davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-13

AMERICAN
 The one weak spot on the Red ooX team, fans imagine, is behind the pat. Sam Agnew was a big favorite in the Hub, an earnest worker, and while Al Walters is an earnest worker, too, general regret is expressed that the Pennington, Mo-, man was passed on to Griffith.
 So much for Boston.
 Second choice among the fans for the pennant in the younger league is Cleveland-and Cleveland has a pow erful lot of friends, added to by get ting Larry Gardner. However the fans who favor the Red Sox say that the Rarrowmen can beat the Indians and that if the Indians are going to cop they will have to beat up the other clubs frightfully.
 New York and Chicago are counted on to be the other first division clubs and little interest is manifested in the other four teams. The way l inn agine the down east fans and those of central and northern New York with whom I have talked, place the A. l.. clubs in this wise:
 Boston, first; Cleveland, second;
 New York, third; Chicago, fOurthJ
 Washington, fifth; St. Louis, sixths > Detroit, keventh; Philadelphi
 eighth.
 NATIONAL
 Chicago has more friends for the National league pennant than New York, the news that Grover Cleveland Alexander will be back in time to make the first eastern trip having boosted the Cubs stock a whole lot. It is admitted that the Giants have the more robust attack, but the fans like the looks of the Chicago pitch ing staff better. even admitting that McGraw may make a world beater out of Jess Barnes.
 Pittsburg is regarded as the dark horse of the National league pennan.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-13
Southern League Race Can't Be Doped

battle for the job, with Slats having the edge.
 Conway, Brave castoff, is stationed at second, Hobbs at short and Manda is counted on fol third. Press Caruthers, the leagues Nest keystoner last year, rounces his retirement from the game. Dobard hasn't shown up and is not count ed upon to- do so. Bratchi won't report, either, and Dixie Carrol is the only vet Gran in the gardens. High, Griffin and Mcclure are being used along with Car rol The Chicks compare favorably with other teams, Judging them all by the Class A men.
 NEW ORLEANS
 Johnny Dobbs has 1S Class men and the law allows seven; Johnny is scratch ing his head over how he's going to dis pose of those extra six. Naturally the Pels should have the strongest team with so many to choose from. Dobbs will take most of his Glass A men in pitchers, it is believed. Kitchins will certainly be retained and Larry Gilbert is liable to be found in center. The Pels are batting like this in practice games: Gilbert, lf.; Daniels, if; 'Stensbury 2b.; Sullivan, f.: Schooner, ss.; Deberry, e.; Barnes, 3b.; Scherer, ID.
 LITTLE ROCK
 Kid Elberfeld has seven dandy vet erans with which to start. Robinson Coveleskie and Karr should go great in this circuit Turkey Bowman may re- port yet The kid has several young hurlers that look fairly good, two of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-13

Hairston are the catchers now being car ried. One of them will have to be solc' but Moley won't decide which one TOT sometime yet Hairston $ showing Tn yes terday's game was big disappolntIneh' to his followers. Peters is classy catcher, a mediocre hitter and an eN- perienced head in working the pitchers Haworth hit about .S20 last year, and caught in jam-up style.
 The team is lacking in fast men, put there are several heady base runners Fl the lineup. The catching staff looks good, the pitching staff green, the inlield tal and the outfield fine.
 ATLANTA
 Cholly Franks llhaki-clad Crackers ap- pear to be among the weaker teams, judg- ing by the Class A men the willy Dutch man is counting on building his machine around. Frank has a raft of youngsters on his roster, but the team looks soft ali round. Ad Brannan is good pitcher, but Thornburn, who is now in France, never will set the woods afire. Sheehan is also in France, Hasty, Roberts, Suggs, and Adams are the promising pitching kids.
 Behind the bat Doc Neiderkorn is said to be fair, but little is known of Raw
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-13
SPORTS
LoCAI,-nY WIitI;

whom will be retained. It has been stat ed that Bob Grimm would be back at first, but Bob hasn't shown up yet and very likely neve- will Elberfeld him self may get back in the game at Iec- ond as a hole appears there at present..
 Distell, the flashy shortfielder VIII again be back and Dee Walsh is expected to look after third. Brottem was one of the best last year and should go eFen better this season. The kid Is strpns everywhere, but in the outfield, where tE1ee youngsters will have to be stationed Watch Little Rock, they look good.
 MOBILE
 The Bears have about five ClaHt hurlers, none of whom can be said to possess any startling class. Bob Cole man, the manager and first catcher, IS an excellent man and good hitter. rom my McMillan failed to show much apii- ity last season, but he wasn't satisfied " ith Atlanta, which may have accounted for it. Day and Ellis are pretty good hlirlers and Arthur Johnson looks like he ought to pitch. The Bears appear weak.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-13
BIRMINGHAM

