The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-02-10
ROY ELAN FACES
HERCULEAN JOB AS
MANAGER OF VOLS
Art Decatur, Star Finger
of 1917, Will Be Taken
by Next Draft
ENTIRE NEW TEAM
MUST BE SECURED
Vols Anxious to Trade Kores to
Louisville for Gus Williams.
Catcher Marshall Placed
on Trading Block
DOC JOHNSTON

Nashville, February ., = Especially
Rammed by the draft dreadnaugh, which
sunk Bullet Joe Decatur the only
boxnan expected to return this season
and roost dikely will carry down, Mike
Burke; the solitary outheld holdover,
Skipper Roy Ellam's frail craft Is about
to go to the bottom. Now the local
pilot can count with certainty on but
himself and Dick Kaufman as remnants
of the 1917 outfit which he steered into
fifth place
The almost complete wreckage of the
Vols and the herculean task of rebuild
Ing behind the bat on the mound. the
infield and the outheld is expected to
result in a much earlier appearance of
Roy ELAN on the scene this year than
has been his former custom. Two play
ers have been picked up, one pitcher
and one combined infelder and out
helder. but nothing is known of the abil-
ity OF either. Neither is counted on as
q permanent fixture ~
The loss of Art Decatur. the big blonde
the Vols. Decatur not only was ex-
pected to prove the backbone OF tho 1913
box staff, but local mags counted strong
ly upon marketing him TO some major
club should he develop at the rate looked
for. From a letter received here 1t de-
veiops that Decatur was drafted in Octo-
Der, last and passed physical examna-
ton. Only lack of housing facilities at
Chillicothe, O., the cantonment for the
irf IN, Ub of,,v live
ed an earlier call, SO he writes His
number was high up and no hope Is
held for his escape in the anticipated
March call.
SLAB OUTFIT CLEANED
The drafting OF Decatur and the sale Of
Pug Cavet to Mobile cleans up the 1917
slab outfit Hill Ellis still demands
that he be traded. and Jack Meador will
not be asked to report. So that Roy Ell
lam must rebuild his catching stan.
gather An entire new crop Of mound ma
teriaL piece together an inheld quartet
around himself and Kaufman. and gather
an entire outfield. Otherwise the Vol
skipper is rolling in diamond wealth.
Having lost Gabby Street. veteran catch
er through enlistment in the gas and flame
division, local mags have practically de-
termined to part with Moose Marshall,
the big backstopper. who apparently is
making little progress on the diamond.
| II Marshall can be traded or sold. invest
ment will be made in a catcher equal
either in experience or promise to Street
While Marshall at times is dangerous
batter his receiving is ragged and he has
shown no great amount Of ability in
coaching pitchers. He was obtained from
Memphis in exchange for Dolly Stark,
when the latter was made manager Of
| the Chicks. N
| A deal is pending with Louisville te
swap Artie Kores for Gus williams, q
1 member OF the 1917 champs and il that
\ trade il made ELAN will have tbs
/ neucles around which to rebuild his out
l field Kores is anxious to get into a
northern league. being chronic GROWER
against the south, and last season, while
he made a good paper record. his work
was far below par In comparison with
! the sensational performance of the flag
winning year.
KNISELY HAS QUIT
| There Is little likelihood that Ray
o. Brien. the leftShanded Fly chaser. will
be asked to return, since he manifestly
| lacked ambition and only hit in streaks
Pete Knisley may be coaxed to return
from his PENNSYLVANIA mining career, and
| Burke may escape Class |, although the
chances are against the latter. He and
This brother jointly support the family
Iaad ii is believed that inasmuch as his
brother has an all-year round position
| he viii be the one exempted.
u Not until ELAN arrives on tho scene
Twill the herculean Job Of rebWldin9 be
I undert2ken. The taskis ode OF the great
/ est ever attempted BY alocaI manage,
Of any Dixie pilot as fof that matter and
r.. ter tod