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

uefeSllmdIeQ the strength
Of the Southern league"
SO many people said when the for
mer Highland outhelder was re-
duced to the ranks.
But 1t was impossible.
No man could have underesti-
mated the strength of the present
Southern league,
1t 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 it-probably the very weak
est since the lamented Newt Fisher
copied.
1t numbers one really remarkable
player Almeida. That let's it out.
The only other things the team Is
noted for are team play spirit,
ginger and Willingness 1t is the
"Wllingest" team of all history and
is playing better ball, considering
Its 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
ball in the world. considering the
natural and proved ability of the
individual players.
I Asst years 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 felders in
Schwartz. Jordan, Marcan. Manush.
Elwert. knapp and Lindsay. and
some fair pitchers in Hess. Max
well, Aitchson, Bair. Kent. Prough.
I'inlayson 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 NIL
ers-' The only batters of the
league outside Joe Jackson were
old -timers-McGilvray. Swacina.
Wordsworth. 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 pennaut, Bill Smith had a pref
" strong team here. and one that
could trim the present league lead
ers with ease. The league on
whole. though, was not exception
ally strong 1t numbered some real
~ 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 1905 was another Joke.
Barring Jake Daubert. Hub Perdue
and Humpty McElveen. it didn't
have a bah player that lasted
through the season and the club
numbered such jokes as Jack
Hardy and such old-time as Kel-
lum Wiseman, East. Bay and Sea-
Dough
1t was great league perhaps
the greatest. though, even if the
strength wasn't concentrated in
amy one team II had Iris Speaker
Lord BeaIs Becker. Wordsworth
Cthen in his prince. Henlue. Baer-
Wald Ca bean that YEAR,. MeElveen.
Tom DoWncy Jake Dauhert. Ow-
ems Zack Wheat. Dolly stark.
Breitenstcin On the best form of
his cateeD ROY Casuclon Hub
Perdue Russell Ford. Prince Gas