davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25

Hank ODay, brought his Cincinnati Reds to the metropolis last night and put them to bed at the Birmingham. There is hope In the breast of each Of the Reds that tho team will go faster this season than ever before, which, according to "oid man Grump could be done by any team without exceeding the speed limit.
 The Reds will play the Barons this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon. Each game will be begun at 3 o'clock. Today if the weather .s fair it is ex- pected that q large crowd of the faith ful will he at Redwood, for Cincin- natl has ever been the favorite dump ing ground of Birmingham. On the team at the present time are three former Barons. smith, Phelan and Trough, each of whom in his prime did yeomau service for the locals. Last season Phelan was the best man in the league in spite of the claims made in favor of Derrill Pratt and Red" smith, He was an excellent fielder in possession of a splendid throwing arm, hit the ball timely and with constant regu- larity, and led the league in stolen bases. Trough last season was one of the best pitchers in the league, with a great deal of speed, a fine assort-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25
MODELS REPORT
 PRACTICE TODAY

Anniston, March 24-tSpecial )-With the arrival of Manager Thomas Red" Fisher, who led the Anniston club of the Southeastern league to victory last year, all is in readiness for the beginning of practice Monday afternoon, preparatory to the opening of the Southeastern league on April 15.
 Of last years team, Fisher will have McDuff, infielder. Wasem and EubanKs. outhelders. and Woodruff, pitcher, to re- port sam Nelson, who was bought last year from Macon. has quit the game. He closed the season here last year with a pitchers record of .7S6 and batting avor- age of .259 Larry Brown Is still in the city but is holding out for more money.
 Among those who had reported for tryouts up to Saturday evening were Pitchers Redmon, Batson and Jones; Barger, an outfielder, and Schuyler, an infielder. They are all from the north. Redmon has been here for some time and is working out wGh the Rochester squad Creighton and Sts~snson, two pitchers for the Alabama Presby terian college, will also likely be among the recruits with the Models this year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25
HIP MAJ EASON mpire National League

Extra inning games usually furhsn plenty of thrills One that was staged last September between Philadelphia and Cincinnati, at the first named city, gave me more. than my share. At the close of the twelfth inning the score stood to 4, with darkness fast approaching. The thirteenth session proved the jonah num- Der for me. sure enough,
 Downey, I believe, was the first man up for the Reds He drove a line hit to center that Paskert made great play on He dove for the ball, turned a somer- sault and came up smiling, with the sphere firmly clutched in both hands It was next to impossible for me to tell what had really happened. At a first glance I thought PaslSert had made the catch.
 As is customary with the double umplr- ing system, the field umpire, who is able to get much closer to the play than the umpire in chief, always signals him cut or safe. Either I missed Johnstone's sig quickly, for I waved Downey safe. fn- stantly after SO doing saw by John- stones action that had erred in my rui- ing.
 Manager Griffith of the Cincinnati team immediately made a protest to Johnstone asking him to advise me on the play, Johnstone in turn informed Griffith that l was the umpire in chief that day, and that Griffith would have to lodge pro- test with me. if he cared to get any re-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25
-----------+--.es----------- RESULTS OF Y. M. c. A.
 FIRST INDOOR MEET

The first annual indoor athletic cham pienship meet was held Saturday night at the Y. Nj. c. A. The meet was quite success. as many candidates entered and the records are considered to be quit, good. The following are the events and winners:
 20 Yard Dash-R. " Bunker, first; time. 2i-5 seconds; H. Newman. second; C. White. third.
 100 Yard Dash--H. Newman, first; time, 12 seconds; Charley White. second Chis- olni, third.
 22O Yard Dash-White, first; time, B seconds; J. Chisolm, second; Newmana third.
 40 Yard Dash-L. Chisolm, first; time co seconds; Blackburn, second; Powers. third.
 $50 Yard Dash-Park. first; time, min- utes 29 seconds; Johnson, second; Oben- char, third.
 One Mile Run--Platowsby, first; time. 5 minutes 1s.2 seconds; Johnson. second; Obenchar, third.
 Running High Jump-J. Chisolm. first; distance, feet BE inches; Blackburn. sec ond; L. Chisolm, third.
 Running Broad Jump-J. ChisoIm, first; distance, 1G feet inches; Waldron, sec ond; Burke. third.
 1s Pound Shot Put-L. Chisolm. first: dis tance, 32 feet 6 inches; Waldron, second; Obenchar, third
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25
As n \ HI A.I
 
