The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-05-08
Hats Off to the Sorrell-Top


year and the year before to the sight
of Rick Woodward, multi-millionare
iron magnate in the uniform of the
Birmingham baseball club, which, in
cidentally, he owns, sweating with
the players under the broiling sun at
Fleetwood, have wondered this year
whether he had deserted the Barons
permanently. They have seen him at
Redwood in uniform no more than
three times this year and strange
reports have come to their ears.
Mr.. woodward, it was whispered,
had deserted the red-blooded sport of
the nation to devote his attention to
a much smaller pellet in no way akin
to the horsehide, a golf ball, in fact.
1t was declared that he was as much
obsessed in the old mans game as
he had been in the national sport.
There was keen disappointment that
so hot a sport as Rick Woodward
should have forsaken the Barons.
This was the report and there was
as much truth in it as there is in
the average war statement from
Vienna, which, being interpreted,
means none at all. Mr.. Woodward's
fidelity to the Barons stands mistaken
and he is as keenly interested in
their doings, their successes and their
disappointments as he has ever been.
In fact, it is a little more so than
ever this season, as he has personal
interest in the candidates for the
various positions.
Mr.. Woodward was out of the city
the latter part of the week and had
received no word of the Barons.
When he arrived in Birmingham last
night the first thing he did was to
call up The Age-Herald and find how
the game went. His ejaculation of
plea sed surprise when he was in
formed that the Barons hap COPIED
both ends of double bill was elo
quent. His next inquiry was as to
how Meusel looked. Again the scribe
was able to give him pleasant news
that Meusel looked good and had Sc
cured five safeties out Of eight trips
to the plate.
Mr.. Woodward then wanted to know
how Cation was getting along. Il
have a personal interest in him and
am very anxious to see him make
good" said the magnate. 81 bought
him last summer through the recon-
mendation of friend of mine and
have followed his work with a great
deal of interest. I was also instru-
mental in securing Werner, the Gin
cinnati semi-pro. I don't know how
the old man (Molesworth) will de-
eide, but I hope he makes good"
Despite his personal interest in Ca
ton Mr.. Woodward made it plain that
he would in no wise interfere with
Molesworth in his judgment of the
rival players. Since his purchase of
the Barons Mr. Woodward has allowed
his manager a free hand and the team
has never been troubled with internal
dissension Moley doesn't know just
how lucky he is in his owner and in
this fact may been one of the reasons
for the Barons' fighting qualities,
With the advent of the Vols this
morning will come another phase in
the Southern league race so far as
the Barons are concerned. SO far the
Barons have met three teams in. the
league-the Gulls, the Pels and the
Crackers. They have trounced the
Mobile club and have come through
the remaining battles with more or
less scars. 1t is interesting to note.
however, that Wordsworth is rapidly
finding his sea legs. Observe that of
the last eight games played he has
won five and lost but three, two to
New Orleans and one to Atlanta.
The Barons are improving every day,
and, when May IA rolls around
and it is finally decided who is to re-
main on the club and who is to go,
Wordsworth will lose no time in per-
fecting his machine to that degree
which heretofore has been superior to
every other manager in the leagse
While Moley is not confronted with
many problems in the reduction of his
staff the ones he has are poignant.
There is the hurting staff, for in
stance. Shall he retain Elmer Ponder
or Dick Robertson? Ponder has start
ed but once and then was removed
when he displayed signs Of nervous
ness. 1t was against the same New
Orleans club, and on Thursday he re-
ieved Robertson and held the Pels to
one run in five innings. He has fire.
quently gone in after game has
been lost and demonstrated he is a
pitcher of no mean ability. Whether
he is sufficiently ripe for Southern
league company is a problem on which
the writer is not wise enough to ven
ture an opinion.
There is the case of Robertson. He
has failed to cop a battle SO far this
season, and has shown only flash of
his form last season, which made him
one Of the most formidable of Moley's
hurlers. Robby was a good pitcher
last year, but has been unable to
come through SO far this season.
Would Moley be justified in retaining
a veteran pitcher who was not in
form and discard an excellent recruit?
Would he be justified in retaining
youngster while getting rid of a man
who has it in him to pitch winning
ball, and who has demonstrated this
fact? Pm glad I'm not the manager.
Turning to the outfield, which of
the three shall be released-Carroll,
Cation or Meusel Coombs, of course,
is certainty for his prowess with his
bludgeon assures him a Job if he
couldn't field a lick. Incidentally it
might be stated that he has improved
just as much in his fielding as he has
with the stick. Meusel has eight days
or so in which to demonstrate what
he can do. If there is any promise in
his performances in the first two
games in which he appeared, ne, TOO,
is slated for a regular berth. That
leaves Carroll or Cation.
It's a hard proposition. III Carroll
could hit equally as well as Cation,
there would be no question as to his
retention But will he do any better
than o40? Cation is sweet young
player, but not the finished player as
is Carroll. With a player limit of IA
men, it is absolutely necessary to
have an outfielder who can play the