The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-07-14
SOUTHWORTHLEAO
 PIRATE SLUGGERS
Baron Recruit Idol of Fans in Smoky City-Others
 Show Up We'll

Pittsburg, July 13.-He may prove to be merely Hash in the pan, as many an other ball player has proved, but to date It looks as if the Pirates made ten strike when they secured Outfielder Billy Southworth from the Birmingham club Of the Southern association, which is nov defunct Southworth came here along with Pitchers Slapnicka and Com stock and Catcher Willard Smith. His first game in a Pittsburg uniform was the exhibition contest played with the Cincinnati Reds at Columbus last Mon day, which the Pirates won. Tn that battle Billy cracked out four hits for total of 10 bases making a home run. a trlEle' double and single. Of course that was interesting, but it means noth- Ing in the annals of the National league.
 However. Southworth didn't stop with that exhibition of slugging prowess. In his first National league game he an- neHec a batting average of 800, and in ms games since then he has kept up a sensational pace. not only making hits. put making them at times when they would send runs over the pan Of course It is not to be expected that he will con- tinue as we'll as he has started. but if he does even two-thirds thai wau ha Will be hailed as real wonder
 1t IS always a great thing for a recruit tc break in auspiciously in the big show II tends to give him a confidence that if mlSnt ctnerWIse require years to obtain Southworth has certainly got off to 2 good start, and he fills that right field gap to perfection thus far.Y More than a ha L,,r
 mates to 8 new ambition to hit. as for in- stance their work against Boston Satur- day Whoever heard of the Pirates get ting Fl hits in a game before, off any bodys pitching?
 Slapnicka and Comstock have both been given trials and appear to be valuable men. To be sure, their deliveries are a bit new to league batsmen, which is to the pitchers advantage but they have shown enough to warrant the prediction that they will remain on Bezdek's staff
 DON'T FOLLOW FEM CLOSELY
 The return of Catcher Willard Smith was a bit unexpected. It was thought here that he was in the national army. and his name was listed in local news papers on the Pirates ''honor roll."l He had been in the south with the~local club last spring and had been summoned home for examina tion by his local draft Doniu. 'lc uiu llCt TeIuTn and It was presumed by local scribes that he had been inducted into Uncle Sams service. however. 1t appears that after his exam nation he was told that he would not pc needed for the present, and that he could Tor the time return to his old pro- 1esslon. Instead of coming back here, however. he was sent to the Birmingham club, and there he remaihed until that clui and league blew up, when he made hls reappearance as Buccaneer
 smith return gave Bezdek more catch CTS than he required, and waivers were asked on the veteran Jimmy Archer the former Cub, who was picked up by the Pittsburg club when Chicago turned him loose. Unless some National league club puts in a claim for him, it is believed Jimmy Will be rendered his unconditional release. He is not in physical condition to work steady behind the bat, but he has been quite an aid to Bezdek as a coacher.
 The veteran Tommy Leach has returned to Iittsburg and he is filling the bill as general utility man and coacher Tommy was with the Chattanooga team as long as it wa in existence, and when the biowup came he returned to his old love, the Pirates. Tommy is not as fast nor as agile as he used to be, when he was a star of the greatest team Pittsburg ever produced, but he still knows how to play basel all. and is a valuable lieutenant for any manager to have around He has figured in several games already and has given good account of himself.