The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-29
When Barons Have OppOr-
tunity to Advance, Jinx
Hits Mortal Blows
ATLANTA AND BILLS
SMILED ON BY FATE
Accidents Have Retired Four South
ern Leaguers for Seas0n-Gulls
Have Been Fortunate
Until Recently

The jinx which has consistently how
cred over the Southern league has
gained long list of victims. In for
mer campaigns the hoodoo pursued
some of the clubs but this season the
deadly work of the hoodwinker has
been evidenced on every club. Several
brilliant players have been retired for
the season by belatcd mishaps of the
diamond, many have been forced to
retire for weeks, and others have been
handicapped at intervals by the caprice
of fate.
Repeated accidents, spells of Illness
and other mishaps have worked the
utility artists overtime, while often
the handy men were in action end Il
pitcher also. Mobile has sent Billy
Campbell and Bradley Hogg in TO sub
for an injured player; the Turtles have
placed George Merritt in operation in
the garden and in the infield, while
Handsome Harry Mcintyre mas been
forced to cavort in the utility role.
Twirler Carl Thompson was shifted to
the outfield when the Barons became
severely crippled. while Breckenridge
was transformed into an infielder re-
Gently at Mobile.
The mortal blow OF the hoodoo
forced Receiver Fred Dilger to retire
for the season when appendicitis
gained hold of hefty Frederick The
fatal slide into second at New Orleans
broke George Yantz's ankle and de-
privod the Pelicans of the Dutchnan's
aervices. Jimmy Gillespie was retired
from the game when he was beaned
by fast slant from Omar Hardgrove.
The old jinX had u desperate fight
with Big Bill jacobson Of the Gulls and
finally subdued the gardener Thus four
teams were robbed &C the strength Of
four excellent players.
The Barons have suffered from in
juries at times WHEN the club was
threatening to squirt irto iirst division.
First, Dilger was attacked with ap-
pendicitis and weakened the receiving
end. Ray Boyd had previously gone
Off form with a sore fllnging arm
while the accent siege of impaired arms
diminished the proWess of the Barons.
split finger sent Mcdonald from the
fray shortly after he had reported
Marcan and Kniseley suffered from
sore arms, while ELAN has been with
held from the din of battles by split
digit. The final blow came wh,n
Hardgrove was raped with Smiths
liner in Atlanta. The Barons have had
more misfortunes than any other club
in the circuit
Recent injuries have placed the Gulls
on the squawk list. jacobson has been
forced from the game for the season.
Charlie Starr has broken his hand and
is out for a month or more. Al O'Dcll
was recent candidate to the sons OF
rest. But the Gulls were fortunate
when they were amassing their won
oerful lead and were smiled upon by
the gods.
The Crackers have been uniformly
lucky, for with the exception OF a
short retirement for Bailey and an
accident to Chapman. which denriyel
the Crackers of his pepper for two
weeks Billy Smith has been without "a
real handicap. The Billikens have not
been visited with single direful ac-
cident.
Bill Schwartz was progressing at 4
merry clip and was flying high in the
race when series of belated mishaps
rendered the club in sore straits Goa
by was rendered hors de combat when
he was spiked, Just a day after the
Vols turned utility outfieldcr Summers
adrift The lively catcher, Gibson, was
prostrated with the heat in Gullvilla.
while Ed Noyes suffered split fin
ger.
But the real tribesman of the pro-
verbal Jonah are the Turtles The CO.
hort of Bill Bernhard has been in seri-
Gus difficulties from the opening
round. Outfielder Love, fighting at a
neat angle, was injured and was forced
from the battle for several games
Then Schweitzer, the best pinch hitter
on the club suffered a reverse and
was held out of the battle. Other minor
maladies and petty injuries have added
few strands of grey to Bits raven
locks.
A few more injuries and the old hos
pital records will be smashed into OBJ
livinn.