The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-03-01
MISSISSIPPI.
GETTING IN READINESS FOR
BASEBALL.

Manager Orth Collins. Of the Green
wood Baseball Club of the Cotton
States League, has signed to date fif-
teen men for the 1912 season, and de-
| clares that he has some hummers that
will redeem Greenwood's last seasons s
stunts, and material that was had with
in few hundred dollars below the sal
ary limit. And to those who are base
balically informed, Orth Collins is too
well known for any baseball pedigree.
IOrth Collins has played in every league
in the United States except the Texas,
Western League, Outlaw League, and
the National League, and all of the
towns in Mississippi and Tennessee,
during the past ten years have seen
some of his exceptional fielding and con-
sistent stick work. So it must be admit
ted that he will corrall a bunch that will
answer the test for Greenwood fans.
Collins assumed the management of the
club last season when Woodie Thornton
had made miserable failure to repro
duce pennant-winning symptoms, and
during the final weeks made splendid
retrieve that enhanced the attendance
! in Greenwood. And it might be consid-
cred that he has been at decided dis
| advantage at the start of this seasons
organization, as it was only two weeks
ago that Greenwood definitely decided
to remain in the League. However,
last fall Collins made tour over the
country scouting for material that
grade of ball and that could be acquired
| within low salary limit, and he de-
| clares that the fifteen contracts that he
sent out this week will corrall snappy
aggregation when the curtain of the
1912 season is raised, and that Green
| wood will not have to bear the travel
ing expenses of bunch of would -be's
The following have been signed by
Manager Collins, all of whom are
youngsters, who play the defensive and
hit the sphere on the nose, and who
will report at the opening of the try
out. 1t will be seen that only three of
roll, Ray Rollins, Jack Law and Orth
Collins.
Rollins was generally acceded to be
the sprintiest secondsacker in the Cot
ton States League, the best defensive
player in the circuit, and the most con-
sistent rapper. His raps were not long,
! but came at the most opportune occa-
sions. Jack Law is another who is en-
| inently competent to write an authentic
encyclopedia on the big game, and was
the inside man to Woodie Thornton's s
success when Greenwood bagged the
1910 pennant. Jack will hold down the
initial sack, and be the side generals
simo to Manager Collins in bringing the
work out of the 1912 club. Collins will
guard one of the outfelds and duplicate
some old time form slab stunts in pin
| ches. Bennie Mitchell is also favorably
known in Mississippi base ball circles.
Of a. e NJ. fame. and will guard an
dntield. -----.~
& The following new faces will form
the club: Howard Lowrey, outfelder,
from New Castle, Indiana; Gary Hiott,
outfielder from Anderson, South Caro-
lima: George Hunefeld, outfielder from
Cincinnati, Ohio; Bennie Mitchell, out
Schwartz, infelder from Cincinnati,
Ohio; Frank Vetter, infielder from Gin
cinnati, Ohio; C. H. McAleer, infielder
from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; S. R.
| Lynch, infielder from Geneva, New
York; Herb c. Murphy, infielder from
Indianapolis, Indiana; Joe Stone, catch
er from Oxford, Georgia; Bascom
Yates, catcher from Cynthia, Ken
lucky; Leon H. Thomas, pitcher from
Spieguer, Alabama; Vernon Gillian,
pitcher, from Big Sanky, Texas.
| Manager Collins says that he is in
the market for another dependable
twirler, and then with probably an
addenda of two more level heads to re-
place any blow-outs that may occur
from any of the new faces, that he
will be ready to play. He is loud in his
praise of McAleer and Schwartz, and
believes that with Law on first, Rollins
on second, McAleer on short, and
Schwartz on third, that his infeld will
be the No. l of the circuit.
Greenwood has confidence in Collins
ability to give her winning team, and
it may be considered now that Green
wood will be close nudger for pen
/ nant honors, if though she fails to re-
Iplace the 1910 pennant.