The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-14
BASEBALL MEMPHIS WELCOMES DONL|N
 ASNEXT MANAGER
With Signing of Former Giant Star, Prospects
 Are Discussed
CATCHING STAFF IS
 EXCEEDINGLY GOOD
Outfield Must Be Strengthened and Few Reliable Pitchers on Hand. Club Will Spend Money
 for Winning Team
By HERBERT CALDWELL

for Winning Team
 By HERBERT CALDWELL
 Memphis January 13-(Special.) )-With the signing of Mike Donlin, former Giant outfield star as manager of the Memphis Chicks for the 1917 season, talk base ballic began to boom. It continues to boomJ And Michael Joseph as papa and mamma Donlin wished that he be known is the chief topic of local fan confabs.
 Donlin comes to manage the Chicks after having seen more or less service in the majors for IS years. Entries in baseball history show that Donlin made St. Louis Nationals. He went to Cincin- natl in 1902, and to the Giants during the season of 1904 Mikes baseball career since 1904 is dotted with intermissions. He is not shown in the records of 1907- 09-1G. His last active service in the ma jors was with the Giants in 1914 when he acted as sort of lieutenant to Mama ger McGraw and pinch hit in 35 games for a hitting mark of .161. He did not play any in the field.
 For the past two years Donlin has been dabbling in theatricals and the pro- noting end of the sporting game. Tn the summers of 1915-16 he played some independent ball around New York.
 Donlin was born in Peoria, H., and is stated to be nearing. the fortieth mile stone in lifes journey.
 WELL RECOMMENDED
 While Donlin will wear the managerial robe for his first time as chieftain of the Chicks he comes here we'll recom- mended with the stamp of approval put on him by such students of baseball as Jchn McGraw, Branch Hickey and Bill Donovan. Donlin's '~ng Sojourn in the majors and association with a leader like McGfaw should thoroughly acquit him as 8 manager In the spring of 1914 Mike had charge of the Giant Juniors and was retained by McGraw as coach of the youngsters.
 He has always been regarded as a smart and alert ball player possessing the fighting spirit on the diamond, fea- ture always welcomed by the fan. Don ln's knowledge of and acquaintance with ball players should also render him of valuable service to the club in securing players.
 a The announcement that Donlin attempts to come back as a player and intends to play first base for the Chicks Is not taken with any degree of seriousness It is the opinion that Mike as a player, is dope with, even as far as class A. company. and especially at first base Donlin, always good hitter, should still be of some service as a pinch hitter though.
 WILL PLAY FIRST SACK
 Secretary Watkins, regarding the an- nouncement that Donlin had signed a player-n,anager's contract, and would play first base, said: "NVhen I talked with Donlin before he signed a contract he expressed his confidence in being able to play again, and, said he would play first base. I told him that it was up to him, that he was the boss. also added that he would be given free rein in picking his players, and that if he found out, or thought that he could not play the position satisfactorily to himself then to go out and get first baseman."
 After a trip to Cuba, where Donlin will mar age team of playerst in a series of games with Cuban teams, he will return to Memphis and take active charge of the team about March 1. He will prob ably be here this week for conference with officials of the Memphis club.
 Some retrenching confronts Donlin in preparing the Chick machine for the 1917 SuiIiiltT SIllu. IHe lflllSlQ, Outlltlu duu pitching departments are doubtful at present. Of the leftover in these branches from the 1916 outfit several are uncertain of sticking the coming season. Players of the 1916 team who will be missing are Paulette, first base, recalled by the Browns; Wallace, catcher, re- called by the Cubs and sent to Kansas City; Fincher, pitcher, recalled by the Browns; Monroe, pitcher, drafted by the aral- v,ifn cn1d he, Browns, and Chadbourn, outfielder. sold to Lookouts. Kerr was purchased copdi- tionally, and there is a chance that the midget southpaw will return to the Chicks. It is understood that Paulette is averse to playing in the Southern league, and in that case the Memphis club would hardly insist on his return if the Browns chose to send him back here.
 CATCHERS GOOD
 The catching department, aas it now stands. seems certain and solid and the indication is that it will remain solid. It consists of Ruel. the youngster with the team last season, and Charlie Schmidt, manager of the 1916 Gulls, and purchased by the Memphis team. The remainder of the Chicks roster is: Infielders, Cruthers. Dobard and Walsh, with the team last season; Biting. third | baseman purchased from the Asheville club of the North Carolina league. and Manda, third baseman drafted from the Fort Worth club of the Texas league. 1 Outfilders, Cook and Knisely, of last years team. and Sharman, secured iron, the Giants last spring. sent to Galveston l of the Texas league and recalled. Pitch 1 CTS, Willett, Barger and Priest, with the team last season; Fentress, purchased | from the Fort Worth club Handwerker, | Aycock and Long, local youngsters signed for try-outs, and Fowlkes, with l the Cleveland, Miss, independent team last season. Priest was secured from Brooklyn near the middle of last season He was turned back to Brooklyn and they refused to accept him. A case is
 now pending before the national commits
 sion regarding salary duo the player, and {, will determine whether he is the property 1 of the local club or Brooklyn.
 i The outfieid appdars' to be the weakest
 department of the team at present. and one that will require the attention oi
 Denim. Biting and Manda come well
 recommended, especially Manda, and may
 be useful in shaping the infield. ii Cruthers develops another case of "hold
 outis'' as he did last season it Is not
 likely that the club will waste much time
 eldeavoring to humor him.
 1 Perusing the Chick prospects from all
 argles there appears considerable work