The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-20
CH|CKASAW FANS PLEASED BY SIGNING 0F PRESS CRUTHERS Star Second Sacker Comes to Memphis Team-COld
 Weather Hampers
 Trc.-..or

All is well in Memphis, Press Cruthers, the star second sacker for the Chicks has signed up and is now on his way to re- port to Manager Dolly Stark Cruthers was a holdout. but his demands were sat- isfied by Secretary Watkins. Cruthers has wired that everything is all right, and he will soon be on the scene of ac- tivities.
 The Chicks are holding practice daily and are rounding into god form. Cold weather has put a slight damper on train ing, but nevertheless, the Chicks are in good form, according to all reports from Stark's camp. The doings of the Chicks is told by the Memphis Commercial-Ap- peal:
 Any uneasiness over the probability of Press Cruthers, 1914 Chick second base man and suspected holdout, not report ing to the Memphis team this season was diSpelled last night when d message was received by Secretary Watkins from Cruthers in his home at Chester, Pa, stating that he left Saturday night for Memphis.
 When Cruthers received contract from the Memphis club he expressed some dis satisfaction of the salary offered him. A second contract was sent the tiny key stone station keeper. and few days later transportation was also sent him. Cruth- CTS had not been heard from until last night, when he wired that he would leave Saturday night to Join the team.
 Cruthers silence caused some anxiety by Manager Stark, but the Chick man. ager stated that he though Cruthers had been treated fairly by the Memphis club and was somewhat perplexed by his ac- tons, although he did not think Cruthers was remaining away on account Of any dissa atisfaction over his contract.
 ~r,,th 1,1ri ino yxint ho employed by an ammunition plant in Chester and holds a lucrarlve position. Secretary Watkins stated that he thought on account of the present activity in munition manufacturing that Cruthers could not conveniently get away
 ROBERTSON WILL RETURN
 Bill Robertson, the lengthy rightslider of the 1915 Chick hurling troupe, whom 1t was announced sometime ago would not return to the Chicks, but would prob- ably be sold to Scranton, has been sent contract and transportation, and Is eX- pected to join the squad any time. When Stark assumed the managerial role Of the Chicks he announced house-clean- ing, and it was stated that Howard Mer- ritt would be the only member of the 1915 pitching staff to return.
 The Scranton club was after the services of Robertson, and it was announced that deal had practically been clOsed, put the deal failed to materialize
 Robertson won F games and lost 13 with the Chicks last season, several of his defeats being by very narrow margins. Despite RobertSonS long service at the baseball trade, it is the opinion that nIs gray matter should carry him through some more victories ill class A society.
 Hancock, young left-hander of Corry- den, Ky and who was one of the first in, ic ai will probably not report to the club. It ap- pears that Hancock has gotten himself into a muddle that Secretary Farrell ot the national board will have U decide.
 After Hancock signed with the Chicks, Secretary Watkins learned that the south paw was the property of the Clinton. Iowa. club and had been traded to Seat file. In accordance with the rules Han cocks name was not published on the reserve list at the proper time. Watkins stated that he did not care to take any chances of getting into controversy over the players services and had put the case up to Secretary Farrell Han cock was given brief trial With Nash vile in the spring ot 1915, and Stark. then a member of the Volunteer team, thought well of Hancocks future prospects
 Ed Willett, pitcher, secured from the St. Louis Browns and with the Sloufeds last season, has not put in his appear ance yet. Branch Rickey, business man ager of the Browns, has written Secre- tary Watkins that several futile enorts have been made to have Willett report to Rickey in St. Louis to receive his transfer papers to the Memphis club. Neither Manager Stark nor Secretary Watkins has heard anything personally from Willett
 Indoor sports was the popular pastime in the Chickasaw wlgwam yesterday