The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-15
COLSSON SAVED
BASEBALL FOR
MOBILE
Charley Just Wouldn't Let
Club Get Away and Macon
Was Denied.


-
\ MOBILE, Ala, March f5.-Like a
steady South wind that drives away the
chtlls Of winter and brings a sudden
spring, the affairs Of baseball develoned
In Mobile during the past week. The
new company which has taken over
the club met a week ago and organized
by electing John D. Logan as presi-
dent and considered Candidates for the
job Of secretary and business manager.
Charles V. Colssona veteran Of Southern
league campaigns, had left that day
for Memphis to attend the meeting
Of the leagues schedule committee not
knowing how he stood with the new
administration, but upon going he told
the new owners he had offers to take
charge of affairs Of two other clubs
In his pocket and would make a de-
cision at Memphis.
1t took quick action. The vote was
for Colsson and he was notified by wire
at Memphis Sunday that he would be
retained in Mobile. His answer was ac9
eeptance, and that he would get right
on the job. He finished his work as
a member of the schedule committee
n left for st. Louis Tuesday night,
His business there was disclosed
Wednesday. when he announced that
he had met and signed Bob Coleman
as manager to succeed Pat Flaherty,
who had been allowed to slip away
because of the delay in reorganizing
the club, and that he also had made
arrangements for securing players from
both st. Louis major league clubs.
More than that, while in the North
he was able to get information oil some
Of his talent that had become scattered
in service.
Years Have Made Him Wise.
The neatness and dispatch with which
GnlCQnn nntnA altar he Hal Nalr1- AA1l
of affairs is a tribute to his class as
a baseball man They don't make them
any better and 30 years experience in
the game have made Colsson a past
master. Within "a hours he was in
touch with a score or more ball play
ers, had signed a manager, made con-
nections will two major league clubs
and possibly three-ana had found
meanwhile to assist iH9 drawing up a
league,
incidentally it was Colsson, it is now
league franchise for Mobile. The old
hackers Of the club. dissatisfied over
losses of past seasons, had given Ma
con, Ga, an option On the franchise
and the Macon people, with a certified
check for $11, 500, the agreed price, in
their pocket, came here to close the
deal.
One or two men wanted to save the
game here and they got Colsson out OF
a sick bed. He hustled down to the
meeting that was about to end with
the sale Of the club. He pulled a few
"technicalities' on the negotiation
parties, and insisted the deal could not
be made unless formal consent was
secured from each of the other South
ern league clubs. Perhaps he had fixad
that in advance-at any rate the rest
OF the league would not give consent,
and Macon's option was Cancelled.
Reorganization of the club here fol-
lowed, but Colsson meanwhile had 9TH
er offers and had about decided to
accept n Of them when he was again
called to the rescue by election as BUSH
ness manager and secretary. This be-
Ing his home town he could not refuse,
attractive as were other offers, and how
he got on the job has been told.
Colsson's choice Of a manager is pleas
ing to Mobile fans. Bob Coleman is
popular here with the fans and he was
popular last year with the players of
the team. He caught practically all
the games for Pat Flahery and caught
them well, handling the pitchers for
Pat in mastery fashion. He developed
two or three young twirlers into really
high-class performers. u.
a Coleman will remain in st. Louis
until the first of April and then will
come here to take charge of the team
end. Meanwhile he will keep tab on
talent in the North and be ready with
filters for any weak points that need
fixing up. A number of the Mobile
~dependables are still in the army and
II they don't escape soon Coleman and
Colsson will have to do considerable
fixing. d,
The rule that permits only seven
Class A players to be retained on a
Southern league team also is embar-
RAISING, but 1t is the intention of the
local club to observe it in good faith.
1t probably means the sacrifice of sew
eral good players from last years team.
Their places will be filled by young
sters garnered from army camps, and
! from the colleges and the lots. Colsson
feels confident that good men, capable
Of development into real stars, can be
lined up. At least Mobile will be no
more handicapped than other clubs in
the league.
There are 81 men on the Mobile re-
serve list and one-half of these are
Class A men who are ineligible under
the new rule. Manager Coleman will
pick seven out of this number and the
others will be disposed of. If the men
now in service return the team will
not need much, but the return Of these
men is the big question.