Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-29
BIRMINGHAM To TAKE
SMALL SQUAD SOUTH
Twenty-Six Athletes VIII Train for
Regular Positions on Maps 1915
American League Team.
MANAGER JOE IS OPTIMISTIC
Says Club VIII Consist of a Hustling.
Fighting Bunch of Youngsters.
Fred Thomas Doped as Dark
Horse for Shortstop Job.

Gle NELAND. December 2S-For varI :
GUS reasons, among which may be the
Two wars. European and Federal the
hish cost OF living and the failure OF
the hens TO lay, Manager Birming-
nam VIII take South with him March
one of the smallest Cleveland SQUADS
that ever went down South to pre-
pare Tor the championship season. It
may not De quite as small as that
which Bill Armour took to Atlanta
In 1900, for that one numbered ONLY
ABOUT twenty-five players, but II will
come close, at that
outside OF his battery material
birmingham will Try out two or pos
s!biy three first bascmen. one second
bbnIMef' , !, Couple OF Shortstops and per-
lioh 10 I'VE outfeldcrs. \ rough csti-
,hats ~ mat ne assresation Will CON
i ga 81 TOUR ci,tchers. ten pitchers. seven
inhtihefs ana live onticldcrs--twun
six players all told.
MANAGER Joe birmingham. of the
Maps. arrived in town for a stav OF -
few days. which hn will spend in dis
.cuasing plans for next season and in
r rGieG,Nin nse 'f frat for his damaged
Knee was badly twisted In n collision
WIN Harry Trucsdale. OF the Yankees,
Just before the close Of the season. and
mas not been right since
lhc outlook for the Mans for 1915"
said the Cleveland manager. lis not at
an bad. VI course, ii is not AS good as
must De remembered that then we had
lust finished "a season in which we were
m Mei, for the ncnnant all year. while
rattle: differently, the club having fin
! lshcd last But do think the prospects
are better than thought them mon tn
end
- can assure Clcvclanders of one
dahihs. and that Is. no matter where we
nEhting team from the start OF the
campaign to Its end. In the first place,
we Will be in better condition when
,ra'nim& camp has been picked out for
us We did not have any practice trip
L" speak or year ago. and the few
more of an injury than a benefit
the field with an infield composed of
or Wood will be on first base. Wood
has shown me enough to warrant nv
saving he is going to be quite u first
Shields, but Lee Foil and others have
told me ne is actually n brilliant first
! shckcr and fair stickcr
Eill Rodgers looks Ike the logical
man Tor second base. II we had not
had good reports from Portland about
Those reports have been added TO late.
I ~: ! have seen several coast lcagucrs
who hive told me he Will add great
/ strength to the Cleveland club. He IL
as game as they make them. and one
that keeps hustling all the time Chap
man looks to have tho inside track at
short. but. this boy Wambsganns Ia n
conner. and so lie Thomas. and Ray may
have to stbp some to make them
bench warmers. For third we have
Rarhare and Turner, Either can Mi
the bill. and FIJI II we'll
What do | think about Rip HaRcr-
man jumping? Wei, ( thought min
had 81 good chance TO come through
next year, hut I am not losing any
sleep because he has jumped me-"
] There's n dark horse In the race for
Ray Chapman'S job rs Nap shortsto
who Is touted to give all hands o fierce