The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-18

4 XINUS Bill Prough and Evans,
M the Barons departed yesterday
~ i afternoon for Atlanta, where a
slumping Billikens just three games in
the lead. Molesworth hopes to overtake
the Dobbers. The recent series with
Atlanta, in which the Barons met three
consecutive defeats, has instilled
fighting spirit into the Barons.
Perhaps the Barons will repeat feat
performed last year. The Gulls vis-
tied Birmingham and captured three
straight games. Crestfallen over the
downfall, Birmingham regained their
confidence, rushed to Mobile and ad-
ministered three straight drubbings.
-
The purchase of Ery should strength
en- Moleys gallants. The suspension of
Evans may act as spur to the play
ers and force them to extend them
selves. Ery is good minor league
pitcher. He has enough natural ability
to prove a winner in the Southern, but
lack of experience may prevent him
from succeeding. Withal, he is as val
liable as Evans.
Birmingham will enter the fight with
a somewhat impaired battle front.
Prough is not with the club and may
be unable to perform in the hectic
siege. McGilvray Is suffering from a
lame pedal. while Mcdonald has not
recovered from his recent illness. But
with Hardgrove, Foxen aud Ery slated
to twirl, birmingham will fight good
battle
The Billilzens seem to have forfeited
their chance for the bunting The
series of mishaps and unfortunate oc-
currences began when Utility Player
Breen jumped the club. The sale Of
Elmer Brown instilled the lofty
thought that he should draw more
money and he became dissatisfied with
conditions Then Catcher Donahue de-
veloped fever and the club scared
downward.
The case of Brown seems to be much
like that of Bert Maxwell. When his
sale was announced to New York in
1911, Maxwell demanded part Of the
purchase price. which he did. not get.
Later he requested that he be allowed
to report so that he could participate
in the world series fund. Birmingham
was lighting for a pennant, but Max
we'll. the most dependable performer
dropped the next six games and Bir-
mingham was beaten.
af l,o M
laws, Memphis promoters are prepar-
ing to organize an eight league club
throughout the south. The new circuit
will include six of the cities In the
Southern and two without franchises.
Little Rock and Shreveport will be in
cluded in the league.
Without questioning the financial
backing. the outlaws would have a
hard fight in the attempt to exist. The
class of baseball would unquestionably
be slower than the Southern. and fans
will not patronize game inferior to
the existing standard. Continuous
baseball has been attempted in New
Orleans and birmingham, and has
failed.
Still more interesting is the report
that Birmingham is to be included in
the new circuit. To compare with the
present game, the promoters Will be
obliged to build stand. Should they
attempt to compete with the southern
league over $4,000 must be spent In
erecting a modern stand.
The promoters must depend upoa dis
gruntled ball players, young amateurs
and old veterans for their talent. Nat
urally this combination will not pro-
duce fast games and not in the class
of the Southern. The Federal league,
with which the circuit is to be asso-
ciated Is rated far from the speed of
the Southern and with, the natural de-
cline in quality. there will be similar
failing in attendance. Such fate
would prove disastrous.
With roseate hopes of winning the
pennnant, Mique Finn is slated to re-