There's no denying the fact that Moley s pitching staff is far from satisfactory in that only one seasoned chunker has thus far been taken into the fold. SlapnIcKa is rated among the best in the circuit, and Roberts, Sigman, Samuels and Nor rison have shown plenty of natural abil- ity, but how they will stand up under fire is a matter of speculation
 The infield with Bersen, Mcdonald, Ra- ley and Webb should hold it's own defen- sively with that of any club in the cir cult, provided Raley, the youngster, lives up to expectations. Bernsen is showing marked improvement lately, and may yet surprise local fandom by his hitting. Eddie Mac looks better on second and Webb, of course, is as good a third-sacker as you can find in the innerworks. Ir offensive strength the Baron infield fails to dope out very high even with the slug ging Webb
 Moley has reason to feel good over his outfield. Ellis, Duncan and Brashier should all hit over 275, and will field fairly we'll too Peters, Haworth and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-13

Although completely outclassed from :art to finish, the Crimson nine was, or some inexplicable reason, given all ne worst of the decisions. both on ise bases and at bat-a feature that bought many and loud jeers upon the sad of "Swats," who essayed the ar '- ter's role.
 So peeved was Swacina at the unfa- '.orable attention he drew from the ms present that he stopped the game the seventh inning. walked over to te university dugout and cleared the elayers' bench of dozen or so Ala l, ma alumni, among whom were sew al well known citizens, who had come eown to talk to the Crimson players.
 THE ASCENSION
 Tn the opening inning Mcdonald, 'rasher Duncan and Ellis singled in accession. Bernsen was safe on an er- or. Webb sacrificed and Raley and Hairston smashed hits to the outfield, scoring five runs. Three infeld errors ided materially in this rally.
 Raley started the fourth with a three i.agger over Bickley's head and Webb drought him home with a single to left. ' he Barons added another jn the fifth on a hit batsman, two infield outs and an error of Stevensons. The eighth and final run came in the seventh frame AIS the result of infield hits by Ellis and Sernsen and a double steal.
 Boone's support was ragged in the einches and many taps went for hits hat should have been easy outs. On the other hand Slapnicka pitched great game for the first six innings, allowing only three hits, one of which was a scratch.
 In the seventh, however, the col iegians fell on his offerings for four safe bingles and tallied one run. Tnly the poorest kind of baserunning pre- vented at least one more run here. In the fourth also the visitors should have scored, but Sewell collided with Webb in going into third and was so dazed that he didn't attempt the easy job of racing across the plate.
 Morrison succeeded Slapnicka in the eighth and was wild as a March hare, put soon settled down and retired the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-13

sprint and Brooklyn is not placed ill the weakling class by any means The Phils are most decidedly taboo--hl fact, the dear old consensus of opin- ion stuff has it that any club that finishes below the Quakers will have to travel at the pace the Yankees die. in 1908, when they slipped from first to last place inside of six weeks. Cin- cinnati has possibilities, according to the same persons. This is the way tue fans dope the National league race:
 Chicago, first; New York, sec-
 ond; Pittsburg, third, Boston.
 fourth; Brooklyn, fifth; Cincinnati,
 sixth; St. Louis, seventh; Phiia-
 dcIphia, eighth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-13

side after two men had gotten on with none down. Bernsen, Raley and Ellis led in the stick work for the locals. while Stevenson and Lenoir were the star clubbers for the Crimson.
 The stellar fielding feature of the contest was contributed in the fourth by Stevenson, when he picked up Brash- ier's drive past short and threw Slap nicka out at second. Hairston's thro~- ing to bases was much off color and the collegians romped around the sacks almost at will.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-13
Infusion of NetU Blood Puts
 Baseball Seers Up irn the Air
 Ouer Southern League Race
Hurng Good Catce Strong Outfe Fair Works Plenty Alta kng PowerPes and Travellers
 Look Formidable Must Can More Veterans

will single fan scribe with  the situation much 14Ogae the  ability in with the baseball
  follows One catcher four
  uatpau
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-13