SHADES OF QUEENSBERRY!
 BACK TO BARE KNUCKLESi

San Francisco. March 24.-Frank Klaus of Pittsburg out roughed out wrestled, ,out fouled and barely out fought Jack Dillon. the Indianapolis middelweight in their fight at Coffroth's Daly City Open Air arena yesterday afternoon. as a result of which he was proclaimed the winner by Referee Jack Welch, after % rounds of the foulest milling witnessed in a local arena in recent years.
 An eleventh hour rally on the part of Klaus enabled him to leave the ring with Dillons scalp fguratively. hanging from his belt, his determined stand in the final round, during which he landed ter rife stomach punches without return, con- tributing all that was needed to determine a winner.
 The battle from start to finish was con- tested with the men going it hammer and tongs, each with head and shoulders rest ing against the other. They wrestled, ell bowed, "butted" and back heeled, the ref cree warning them time and again that they were inviting disqualification
 Finally he turned to the spectators and shouted:
 .Both of these men are fighting a foul battle, therefore propose to let them set tie their differences in their own way, and will not interfere. They are both equally guilty"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25
THE BROTHERS OF FAMOUS STARS ON BESSEMER TEAM

As the contest was fought there was
 never q dull moment, each man fighting ceaselessly to score in his own peculiar
 way Dillon clearly showed his superior ity at boxing, and frequently staggered
 Klaus with sharp right hooks to the jaw,
 but the latter showed himself capable of
 absorbing the blows and never at any
 stage appeared to be in distress. Klaus all the while crove his right and left to the body and it was this systematic pep
 pering Of the Hooser fighters stomach
 that gradually wore the latter down and
 paved the way to ultimate success
 Dillon scored first blood, a right hook
 in the second round opening a gash on
 Klaus face. In the fifth round Klaus sent a tremendous smash to the mouth and un-
 til the end of the fight Dillon bled from the effects of this punch.
 In the thirteenth round Dillon almost
 dropped Klaus on three occasions with powerful rights to the chin. Klaus. how ever, westhered the gale and immedt-
 ately resumed his merciless fusiliade of body punches which proved potent fac
 tor in weakening Dillon.
 On the whole Klaus showing was a
 disappointment to the spectators, who agreed that as a boxer he had much to learn.
 Klaus and Eddie McGoorty of Oshkosh, Wis, are matched 10 fight at Coffroth's arena some time next month in what 1t is announced as a worlds championship Of the middleweight division. Klaus was the faTorite in the betting
 today at odds of 10 to r. The men weighed in al 10 a. m. at l5s pounds limit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25
BESSEMER CLUB TO HAVE
 BROTHERS OF FAMOUS STARS

If Bessemer had the brothers of some of the players the Southeastern league pennant would no doubt be won already and Manager Hickman would worry no more. Three members of the Bessemer team are brothers of ball players of re- nown Clifton Johnston, a brother of Jimmy Johnston of the Baron team; Claud Barr brother of Hyder Barr of the Cleveland Napps, and Bill Sweeney. brother of Ed Sweeney, star catcher on the New York Highlanders, have all signed contracts to play with the Besse- mer Steelmakers It Is also probable that Holman, a brother of Artie Hof- man, will be landed before the season opens.
 Now this is just dream. Suppose Big Ed Sweeney should appear behind the bat for the Bessemer team, with Hyder Barr on first base and Jimmy Johnston in the outfeld with Artie Holman as his colleague.
 Upon further visions, the lineup would go like this: Holman, first up; Jimmy Johnston second; Hyder Barr, third with Ed Sweeney as "clean up man" If Hof- man should get on first base, Jimmy Johnston would sacrifice him to second Then Hyder Barr would knock three- bagger and Sweeney would knock homer. Thus the Bessemer squad would always win. The dream is over.
 Even If Bessemer has not the real ones she surely has the brothers, and that seems mighty good. Clifton Johnston has
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25
GAYNOR PLACES HIMSELF
 IN FAVOR OF ATHLETICS

