The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-08
BANNER YEAR IS PROSPECT FOR SOUTHERN
 2~ LEAGUE N SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL SEASON
Barons Will Enter Race
 With Great Team-All Teams Are Strong
By FRED BODEKER

By FRED BODENER
 The seventeenth annual season of the Southern Association of Profes- sional Baseball clubs, better known as the Southern league, will start Thursday, April 12, with prospects for a banner year greater than ever be- fore. The fast gathering war clouds threaten the most prosperous season in the history of DiXie's major, but unless the pressure of the United States being involved in the world conflict produces unexpected hap penings, the season will pass off as successfully as anticipated.
 The clubs enter the coming campaign with better financial footing than in recent years. The league, too, profited greatly from last years play and is in a better condition now than any time previous in the past few years.
 Robert H. Baugh of Birmingham is at the helm of the Southern league again this year. He begins his third term as chief executive. He has another term to serve before he is forced to be re-elcted or defeated by the league directors. BAUGH GOOD OFFICIAL
 President Baugh is perhaps one of the best officials the league has ever had in it's service. He is competent in every re- spect. He is surrounded by a cast of capable assistants and the workings Of the league are now going on a much better scale.
 There is little change in the Southern league this season from last. Only one new manager will make his debut, while two new umpires will officiate. Mike Dcrlin of Memphis is the new pilot. Mike comes from the New York Giants, where he had the reputation of being a smart player. He will undoubtedly make the Chicks a good boss-something the Bluff City club has been attempting to land for years
 Carlton Molesworth is back at Birming- ham; Charley Frank, the chubby Dutch man, is again at Nthe helm of the At lanta Crackers; Johnny Dobbs is bossing the New Orleans Pelicans; Charley Starr has recovered from typhoid fever and he is now the job in Little Rock; Matty Mcintyre is leading the Mobile Gulls for his second term; Kid Elberfeld is piloting the Chattanooga Lookouts, who are under new officials, while Roy Ellam is on the job again in Nashville trying his best to produce another winner.
 VOLS WON RAG
 The Nashville Vols enter the race with the flag of 1916 waving from their flag pole in the Dell. The Vols, however, were certainly scheduled to win rag last year as it was their first blue ribbon prize since 1908.
 The pennant winners since the organ- zation of the league are:
 1901-Nashville.
 1902-Nashville.
 1903-Memphis. 1904-Memphis. 1905-New Orleans. 1906- Birmingham. 1907-Atlanta. 19OS-Nashville. 1909-Atlanta. 1910-New Orleans. 1911-New Orleans. 1912-Birmingham. 1913-Atlanta 19l4- Birmingham. 1915-New Orleans. 1916-Nashville. The victory of the Vols last year TUT their total of captured gonfalons to four The New Orleans Pelicans have also wor four rags and are tied with the Vols fol the lead The Atlanta Crackers and the Birmingham Barons have won three each, the Memphis club is the holder O. the two remaining rags. FRANK WON MOST Charley Frank, the present pilot of tht Crackers, has won more pennants in tho Southern league than any other pilot The chubby Dutchman boasts of having landed three pennants for his clubs Carlton Molesworth is second to Frani with two to his credit The. remaining buntings have been won by managers who are not in this league now. 1 The Pelicans maintain the best average for the Is seasons. The Pels have com