SUMMARY: Three-base hit-Raleys Stolen bases-Sewell 3. Styles. Ste venson, Lenoir, Ellis, Bernsen, Webb, Raley. Base on balls-Slapnicka l. Morrison 1, Boone 1, McGowan l. beft on bases-Alabama 9, Birming ham 4.
 Hit by pitched balls-Duncan by Boone
 Struck out-Slapnicka 5, Morrison f, Boone 2, McGowan 1. Time of game-1 :55. Umpires-Swacina and Walker. Attendance, 1900.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-13
SPORT
 HY RaR McDANTD
Barons Slaughter Crimson
 Team h Lop- Sided Game
'Swats" Umpring Enlivens Afternoons Exhibition, Which Was Otherwise Featured by Hitting of
 Barons-Sap in Form
HY Bop McD AxIn

In opsded game, featured only by the hitting of the the dumb baserunnng of the coegans and the mser ole umprng of Harry Swacina, Birmingham defeated the diversity of Alabama yesterday by the of to The sitng boys the air in the very first frame nd the result was never in doubt thereafter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-13
BAPT|STS T0P[AY
 J. 0F A. TOMORROW
Howard Team Seeks. Re- venge for Defeats at Hands
 of N oojin's Crew

The Howard Baptists will battle
 the strong University of Alabama
 nine on Eagles field tomorrow aft
 ernoon at $ o'clock. The Crimson
 team narrowly escaped defeat dur
 ing the last meeting of these two
 college teams and the locals believe
 they can get away with the game
 this time.
 In Walker and Martin Howard mas two of the best right-handers in col lege baseball The infield, too, is nov ing along in great shape. Skeets" Duke at the Initial sack, McLane on second. Griffin at short, and o. B. New man on the hot corner constitute rattling good defensive combina on and one that will hit fairly well. too
 The outfield has improved wondeJ- fully, especially in the clubbing line, Jackson, center field; Carr, left field and w. D. Newman, right field, to say nothing of Acton, have been smashing the onion at a fearful gait in recent gsmes. Behind the plate Crews and Walker are showing class, both in working the pitchers and in throwing to bases.
 The Crimson elan has at least four stars of high calibre in Sewell, second base; Styles, catcher; Stevenson, short stop. and Boone, pitcher. Stiles is rated by many as the equal of several Class A receivers, while Boone's pitch ing has been pf the stellar variety.
 Arrangements are being completed for a daily newspaper for the British the Cologne Post. It will provide Brit icb 10 from
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-13
Cubs Fauored Ouer Giants
 By Most Fans m National

An eastern writer Earnest J. Lannigan by has obtained the sentiment of many fans regarding the probable finish in both leagues this Mr. Lannigan the fans size lem about like this.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-13

son, the busher. Sammy Mayer on first is no Hal Chase, and can hardly be called a grand ballplayer, although he captains the Atlanta team. Galloway, who subbed last year when McMillan jumped is back on the keystone; Chris tenberry, with Chattanooga in 1917, IS playing short, and Scrappy Moore has been stationed at the hot corner. The infield won't compare with Moleys.
 Thrasher is the only veteran outfielder, and he is very good Manush, Gooch ani several camp stars are competing for the other two jobs. All of Franks strength, if he has any, lies in his unknown young sters.
 CHATTANOOGA
 The Lookouts have one of the most val uable men in the league in Bob Higgins, former Pei and Mobile catcher. Mar shall, Bacon and Lohman are nothing wonderful in the box, however. Daws Graham at first. Gleason at second, De- moe at short and Graf at third comprise a cracker-jack infeld, and one that vii probably outrank any in the league this year.
 The Lookouts need outfielders badly Devereaux, Hatch and Lacey are holding down the gardens now, and may be won CTS, but they haven't shown it yet.
 NASHVILLE
 Roy Ellam has two vets in the box, one behind the bat, two in the infield and two in the gardens. Decatur is a good pitcher and Helfrich is fair. Gabby Street, hero of the world war, is still a valuable man and should be of great help to Ellam. Kaufman at first is probably the class of the league, and everybody knows that Ellam himself is no slouch. Tex Mcdonald, former Cracker, Will very likely be played in the outfield along with Mike Burke and Wickharh or Moore. Clarence Jonnard, the young catcher, will be used as assistant to Gabby be- 1 hind the platter. His brother, Claude Jcnnard, along with Metz, Brooks and | Jackson, constitute the youngsters on the hurling roster.
 MEMPHIS
 | The Chicks are counting on Red Smith | as first string catcher and Frank De | faney as assistant Barger and Fentress are dandy pitchers, Canavan is an un- l known quantity and Monte Trieste re | fuses to report. Fraser, Wilson, Smitt and Meaeham are some of the young hurl CTS. Blodgett is a holdout and will prob ably not report. At first Slattery, oi 1 last years team, and Griffin, formerly ] of tha Baltimore pluh are having a lively
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30

