The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-30
IVORY HUNTERS ID WATCH SOUTHERN Cream of Youngsters to Be Found in the Ranks of
 Dixie Clubs
By BOB PIGUE

Major league ivory hunters are going to pay especial attention to the Southern association this season. for the very ex- cellent reason that the Suniand major will have on deck the largest collection or young ballpiayers of any league in the realm of baseball, and the chancte Will DC great for the scouts to get line on the most promising talent there is
 Where the Southern league teams for- merly were composed of many. veterans of the big show and some of the old timers who had never graduated from the
 Class A circuits, this season will fino
 the cream of all young players in the country, who are already Hooking to the
 Southern in large droves for the eX- pressed purpose of trying themselves ou- and seeing if they can qualify as regulars in the Dixie organization.
 The scouts, who are ever on ~the looh- out for promising young baHplayers' will pay more. attention to the Southern this year than ever, In former sea sons. scouts were frequent visitors around the Sunland circiut, and many phehoms were given the once over by the lnaJos
 gumshoers. Then the scouts were in 'i city perhaps to look over one promising player, but with each club this year nav ing seven youngsters on the team anu as they will be the best possible talent
  comb search of all the legion Of young sters who will report to the various clubs, the scouts will undoubtedly find the Dixie maqjor rich picking ground.
 WILL UNCOVER STARS It's going to be the biggest surprise in the history of Southern league hase-
 ball if a number of real stars fail to De uncovered during the 1919 race in the l Martin league. Recruits with excellent records arc being lined up for try-out- and many young baliplayers who here tofore have illuminated the tank-tcwn diamonds with their feats st last get tne chance to make good in tnv southern that !, hel lofore has been denied them on ac- count of the fact that each manager thought he absolutely had to have men l who had been to- the majors before ne l really had any ball club.
 l In every cantonment in the country there were young players who had al, { the earmarks of coming stars. They are i fired with the ambition that only youth 1 gives to make good in professional base l ball and when they report to the eigh& clubs in Dixie major, they'll make good or die in the attempt. Though they wilt be facing an unusnually hard TOW in nit ting the offerings of the star pitchers who will be sarrayed against them. it will be no fiuky qualification and they'll have the consciousness that they are ready For trial at a major league job.
 The scouts who will visit the south
 this year about mid-June or July wil
 have oe surprise of their lives waiting
 for theb, for they're going to see th'.
 youngest ball clubs that league ot the classification of the Southern ever used
 MANY SERVICE MEN
 And therell Il be pitchers, catcnets, III rielders and outfieiders who fomerly wore the khaki of their country who vii loe listed in the ranks of the eight clubs This feature is to be taken care Of. and the league will be chock full Of servi'eA men,
 1t is certain fact that the soushera league club owners aie soin2 to ma, many sales to the majors when the isis sea son has been conciuCed for the great est development Of players in the history of any league is going to take place dur ins the 1919 baseball race Teams of ls5V