The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-28

In another column of the sporting page of The Age-Herald will be found some data which are extremely illum- mating and which will explain in measure why the team is in it's pres ent position.
 Birmingham has made a greater number of hits for more bases than any other team in the league, snag- ging a total of Al bases. On these hits, however, 3s less runs have been scored than New Orleans, with hits for total of 435 bases.
 The real story of the Baron's down. fall. however, is shown in the fielding averages. Birmingham fields only as well as Mobile. In 159o chances the Barons have been guilty of S3 pebbles. while Nashville. leader, is guilty of but 42. Birmingham is fifth in batting and seventh in fielding. It is not to be wondered that the team is where 1t Is. It is interesting to note, how ever, that Birmingham has committed 27 double plays during the season, one less than Chattanooga, who leads the league.
 Meusel continues to improve as a ball player and while he is a little up- stage in his hitting of late, he Is nak- ing the Barons a valuable man. In the Thursday game in Nashville he demonstrated his alertness to take advantage of an opportunity in a very pleasing manner. Blinkey Horn tells of it in the Tennessean in the fol- lowing words:
 For the first time in his entire ca- reer yesterday Gabby Street forgot how many strikes and balls a batter had. Yet the hard clubbing back stopper presents an alibi that en- titles him to the big excuse. Gabby had a date to hustle down to the union station and meet his wife, who was returning to Nashville from a visit to Huntsville, and naturally his thoughts wandered from the baseball battle. You can understand that after having seen Mrs. Gabby.
 It happened in the fourth frame, when two gents were down, Meusel was on second and Lindsay on first, and Zeke Smith was at bat. Tom Rogers slipped over two strikes on his one-time battery mate, and Gabby thought it was the third one. He turned and started for the Vols bench, lobbing the ball back to the pitchers box. And Meusel dashed for third. Tom pickec up rie pill and tried to nail the Baron at third, but was too late. Zeke singled, so the lapse by Gabby cost nothing.
 And though it worried the Newberry +aI,x y,a ho1 txuo al for forgiveness. His hefty work with the bludgeon and his smart catching of late-and the fact that he had that date to meet train coming from Huntsville.
 Freouent consultations between Moriarty and Dobbs while the for mer was visiting in Pelicanville led to reports that a trade was pend ing between the two. It is said that Dobbs is seeking to place Eschen with the Chicks. The case or Eschen is somewhat peculiar for 1t ought not to be hard for the boy to get a regular job in the south ern He is a sweet young field CT, a clever hitter and a heady base runner. Still, nobody seems to want him much. Dobbs offered him to Charley Schmidt, but the Gull pilot couldn't see him and took Massey instead. Moriarty ought to be able to use the Dutchman, es- pecially since shifting Gene Paul lette back to first base.
 It is not only the regularly re- puted sluggers on the Little Rock team who are connecting quite frequently with the old apple. but even the pitchers are contributing to the pile driving. In Couchman and Hardgrove, Charley Starr has two dangerous hitters. The old master is pasting the pill at the rate of .286 in 10 games, while Bob Couchman is credited with .292 in 12 frames. Believe us, this is no mean swatting for hurlers.
 Couchman, it is believed, has made for himself unique little record. In 24 times at bat his hits have counted for 16 bases. This is better than two bases for every hit While Ernie Walker was a great aid with his willow, the Lit tie Rock club ought not to miss his work to such a great extent, for Rumler, Manning. Jacobson and Wares are some fence breakers on their own account.
 
 Birmingham fans with great pride, according to Nashville reports.
 Manager Ellam of the Vols was showing his watch charm to the Vol magnates this morning." says Bob Pigue in the Nashville Ban ner. Roy received the charm from the fans of Birmingham who ob- served May 1 as Ellam day and presented the souvenir to the Vol boss The charm is beautiful and useful and Manager Ellam IS prouder of 1t than anything else he possesses"
 Reports from Chattanooga in- dicate that Cholly Frank is hav- ing trouble keeping enough pep in his club to get anywhere. Judg- ing from the looks of the Thurs day game something must have been wrong. The Lookouts pulled off two double steals and made four squeeze plays. Bremen was or little use in the box except to give the Lookouts something to nit.
 A, Rridwell pulled some Federal league baseball in the eighth Of that contest, showing why, in part. the organization failed with its bunch of players, whose chief thought was pay day. It was one of the many occasions iI that bat tie in which the Crackers showed no speed with their brains Br1d- we'll was on first with one down when a brother hoisted Fly 10 right field. It was an easy out for Hyatt with no chance to advance.