Yesterday was Slugging Day in the American League. The Yankees led in the cannonading with Is hits for 2s bases, but the Red Sox-Tiger game and the Athletic-Cleveland double header ran the Yankee-White Sox contest q close second for producing bingles. F'orty-three hits of various lengths were entered on the books in the Athletic double header. while the Boston game contained 23 hits, in- c1uding a flock of extra base slams. Ruth's contribution was homer and two doubles.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30
-Fl1S Way For Newest Sporting Events

was he that he thought he had hit upon the very man who would be able to take Stevens, his conqueror, down. The wish, however. must have been father to the thought, for he hadn't induced Meggs to issue a challenge to fight for the championsn1p for two hundred pounds a side many days. when he began to funk the whole business. Perhaps he found, on further acquaintance, that Master George was not quite so good as he at first thought him. Anyhow he was nervous about his two hundred pounds, and at once began to scheme how 1t was possible to avoid the chances of losing it, with a probabili- ty of making more-
 What did this fine specimen Of a British champion do but bribe Bill Stevens (another beauty with fifty pounds to sell the fight by allowing himself to be beaten by the new man. arranging that the transfer of the stakes to Meges should be but a form
 And so the championship was to be sold for the paltry sum of fifty pounds. The barney took place at the tennis court on the End day of March, 1761, and lasted exactly sev- enteen minutes Scarcely a blow had
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30

title, and amongst those who fancied themselves was g. collier from Bris- tol. by name George Meggs. He was a roughish sort of a chap. who had astonished everybody at the western seaport by his pluck, but he had no moro idea of putting his fists up sci- entifically than he had of playing the part of a. courier at the Kings pal ace.
 When he came from Bristol he went straight to Jack Slack, who had taken a butchers shop in Chandos street, and divided his time by buying and slaughtering beasts and teaching the art of sef-defense. Although knowing little, he had the name Of ex-cfampion, and that brought him a fair number of ambitious youths who desired to be initiated Into the mysteries of fisticuffs, and he did fairly well with his pupils.
 "when Slack had cast his eye over the Bristol man. who came to him with an introduction from some of his old friends belonging to the town where he, years before, had establish ed a. school of boxing, he invited the young countryman into his slaughter house at the back of the premises, and tested his capabilities. So pleased
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30
SPORT YARNG
 O BY THE VETERAN 0

While there has been much fancy and not a little fact in the dishon- orabIe records of the prize ring, it may be interesting to read an account of the first sell out as noted from an old English work on pugilistic his- tory:
 Painful as 1t may be, 1t Is our duty to record the events in connec- ton with the struggle for the cham pionship, so the present chapter will have to serve more as a link to bright CT and happier times for the ring, rather than a pleasing narrative of its progress. The ring was bad enough turing the period of ten years that John Slack reigned supreme, but after his dofeat by Bill Stevens 1t became rotten to the core.
 Tho success, quite unexpected, of the last named, encouraged tho pro- vincials to Journey up to London in order to have a shy at the coveted
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30
Hank Gowdy Did
 Not Want To Be Catcher, Says McGraw

John McGraw was talking the other day of ball players he had de- veloped and mentioned the name Of Hank Gowdy.
 The funniest thing about Gowdy is that he did not want to become | catcher, and had to use all my powers of percussion in order to make him do so. When Gowdy came to me from the Dallas Club he was first baseman, and though he was a fair enough fielder and a good hit ter, I soon saw that he was too slow on his feet to make a first baseman told him that his only chance to re- main in the major leagues was to be- come a catcher, but at first he did not agree with me. I convinced him that what l said was true, however, and he finally consented to go behind the bat Now he's quite a catcher, I'll say"
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30
PLAYERS ASK ABOUT WORLDS
 SERIES COIN

