The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-14
BOUT BETWEEN THE
B. A. c. AND MOBILE
SHOULD BE GREAT
Early Announcements in Major
Camps Start Baseball Pot Boiling

Work on the new park for the New
York American league club at Broadway
and Two Hundred and Twenty-ffth
street. has been begun, but 1t was said
yesterday that the new stadium probably
will not be ready until next year so that
the American league club probably will
play all of the coming season at the
National league grounds. When the
stadium is completed each of three clubs
N Greater New York will have modern
baseball homes.
Bill Donovan recalls the summer day in
1907 when he was in Washington with
the Tigers and a tall awkward looking
youth wearing a Washington uniform
walked out on the mound. who's that
fellow" inquired Bill. His name is
Johnson" was the reply. They say he
struck out % men in Idaho" well, this
isn't Idaho, and that young fellow Will
find it out in very few minutes, put
in Bill as ne sat down to watch the pro-
ceedings. Three inings later Donovan
went back to the spectator who had Civ
en- him in the information. How many
did you say he struck out in Idaho-22?
Its wonder he didn't strike out 27.
That's the greatest kid | have ever SEEM.
Donovan hasn't changed his opinion on
Walter johnson since that time. He stiil
believes he is the greatest pitcher. and
ale believes that he will establish that
fact from now on. Last year" said
Donovan, Walter had his first chance
to show his true form because mad
team behind him. He is now matured
and | looks for him to be a remarkable
performer from this out. Walter is now
full grown, and has learned lot about
pitching, which allows him to save his
arm. and he will undoubtedly have the
banner year of his career in the next
cantpaign To me Walter is the ideal
pitcheMbecause he works SO freely and
there Is no apparent strain on his arm
when he pitches
Danny Murphy will captain the team,
and he is a fixture for the place." says
Connie Mack I'VE don't expect Danny
to do much playing, because of his in
jured knee, but he will be of great help
to the club in other ways. Murphy is the
only man considered for the captaincy,
and he IS sure to be with us. | haven't
sent Thomas contract yet, because he
has been out of town, but l expect to
have his signature on paper. At no time
did / ever have any intention of letting
Thomas go, because l considered him one
os the best catchers in the American
league. / would rather have Thomas on
orutches than half the maskmen in the
country. Ira wasn't at his best last sea-
son because of deaths in his family.
predict that he will come back strong
next season and do the bulk of the
catching. [ wouldn't let him go at any
price, for we need generals like Thomas
on the team"
.If can land a. battery that I'm after.
,s,.I- of NV hal Z
chance in the National league race next
summer" SO saith Joe Tinker, the new
manager of the Reds. He added; 1T is
some battery, too, / want to tell you.
IT was largely responsible for the winning
of four National league pennants in the
last seven years, and think the pair has
a lot of the old cunning left. This, COM
bined with the ginger of lot of my
Young fellows down there, should make
the Reds as great a ball club as any OF
them. If youhaven't guessed the names
of the players already, I'll tell You who
they are.
They are Mordecai Brown and Johnny
King Now. I haven't signed either of
them yet, but | have gained permission
TO offer them lot of money, and that's
what talks In this game. If | fail to
land either one of them, 1 still think
have a strong pair of veterans. | think
both still are capable of playing great
baseDall TOT SeVeral years
II have been with Evers and Tinker
long time" says Frank Chance, and
known their dispositions we'll ] would
not want to make any predictions about
the probable results of their work
must say, however. that Evers has the
together job of the two, but by the way
he is building up the team 1t is likely
he win keep it contender. Ever's task
is difficult because every one will expect
him to have the club fighting all the
time. If he does not do that he will be
regarded as a failure. That's where the
rub is With Tinker it is different. He
has an opportunity to bring his team up.
Should he put the Reds in the fight and
land in second or third place he will
have made good. l would like to see
both up on top, as they were with me
for so many years, and my best wishes
are with them. They know the game
from A to Y and are aggressive, fighting
players.
Harry Davis may join the Athletics as
a scout. 1t is more than likely that