of people who believe in the mighty fist.
 China is on the point of becoming not
 only a resistant but an aggressive nation. We of the western world may call out peace all we want to but there will be
 no peace until every province and ev-
 err port which has been taken from China is delivered up. Yes. sir, the fist Is
 coming to the front in China after car rying his hands in his pockets for 100c years.
 "I might cite nation after nation that arose to the height of power and intel lectual development while athletic, but
 which went down, gradually at first and
 then finally all in a heap, as they gave up athletics and became idle and anaemic. England has been an athletic nation But it is fact that the race over there Is deteriorating. That was found during
 the Boer war. l am inclined to think they have reached their height. l notice slight lisp is creeping into the Eng fish speech That is always the forerun- ner of national decay.
 ''lt is the first rift in the lute. As l tho language grows soft a nation be-
 comes soft and effeminate'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25

tainly would look swell on third cor ner, but 1t is but a sweet dream to imagine if. He will have to beat out Grant for the regular position and Eddie Is there with. everything.
 w. A. Phelon. Cincinnati scribe of re- pute, wrote the following to the paper which hs, is representing in reference to Trough:
 Trough has great speed. short jump to the fast one, apparently good control, and lots of nerve. Looks ready for Amer ican association or Eastern league work, and should be ready to graduate, tull fedged, into the big show in 19l3."
 II the manager should think the same 1t means that Trough will pitch on the Barons this season. Mo1esworth believes he will get him. It would cost the Reds just $2500 to send Trough elsewhere and 1t Is hardly expected that the umpire manager has that disregard for the coin of Herman. Birmingham neds him :. all would welcome his return.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25
THREE SOUTHEASTERN TEAMS -
 REPORT FOR PRACTICE TODAY

about 25 men at Selma for the 1912 team and has already whipped them into condition to play practice games. Stickney will have Chancey back in the outfield, Earl Hanna, who was se- cured from the Barons, will also ca : vort in the garden while the hefty manager himself will be one of the three His outfeld should be a fast one. Several other good youngsters have been signed and 1t appears that he will have good team.
 Little Is known of the Rome team under the management of Harry Math- ews However, several good men, who played there last season, will report again for practice, and he says that he Will be up in the running. The Southeastern league season opens on April 15, with Selma, Bessemer anf Gadsden at home.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25

shown up well in the practices with the Barons. He seems to be a fast runner, pretty good fielder and a good hitter. It iss thought that he will inherit the good sense of baseball of his brother
 Claud Barr who is Hyder Barr's moth CTS son, looks to be a promising player. He will try out for the outfield and will no doubt be at first base before the sea- son is over. Claud resembles Hyder a great deal. He is smaller and younger. He stands about } feet. inches tall. weighs about 150 pounds, bats and fields right-handed. Last year he played with the Bristol club in the Appalachian league for short. while and hit 1922, but hurt himself and was forced to retire. He seems to be promising ball player.
 Bill Sweeney, brother to Eddie sween- report today. He is big fellow, feet, il inches tall and weighs about 1s0 pounds. Last summer he played in the Cincinnati City league, where he attracted attention, He is said to be a good hitter and rattling good backstop
 Artie Hoffman said something the other day to Manager Hickman about signing his brother and the manager has al ready corresponded with the youth. It is probable that he will be signed if he will be reasonable in terms, for he was highly recommended by Artie to Man ager Hickman. If each should develop into as good a man as his brother then there would be some team at Besse- mer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25

Three former Barons who are on the Cincinnati squad of twenty arrived to play the Barons this afternoon. Big Bill Trough, who was one of the main stays on the Birmingham team last sea- son, is one of the many candidates for the Red hurling staff. He was bought last season by Cincinnati for $500 and seems to have a fair chance to land on the Red staff He Is needed badly here, however and it is probable that Moles- worth will try to land him.
 The only thing which will keep him out of the "big show is his fielding. This $ the only requisite of a big leaguer that Clifton lacks. If the Cincinnati team should kep him it would cost them S25o0, while Birmingham would pay this back for the hefty twirler
 Frank Smith, who formerly hurled for the Barons, did not come along with the Reds as he remained in Chattanooga with several others Tow DowneS, who was formerly with the Reds, was sold to the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25

