The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-13
Benny Kauft, Star Of Feds,
 Pays Birminghdm c Visit
Signs With Giants and Stops Here On Road Training Camp
 Expecting Big Year Under McGraw
By FRED BODEKER

, as many fans came to the games of the Feds as they did to the organized, and especially in Chicago and St. Louis. When the Feds lowered the prices of admission, that hurt the game a lot too, making the fans think that the grade of ball was lower than custom ary.
 Fans may not agree with me when say that the National league was much lower than the Federal, but saw a number of games in the National leauge, and none of them were bril-
 liant affairs The Federal league turned out some mighty good ball players. 1 don't believe this, that Lee Magee, who was manager of Brooklyn last year and who went to the Yankies, will hit 300 in the American league. He was about the luckies ball player that was
 ever in the game. Nick Cullop and numerous other pitchers that were game.
 'I think that the Giants should cop the rag this year without any serious amount of trouble. They have a great team. I look for the braves, Cubs, Dodgers and Giants to finish in the first division, while the Phillies should come next in line. Pittsburg, Cincinnati and St. Louis will about finish in the order named. In the American league. it's up to the Tigers. White Sox and Red SoX to fight it out, while theYan- kies and Senators also appear formi- dable.''
 Kauff talked about other Federal league players and what ne thought they would do in the big show, but was not overenthusiastic over any. The idea that he could not hit a southpaw, was scoffed at by the star of the Gill more circuit
 You just wait and I'll make the southpaw, wise to whether l can hit them or not Some of the records show that I failed to hit over 200 against southpaws, but the official records show that I hit them all When I get into that Polo grounds in New York. I expect to set a record for home runs in one season. The short wall in right field will give me standing oppor- tunity of completing the circuit on one swing.
 "All I want is to get a chance with the Giants and I will prove my worth. The lineup of the Giants is completed already with the exception of the pitch CTS. McGraw knows the batting order for opening day. will play center feld, Burns in left and Dave Roberson or Rusch, a Federal leaguer, in right. MerkIe will be on first, Larry Doyle on second, Hans Lobert on third and Fletcher on short. Bill Raridan will be the first string catcher with several recruits also on the staff Tesreau will be in his prime this year, while I ex- pect Mathewson has made his last year in the game actively on the mound. Per ritt ought to be good. You must watch the Giants this year for they will most likely be in the worlds series."
 The Giants will be back in Birming- ham on April and to play the Bar ons exhibition games. Kauff is but "A years of age and about live feet. six inches tall At the present he weighs about IFS pounds During the season he will tip the beam at the 16o-pound mark. He has been in baseball five years. When questioned as to who he thought was the best player in the game, Kauff promptly replied that "Ty Cobb was without a superior"
 But wait" said Benny, 'in two years I will have Cobb's fame He is a great player and a great friend of mine and I admit that he is the best player now, but he won't hold that honor long"