The players of those clubs that 0r-e n chance to win the National I.aarue pepaant. are anxious to know how the receipts of the first four games in the Worlds Series are to be ,livsded. writes Sid Keener in the St Louis Times.
 There is no sportsmanship at all In allowing other clubs to shares in the division that the two winners of the National and American League pen nants. It is ridiculously unfair that the clubs finishing second. third and fourth in their respective races should bo allowed to whaclI up.
 The four second division clubs have just as much right to share as have the second, third, and fourth fellows.
 Those parsiminous club owners who refuse to pay out money to strengthen their tenms when 1t is possible to do SO have no right to receive a share of the Worlds Series receipts unless their teams win the pennant, and they show themselves to be poor sports- men in asking for it and tnking it-
 There was q combination or cltQus formed last winter by certain clur ownors who insisted on drastic re- trenchment thnt even included a wholesale reduction of salaries and IT the face, too, of a most successful season.
 Certain National League rnaenatet never do seern to learn anything by thssr past dire experiences Why, como of them oven planned to closa up their headQunrters last winter to reduce expenses. And these arc the ones who now want to have thcE cfnhs share an tho Worlds Series re- ceipts. even if they do not win the fair and honest right to do SO. suci unsportsrnanshlp would knock the foundation from under any sport.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30

been struck when, to the surprise Of everybody. Stevens gave in, and Meggs claimed the championship. The whole disgraceful business came our within few months, Stevens confess Ing, and that ended Stacks connec- ton with the prize ring.
 -'Meggs was never really acknowl- edged as champion, although his name appears on some of the lists with that title. Stevens sufferco Tor his Gr.- honesty. for nobody would accepr challenges, and the only other lights on record of his afterwards were with man named Mcclure which took place in field where now stands the British Museum on July 4, 1769, and again in TITS, with Sellers, who was allowed to call himself champion when the Mailer was old and weak and easily defeated. He died in a miserable condition in 17S1, Slack having proceeded him three years.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30
GarTaaS TpdaY.

Games Today. Bridgeport as Worccs1era Waterbury at Pittst1eid- New Haven at Springfield Providence at Hartford.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30

The Cincinnati Reds are stickers. When the Giants win, they win. For tunatsly they also lose when the Giants ts,s . dip0opb
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30

The Giants yesterday announced the unconditional release of Pat Ragan, the itpcher. Ragan was ob tained from the Braves by the waiver route, but he did not prove of much service.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30
Standing of the Clubs.
NATIONAL LEAGUE.

Yesterdays Results. New York 3; Pittsburgh (first gnme.)
 Pittsburgh 2; New York (second Gnsnc.)
 Cincinnati 3; Boston 2 (flrst eame) Boston 6: Cincinnati (second game.)
 Other teams were not scheduled.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30
Standing of tho Clubs.

Not so long ago Hal Chase was batting down with tho pitchers around in the .176 class. A lot of wise ones said. Hal still can f1eld but at a6 the old batting eye is grow ing dim" By plugging away Chase has lifted his rating to .2Ss and it's a good bet he'1l be over BOO by the end of the season.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30
CigfIlleS Today.

Chicago in New York e Sames) Detroit in Boston.
 Cleveland fin Philadelphia St. Louis in Washington.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30
SfnndinG o4 Shc Cluf,A
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Yesterdays Results-

AtSccThnJ 1SfSNutS~ New York 10; Chicago 1. Detroit 10: Boston $. Cleveland 8; Philadelphia (irs. gamc.)
 Philadelphia II; Cleveland (sec- snd game.) st. Louis 6 washfn gton 8.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30
Games Today

New York in Pittsburgh. Brooklyn in Chicago. Boston in Cincinnati. Philadelphia in St. Louis.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-30
BASEBALL. SUMMARY
T1aSTTRy IAzaGUEs
Yc$rs-rrlnyss RenffA

tcFIEkSh v txESS1KtS New fInvcn 6-es Brfdxepoat 1-f. PfttEfeid 1o3 Springaeid s. worcestar '. Hartford 8. Providence e-1, yvafarburJr Ss-B.