The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-02

H OR the purpose of fostering
 the baseball germ among A ambitious young Ameri- cans, Manager Branch Hickey of the St. Louis Browns will keep an "open house" at his St. Louis ball plant and throughout the coming season will endeavor to act both as manager and instructor. Any as, plring youngster who is of the opinion that he can purvey the great national pastime in large sized packages will be allowed to demonstrate his prowess under the watchful eyes of the Brown lead CT. Already large number of St Louis youngsters are taking ad- vantage of this opportunity and Hickey is having a busy time keep ing them from proving hindrance to his major league squad.
 "We have the equipment to give any number of young men a chance to break into big league baseball, and l see no reason why We should deny the kids a chance,' said Hickey. T have arranged so that these youngsters will get every op- portunity to show what they can do. If I'm not at the park someone will be there to receive these play CTS and look them over. If they don't measure up to big league standard, we will try to place them advantageously and give them the proper start in baseball. It's bare- ly possible that we may pick up a few good players in the course of time, and I have adopted this idea as part of my general develop ment system
 Manager Herzog of the luckless Reds has also turned philanthro- pist and will conceed part of his time to giving young players a boost in the professional game. Buck" has opened what he terms a school of instruction and has invited anybody who can wield bludgeon effectively to attend.
 Truly these major league man agers are rapidly becoming initi- ated into the ranks of philanthropy and are undertaking to assume ad- ded burdens where they are now loaded down with worries. Hickey and Herzog already have enough to worry about in trying to make pennant chasers out of cellar den- izens without trying to increase them by correcting the many glar- ing faults of self acclaimed base ball artists. Instead of teaching youngsters how to play both Hickey and Herzog should devote this time to giving their players some much needed lessons.
 
 Bob Messenger, the former Bar on, who is making a warm bid for an outfield berth on the Brown team. is being likened to Mike Don lin of the Giants, who is now pinch hitting for Johnny McGraw in lieu of Harry Mccormick. by St. Louis sport writers.
 Messenger is dead ringer for Donlin," says one writer. He has jet black hair and a head shaped like the great actor who is now pinch hitting for the scrappy New York leader. The young Brown out fielder has also affected something of a swagger walk like that which made Donlin famous,
 As Messenger possesses several characteristicss of the. famous Giant outfielder it Is to be hoped that he will use these and his natural ones to- good advantage and gain for himself regular berth in major league society. 7.
 Two more ambitious young play CTS have failed in their efforts to gain positions in Judge Kavan- aughs circuit this spring. And Johnny Dobbs is responsible for twarting their progress. The two unfortunates are Outfielder Ed mondson, last year with Waterbury in the Eastern association. and Pitcher Gray Hill, a Rome, Ga, player. Both lacked experience and were therefore unsuited for South ern league company. Edmondson goes to the Beaumont club in the Texas league, while Hill was given an unconditional release.
 Otto Burns the speedy outfielder with the Toledo club in the Amer ican association for some seasons past and now the property of the New Orleans club. Is showing fine