Tomorrow will be the official report
 ing day for the teams In the fast South
 eastern league. At Bes,emer Manager Gorden Hickman will mold the first
 practice. while Manager Johnny Siegie
 will call the roll at Gadsden and Tom
 Fisher will do likewise at Anniston.
 Manager Harry Mathews will call his men all together within a day or two. | At Selma, Manager Link Stickney has
 already held practice and the Hunts vile team Is working out daily.
 Manager Hickman announced yester- day that it was probable that more
 than 25 will report at Bessemer. He forwarded transportation to 22 last week. Seven pitchers will report. Cor
 con Hickman, the manager. is cer- tainty on the twirling staff, while Lefty Pruitt, Lonnie Fancher. Toots Lamar, yickery, Oscar welch and Lefty Shep-
 hard will also try out TOT the srar. Lefty Pruitt has a wonderful physiquo for twirler, and if he has any base
 ball sense should be able to stick. He is about feet 31 inches tall and weighs near 200 pounds. Lamar has pitched on the University of South Car olina team and looks to be fair twirler. Oscar Welch has had experi- ence and is said to be a fine twrler. He is a right-hander. Shepard pitched last season in the T. c. I. league and showed much ability. He Is left handler and will have to fight hard, for lit is very improbable that Manager
 Hickman will carry more than one left handed twirler. Vickery is said to be a fine twirler and according to the manager will no doubt land a job He has had experience and is said to be la fine left-hander. Ire pitched last
 season for Decatur.
 "Slim" Jones, or William Jones, is candidate for the initial sack He Is just about feet inches tall and Is
 youth from the rural district. hav- ing played on the country teams quite
 bit. He looks good but little is
 known of his ability. Hoffman, broth
 CT of Arthur Holman of the Chicago Cubs, will also be signed and 1t is prob able that he will be a candidate for the first sack. Ernest Propst will also try out for the same position.
 AL SecOnu IOHHiy IeihihS VIII pS
 candidate, while one or two more will try out for that position. Bob
 Baumgardtner will play shortstop.
 whife Heck, Clifton Johnston, Parson
 and several others will play third base.
 In the outfield Claud Barr and several
 others will cavort. Behind the bat Bill
 Sweeney, a brother of Mike Sweeney,
 has been signed. Bob Puckett, Propss, Tomlin and others have also been signed. Manager Hickman says that
 he will reduce the squad to about Is
 men before the week is over.
 Johnny Siegle will order about 25 men to report at Gadsden today. lie says that he has signed many youths of promise and that with the players left from last years team he viii
 show the leader of ths league rev I things.
 l Tom Fisher will have good team lat Anniston. Many of the stars from
 the team of last season have returned and it looks as if the new men will niake the old timers hustle. Fisher is a good judge of young players and it is
 not to be doubted that he will have a good team.
 Link Stickuey has already gathered
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25
h did so'in the following gen.

dress. Griffith did so in the following gen.
 tlemanly manner:
 MT Eason, you're dead wrong on that
 play. I had the proper angle on the
 catch, and so did Johnstone; lie will tell you that Paskert did not catch the ball,
 but, on the contrary. trapped it: I re- quest you to appeal to Johnstone if there is a doubt in your mind as to the correct
 ness of the decision."
 1 didn't hesitate a second. but went out and asked Johnstone to set me right on the play. Realizing that was doing the Cincinnati club great injustice l re- versed my original ruling and called Dow ney safe Mr. Doolan, who was acting
 manager of the Pliillies. kicked himself
 out of the game. MT. Walsh, who sue ceded him at short kicked couple of
 chances, and before the side was retired | Cincinnati had scored four runs and | einched the game.
 | While the result of the game had nc direct bearing on the ,pennaht race. Mir
 Johnstone and myself were rendered a
 rather warm reception. I was severel,
 censured for my actions, although mere 1 ly carried out the original idea of the dou-
 be system, consulting your partner wher
 in doubt President Iynch's public state ment that I had acted correctly In tho
 matter proved some balm for my injured | feelings
 1 Copyright w. G. Evans, 1912.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25

