The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-27
BY EARNEST POLLARD.

Jesse lAnnenlii. WHO peIAothSu As
Richmond uniform many years ago,
and who later played with the Pitts
burg Pirates in the National league,
is now a member OF the International
league umpiring staff. President Ed
= ward G. Barrow announced his ap-
pointment yesterday.
Tannehill il well known In Rich
mond and has many friends here. 1t
will be remembered that 1t was in
this citv that he got his real start in
the national pastime. In 1914 Tame
hill managed the Portsmouth Pirates
in the Virginia State league, but tend
cred his designation the latter part
of the season. He has been umpir-
ing in various leagues ever since
There will be only three of the old
nmpires on President Barrow's staff
this year. They are William Car
/penter. who Is a big favorite in Rich
mond; Robert Hart big. red face
Individual, and John Freeman.
Shorty Cleary. who was another
faSortte in this city, has been let out
by the International league presi-
dent
There are four new men in addi-
tion to Jesse Tannehill they being
John r. Mcbride late of the New
York State league; Joseph O'Brien.
with the American association three
years: John Mullin, who has been in
the New York State league for the
last two years, and who previously
served three In the International, and
George Blackburn. the wellknown
minor league player and umpire.
Kitty" Bransfeld who was one of
the umpires in the International
league last season. will perform be-
hind the plate and on the base lines
tSS H. III 40 ut
been selected by President John X.
Tener.
The International league has the
reputation OF having sent more srbit-
FRS to the big leagues than saF other
organization in the country. Those
who have gone to the National from
this league are Billy Byron, the musi
cal umpire: Ernest Quigley, Pete
Harrison. Mol" Eason and Kitty"
Bransfleld. Those who have gone up
10 the American arc Billy Finnegan.
Bob Hart. Bill Guthrie. Silk"
O'T.oughlin, Bert Owens. Dick Nollin.
Hart Is back In the International.
while Finnegan and Guthrie are out
on the coast calling balls and strikes
Hack Eibel, Richmond's clever
little first baseman. who was consider
ed one OF the best around the circuit
last year, may be given a trial in the
box this sea son nv Manager Billy
smith. Ethel pitched portion of
game last season. and performed SO
well that Manager Smith believes that
he will prove a winner in the box.
To become hurler has been Henry's
lifelong ambition. and he has written
"A letter TO the local leader asking that
ne be given trial He declares that
he has II in him and he believes that
he will be able to hold his own
around the Barrow circuit. L Billy is
strong for giving the boy a trial in
the box. and there is a probability
of another first haseman being pur-
chased.
Manager Smith has announced that
he will leave his home in Springfield
for Richmond in the next few days,
when Rily arrived in the Ohio city
he found both his mother and father
Ill, but they are said TO be recovering
and It Is thought that he will he able
to leave home in a short while.
The local leader declares that he
will he on the job about week he
fore the players report for duty The
FASTENERS will start shaking out the
kinks about March 10, and Billy Is
expected to arrive in Richmond about
the 1fth.
Harold Jones. business manager OF
the Richmond Exhibition company.
Yesterday mailed out contracts to the
players on the reserve list. The old
ones to whom The documents have
been forwarded are Reynolds and
O'Douneii, catchers McKenry and
Crabbie pitchers: McDermott. third
hsse: Stein brenner. sho r $ t o. p:
Mooers. second base. Ethel, first base.
and Clemens. Zinnell and Baker. out
helders. All OF these men, with the
possible exception OF Baker. will sign
the contracts Baker has a good posi-
ton in Richmond and there lis
strong probability of him giving up
baseball.
Although contract will be sent to
Harry O'Donnell, there Is hardly a
probability OF him appearing here for
spring training. Efforts are being
made by the local management to dis
pose OF the young catcher and 1t is
thought that "a deal will be CONSUME
mated in the next few days. AL
though O'Donnell has been in the In
ternational league fer pair of years
.e has certainly failed to show that
- Is fast enough for this class of
baseball. He would doubtless make