The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-27
Gleanings From the Winter League
by c. w. GREER

| with a grand total eof .3S5. However,
his fielding at times was terribly weak
| and large streaks of inexperience cropped
out at various intervals in the youngster's S
work And so Bill is trying to decide
whether the youngster is merely a flash"
of a few weeks duration or whether he
can keep up his hitting streak when fac
ing a season of gruelling contests. AS a
precautionary measure Bernhard is round
ing up number of contenders for the
third sack in hopes that he may fill
Bales shoes in ease he shows signs Of
going back this season.
According to reports from Atlanta, Billy
Smith has secured hard and fast right
to Buck Weaver, the eX-Pelican slab
! artist, for the coming season In Weaver
Smith should have one of the most de-
pendable hurlers in the south this season,
if that individual lives up to the record
set here when he was with Charlie
Franks club. Since leaving the south
ern league Weaver has seen quite a bit
of service in the big show, and the fact
that he is to appear in the minors again
does not Indicate that the boy is a 'has
been" by any means. The Tennessee
hurler is a mere youngster in years, in
spite of his experience. His acquisition
will materially strengthen Smiths staff
of slab artists.
Johnny Evers has limited the Chicago
Cubs to one beer day during the train
ing and playing season The edict of
the new Cub boss is in keeping with
the sentiments voiced by the Chicago
magnate, Boss Murphy, last fall, when
he began his first attacks upon the peer
less Chance. Evers was somewhat milder
in his decree than was Murphy, who
favored an absolute water wagon"
clause. However. excellent results will
be obtained If the zone beer rule can
be enforced
IT think we have solved the problem
of selecting a city for spring training
purposes that comes up to every re-
quirement," is the way Secretary Bernard
of the Cleveland Maps describes the sit
uation at Pensacola, where Joe Birmng-
hams club is doing spring training stunts.
The Cleveland secretary goes even further
and says that Pensacola is the best train
ing camp in the United Etates. This IL
the sentiment of Birmingham and all
of the players, he intimates Even Lajoie
comes out of his baseball silence and
voices his approval. Pensacola seems to
have made decided hit with the Cleve-
land players.
Here is the way G. S. Applegarth, In
the Pittsburg Gazette-Times, describes the
fall of James Thorpe from amateur cir
cles:
Lo. there dwelt in Pennsylvania,
In the tribe of Whatchacallem.
/ Big Chief Jimthorpe, heap much injun,
| Mightiest of all the red men.
Sound he was in wind and sinew,
Broad of shoulder, huge of bicep.
Loaded up with Jumps of muscle
| Hercules had nothing on him
| From his armor-plated torso
To his corrugated tum-tum.
First was he in all the joustings,
| Led the way in all the races.
Broad and high jump. discus, pole vault
Were slice of custard for him
While the shot-put and the hammer
Hush your business, nothing TO it
On the football grid he sizzled
On the diamond how he sparkled
| AS an all-'round lallycooler
| He was some pazork, believe us.
Soon his totem pole was laden
With the scalps of paleface foemen.
| In the form of badges, medals.
Bangles, charms and other gewgaws,
Junk enough to sink a steamboat.
Then there rose voice within him.
In his larboard ear it whispered:
| big Chief Jimthorpe. what's it gitcha?
Amateur sport heap much boozh-wah.
Badges, medals, no can cat um:
Get TIN wampum, Get the wampum,'
Then he hearkened to the whisper
And he started on the, warpath,
On the trail of the mazuma
In the wids of Carolina,
| And he toted home the bacon.
Then the A. A. u. skeegeisters
Raised a mighty cockalorum,
Tore his string of scaplocks from him,
With it's tinkling chain of gcwgaws.
| Cast him into outer darkness
And the realms of big league baseball
/ But he has one consolation,
He will be S'poor Lo'' no longer,
| For he hearkens to the warcry:
Get th',-wampum. Can you blame him?