the needs
of the Tigers as regards convenient
surroundings and location.
Among the old-timers IL Is the GER
eral opinion that San Antonio and Hot
Springs are both better training
grounds. This must be so, else there
would not SO many teams flock 10
these places, especially the Springs.
But considering the proposition
from every angle ii looks as IL this
were the place for the Tigerettes OF
the future first to get together, just
the same
There Is only one glaring baseball
fault TO be found with the town and
that Is that 1t is almost useless to al
tempt to arrange any exhibition
games with the idea Of clearing ex-
penses There is no appreciate
source OF revenue from the box office
here. At the game with the Ruston
collegians, there were about eighteen
people, and at the Topeka game there
were only 131.
The hotel that everybody has seen
At TO take a few falls out OF Is an i'm.
proyement over what ii was last year,
II is said One reason that the ser.
vice in the dining room is much bet
ter is that the hotel is run now strict
~ on the American plan. Last year
when 80 hungry athletes rushed Into
the eat hall and began believing short
orders at dozen scared walters there
was turmoil in the kitchen and no
eats In the dining room.
While stopping at the hotel here is
discouraging to those accustomed to
dwell at the city hotels, nevertheless,
1t is doubtful II the kicks Of the play
ers on the place will be as frequent
or as hard as they were last year.
The Tigers who leave tonight for
Shreveport will make up regular De
troit team over at Shreveport there
has been a demand for a game with
all the old fellows and it Is to crafty
this that Jennings will take his first
string over there.
Shreveport will be pulling for To.
peka tomorrow. While Topeka only
trains there, nevertheless, there is as
muchs feeling for the Kaws there as
there would be for the towns home
team.
Shreveport IL peculiar baseball
town = Judging from the crowd at the
game Sunday there is all kinds o.,
baseball spirit there. AT least, the
stands- we're packed. Yet. it does not
at present support a team and Its
grounds are a joke.
For several years the city was ir
the Texas league. and had team
owned and supported by Shreveport
millionaire who kept the team going
merely for the sake Of advertising the
town. The man was William T. Craw-
ford, whe-was -piee-PFesiaeHt- efthe
league. Dale Gear, now with Topeka
as manager was there then. The team
lost money constantly, but II kept go
Ing just the same upon handouts from
its owner.
According to Jack Onslow, who was
with Dallas when Shreveport was In
the Texas league, II more than kept
going. II sprung a new one by giving
presents to the men whom II disposed
of to the leagues of higher class.
Whenever man went into better
company he left Shreveport all dolled
out with a new suit, or equipped with
new watch, or with a we'll filled
purse. II was the happy custom TO
give the players the kindest OF fare
well when they left
The Tigers aren't going TO have the
easiest sort Of time when they staen
; ND against the New Orleans club for
three games. The Pelicans have been
through a long siege of training 4
trip TO Panama was the first thing on
their program. They had excellent
weather down there and played a
bunch OF good games.
After returning to New Orleans they
had good weather for a short time and
the opportunity TO play the Chicago
Cublets. They had more than an OBJ
portunity- to play them They beat
them In a few OF the games, and lost
others by close scores They ought
10 be able to give the Tigers the hes,
sort OF a battle for every run.
Hattiesburg, from which Tutwiler
was secured is on the list for the
Tiger second string Monday Only the
recruits.s probably captained by Nor.
iarty, Will be used there.