The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-01-13
Gr0undkeeper Haisman Has En-
tirely Remade Tigers Mis-
sissippi Playground
NAMES OVER LOCKERS
BRING BACK MEMORIES
Many of Owners of the Handles
Are Known to Detroit Only
Through Newspapers
BY RALPH L. YONKER

Word comes from Gulfport. where
Emil Haisman, Tiger groundkeeper' 10
at work, that the diamond used by
the Tigers for their spring training
has been completely made over ana
that within. a. month IL Will be the
fastest and best IN the south.
When Haisman went south II was
with the idea that all be needed 10
do was to currycomb the intieid bit
and fiji In center-field and that his
work would be done.
But when he arrived at the fair
grounds outside OF Gulfport. where
the field is located, he found that a
gridiron had been laid out directly
across the diamond and that the
cleated' shoes of the gridders had cut
the sod up very badly. What the
football men had left undone herd
OF cattle had finished.
1t was necessary 10 build up an en-
tirely new diamond. A force OF men
and a bunch of mule carts were inn
mediately put to work and within
short time 1920 loads or dirt had
been dumped on the inheld. With
third base taken as the level, first
base was raised four inches and sec
ond base seven. The pitchers box
was also raised so that 1t is now the
peak of pyramid, exactly as IL is on
Navin field.
The outfield was also filled in
whole lot, and ii is now alive and
well drained. The outfield Will be
,leveled off with the exception OF the
slant allowed for drainage and the
Tigers will have what Is called the
finest diamond in the south for its
spring training.
In preparing the locker rooms and
shower baths for the reception OF the
Tigers, Haisman noticed the names
that were written over the doors OF
the lockers and they brought back
memories and baseball history to him T
Those fans who followed the re
ports from the training camp at Gulf
port know some OF the men whose
names are still written in the Gulf
port locker room as names only.
There is Leggett for instance
Leggetr was the youngster whom
somebody wished on the Tigers He
had gone TO the same school in Call
fornia that Hal Chase attended and
II was believed that he would soon
rival Hal as frst-sacker.
Leggett was the first recruit 10 be
let go. He was sent TO Fort Wayne at
first, but he couldn't be used there
and so he was shipped 10 Ottawa,
Ont, where he was lost track Of
Leggett could play several kinds OF
musical instruments but be couldn't
play big league baseball.
Frierson is another man Tiger fans
know by name only. He was fair
outfielder. but he stood no chance
against Hughie High and Rabbit
Powell. He was released 10 south
ern club before the trip north began.
Then there was. Stanley, the big
OF the spring trip.
Stanley showed lot of speed and
clever fielding at second base. He
was touted as the best OF the recruits.
But when he began to face real pitch
ing he fell down utterly and he was
left at Memphis. He made a hit
there last season. gaining the nick.
name OF "Pep." He was drafted by
the New. York Americans this fall, but
later returned to Memphis. He is
young man who intends some day TO
be a dentist. Whatever he Is he'll
be good, for he is a hard worker and
q very conscientious fellow
"Old Pal, Schal" Schaller.--he's an
other man who didn't get as far as
Detroit, at least last spring. He was
notified that he was to go TO Chicago
when he was at Chattanooga, where
he had been sent ahead OF the regular
bunch in order TO get bum ankle