New York, March A.- .-(Special.)-Mayor Gaynor today placed himself sauareis m favor of athletics and inculcation oi the virile fighting type of man. ff
 He declares that athletic strength is necessary to the growth of nation.
 .wnen the people of nation cease to be athletic" he says, they go down very fast. Look at the nations of the east Look at China. It ceased to be athletic. It ceased to be resistant. Chih- csc finally became like our Quakers' They would not resist. The result was that the different nations of Europe went over to China and took their ports and their fairest provinces. Now the Chinese are becoming athletic again. few years sgo we heard of the boxer movement. It is made up of lodges or associations
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25
HOW MONTGOMERY CALLED THE BLUFF OF LITTLE ROCK

Inasmueh as the rain is and has beer falling and perhaps will continue to fal forever and a day, it is an ideal morn ing on which to enter into discussion of Little Rock, Ark
 In order to put the case squarely be- fore the public 1t might be well to turn back the pages Of history. Therefore, let it be understood that some years ago the Southern league, wisely or unwisely, as the case might have been, maintained a baseball club in Little Rock.
 There were two reasons why the ma jority of fans in the south thought that the transferrence of that team from Lit tie Rock to Chattanooga would prove ad- visable These reasons follow:
 a The geographical position of Little Rock inflicted an unnecessary burden on the other cities which were compelled at regular intervals to send their teams to the capital city of Arkansas.
 @ The attendance at baseball games in Little Rock was invariably small, as a result of which the other cities were not given just and equitable return on their investment.
 There was but one reason why the other cities of the league did not force fully eject Little Rock. That reason fol- lows:
 q) Through a consideration for Judge William M. Kavanaugh, president of the Southern league, whose home is in Little Rock,
 Because every club president Of the I<o 1tarf fait ct fnr Judge Kavanaugh. there is no doubt but that Little Rock could have retained it's franchise as long as it desired.
 We have always thought that in propos- ing to sell it's franchise, Little Rock was inspired by a sense of justice and pa triotism. We took the position that Lit tie Rock was indicating its desire that the league be made as prosperous as it could possibly be made, and that If Lit tie Rock was 8 millstone about the neck of the organization, Little Rock would voluntarily remove that millstone.
 We still believe that our idea was the correct idea. Q However that may be, the fact remains that the Little Rock franchise was sold to Chattanooga, and that Chattanooga has successfully up to the present dis tasteful day. borne with fortitude and ability its share of the burdens of the association. There is scarcely a doubt but that from a financial standpoint the league is benefited by the admission of Chattanooga. The Lookouts. as a matter of fact, have drawn at home far better than many of the wiseacres anticipated.
 
 When Little Rock voluntarily turned its back on the sun, and with a bold step walked headlong into the impenetra ble shadows of oblivion, there came forth a voice saying:
 But we are coming back!'
 It was the opinion of many baseball writers of the league that Little Rock was preparing to gobble up the first fran chise with which the counter of the mar ket was decorated. Furthermore, Little Rock made strong that opinion every
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25
STUDENTS DIVIDED
 OVER CLASS YELL

Madison, Wis, March 24-A purity wave has struck the University of Wis consin seniors. The members are divided into "Helr' and Into "Anti-Hel' factions. One group led by the president. Harold G. Eckhardt, and joined by most of the girls, is including "Hell' in the class yell. The opposition, fond of color. protest against Shakespearean quotations son of Samuel c. Blythe thinks the birthstone and fire capsule is too urid. This is only one example. The yell is not constructed in harmony. II reads:
 "We are hell. we are hell.
 varsity. Varsity 19l2''
 The class officials empowered to decide what the shape of the yell shall be have submitted the matter to a referendum.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-25
BILL TROUGH WILL PROBABLY
 TWIRL AGAINST BARONS TODAY

by, Benton and Suggs, First Basemen Homlitzell, Second Baseman Egan, Short stop Esinond and Mcdonald, Third Base men Grant and Phean, Outfielders Bescher, Bates, Miller and Marsans.
 It Is very probable that neither Trough or Phelan will ever get back to d minor league for several seasons. Both have shown mp splendidly and it is reported from a very reliable source that Chem nati will hold both. It is certainty that Phelan will stick and the indica- tions are that Trough himself will wear A Cincinnati uniform throughout the sea- son.
 For Birmingham. FoXen will pitch, while Green will twir part of the con test. The game will be called at 5 O clock, weather permitting, with the reg ular lineup of both teams in the field. Trough will not be left in Birmingham when the Reds leave.