The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-20
By BLINKY HORN

Nashville, January l5-NSpecldi.J Not to be outdone by the wild trading activity in the major market, Vol moguls are busily engaged in hatch ing deals with which they hope to re- coup the fallen fortunes of Roy FL lam, left almost a pauper by enlist ments, the draft and retirements from the game. The most promising swap is one which will send Tommy shee- han to New Orleans and bring Cotton Knaupp to the Ellam fold, plans to
 that end being carried forward de-
 spite the fact that the Vols second
 sacker last fall announced that he
 would never play again.
 Both Nashville and New Orleans are willing to engineer the deal provided hardt, which now appears almost a certainty At any rate, Tommy IS weakening, judging from a letter re- ceived this week by the local mags ! in which he makes the significant statement, You never can tell what effect spring will have on ball | player"
 Down at the annual league meeting in Birmingham, the Vols attempted
 to swap Bill Ellis and Artie Kores to the Pels for Pop Boy Smith and
 Eddie Edmondson. Ellis, along with Sheehan and Knisely, at the close of | the 1917 season declared that he would
 retire to his Arkansas farm, but his public utterance was contradicted by a conflab with the Vol mags in which 1 he asked that he be traded to some
 other club. Ellis believes that he would l find it more congenial with another
 club, although admitting fair tfeat-
 ment from the Vols.
 DOBBS BALKS
 1 Johnny Dobbs refused to consider 1 the Ellis-Kores swap, not caring for the former and being convinced that Kores would never come south again 1 to play. Last season he was only in 1 duced to return below the Mason Dixon line after considerable coaxing
 and wheeling and an agreement to
 unreasonable salary terms. He played marked inferior brand of ball and even should he display willingness to come south again the Vols are not eager for his services.
 l While Tommy Sheehan last season l played wonderful ball for the Vols, President Shropshire believes that a change of faces would be welcomed i by fans and Is making every effort to l
 his position and come back this 1 spring Knaupp. beyond doubt, would | give the Vols a strong combination around second base, coupled with Roy 1 Ellam. for Sheehan was always slow
 covering on double plays, while his
 arm is not strong enough to make the
 throws which should in the past have | turned many an out into a twin death. CLARK WELCOMED
 l Concerning the rumor from Birming- ham that Secretary Haury had given an option on the club excepting Man i ager Ellam in an effort to land Danny
 Clark, the Vols, secretary emphatical-
 ly denies that he has made any such
 offer, but admits that the Baron would
 be welcomed in exchange for Shee-
 han The fact that Clark swings from :, the left side and would be able to l punch many lick to the right field | dump-a fine target for portside stick ers-makes him prize in the eyes of local moguls. If the Barons are look I ing for swap they can find one in l Nashville.
 A new catcher must be secured tc replace Gabby Street. who has joined Il the gas and flame division. and this 1 problem is one of the biggest which 1 confronts the Vols. President Shrop- shire announced lately that work ing agreement would be affected with the Giants, but former experiences with majors have proven unsatfsfac- tory and local fans are inclined to . l demand that players be bought and nc
 great amount of trust be put in big league castoffs.
 Last year a working agreement witf the Cubs whereby the Vols were to re- ceive an infieloer. pitcher and out fielder banned out as a farce. For tha
 reason the Giant utilization is not be ing swallowed without liberal ust of the salt shaker.