The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-05
MANY NEW FACES APPEAR ON
 FIRST BASE ROSTER THIS YEAR
Only Two of Last Years Squad Back This Year. COvingtOn and Calhoun
 Most Promising New Men
By ASA RoUNTREE, JR.

Radical changes have been made on the first base roster of the Southern league during the past winter. and when the teams lineup on April IA for the opening of hostilities only two of the first sack guardians who performed regularly in Judge Kavanaugl's circuit during the 1913 campaign will be on hand These lone representatives of the 1913 crew of first sackers are Palmer Snedecor of the Billikens and Micky Coyle of the Lookouts. In the six other cities comprising the Southern circuit changes have occurred and new men. mostly youngsters, will be on the job when the opening gong is sounded.
 The roster last year consisted of McGflvray at Birmingham, Paulette at Mobile. Agler at Atlanta, Schwartz and Hoffman at Nashville, Coyle at Chatta- nooga, Snedecor at Montgomery, Kraft at New Orleans and Abstein at Mem phis
 To fill the hole at first base on the Gull team made vacant by the Cleve- land club exercising its option on Gene Paulette, Manager Briscoe Lord secured Mary" Calhoun, a former Georgia Tech star, from the Jersey City club in the International league Calhoun is touted as one of the most promising of the new first base recruits, and according to reports will fill the hole in tho. GulPs Inner defense in very accepta- ble manner
 Crackers Have Bible
 Bible, young player last year with Saginaw in the Michigan league, is the most likely successor of Joe Agler at Atlanta. The Crackers disposed of Az Ter to the Jersey City club in the In- ternational league during the flag end of last year, but Jersey City was not destined to keep him as the Detroit Tigers put in a draft and secured him before Jersey City had gained formal possession. However, Hughie Jennings was also doomed to disappointment as Agler hardened to the siren call of the outlaws and deserted the ranks of or ganized ball.
 At present Manager Bill Schwartz of the Vols is without the services of a reliable first baseman and 1t may be- come necessary for him to re-enter the game this season. The boy leader of the Nashville club withdrew to the bench when Artie Hoffman was se- cured late in the season. During the winter Hoffman jumped to the Federals and as yet Schwartz has not secured a competent successor
 Dunckel Is the leading contender at this time for the vacant shoes of Ab- stein at Memphis. Early last winter Mike Finn decided that the former Pirate was not suitable for the Turtle team during the 1914 season, so gave him his walking papers.
 Coyington Promising
 Another exceedingly promising young first baseman who will make his debut into the Southern this year is Tex Covington, who supplants Bill McGil- vray as the Baron first sack guardian Covington comes from the St. Louis Browns, where he played during the final part of 1913. He is a reliablee hitter, sure fielder, fast on his feet and gives promise of becoming one of the leading first seekers in the league this year.
 Palmer Snedecor, after a brief trial with the St. Louis Browns. is back again with the Billikens and will most likely hold down the initial corner as before. Coyle has also cinched his posi- ton on the Lookout team this spring and with the experience gained last year should prove a useful player this season.
 Succeeding Kraft at New Orleans will likely be Bluhm, a former Mud Hen bluhm was released to Johnny DobbS Friday and the Pelican leader is plac- ing much reliance on him. He has been dickering for Bluhm's services for sometime, but 1t was not until Friday that his perseverance was rewarded.
 Kraft was released to the Nashville club near the close of the 1918 season and then was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers. A youngster to be reckoned with Is Sylvester, youngster who hit 1906 in the Wisconsin Illinois league last season Sylvester is well built, fast on his feet and possesses all of the ear marks of capable performer.