The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-16
FORMER PIRATE TO
 PLAY SHORTSTOP FOR MOLEY'S TEAM
Taylor Out of Game With Lac- erated Hand-CroII to
 Third

If one requires evidence that the Bar ons are out pennant-gunning this season, he has only to hearken to the news that the only apparent weak spot in the in- field is filled, the highly touted Tray ner having been acquired by Moley to cavort in the short field. This sterling fielder and consistent batter will join the lccal forces in Nashville and perform Monday at Redwood against the Arkan- saS Travellers
 Trayner was rated as one of the finds of the season and it was something of "a surprise that he was waivered out of the league, but with Rabbit" Maranville at his chosen position of the Pittsburg Pi- rates, he did not have an opportunity to show up with the Buccaneers.
 This new arrival was obtained from Pittsburg yesterday by Proxy Smith, who 1 las been after him for some time The Pirates planked down 10000 simoleons in 1 hard cash to get him, which alone shows how good he was figured to be by the
 big show people. It is practically cer. 1 tain that he would have handled the short field berth for Pittsburgh, had that club not succeeded in securing Maran- | vile.
 Trayner performed in splendid style last season for the Portsmouth aggrega- | ton, peI.nant winners in the Virginia league. He was rated as one of the best shortstops in the league, both in the | field and at bat, being second in fielding and batting .270. He was second in chances accepted. although he did not play in as many games some of the other shortsmiths.
 | With the ex-Pirate at the shortstop consignment Moley has without doubt one of the fastest and surest fielding in- ner gardens in Class A baseball. In the opinion of many critics this quartet will compose the hardest hitting buunch in
 the league and will be on the par with any of them in the fielding line.
 It was announced yesterday that Out fielder Pennington had been released to
 the Columbia club in the South Atlantic league and that Catcher Kress had been turned back to Pittsburg. The former has departed with strings attached and is expected to come back next year and 1 win a berth. He goes to the same team that polished up Whitehiil and is expect | ed to come back a finished product.
 The Barons will attempt to come back | today after yesterdays dreadful drub- l ping, and with either Newton or Bates l iE the rifle pit, prospects for victory are rather bright Moley might cross up the guessers and put Drake back on the mound but it is hardly probable With Trayner probably handling the hot ones at short the local crew will make things ] hot for the Vols
 Tommy Taylor, the rashy and fast | flinging third-sacker for the Barons was forced to retire yesterday on account of l his wounded hand. It will be remember ed that Taylor slashed this paw in the Sipsey game and it has not properly healed as yet. He vii more than likely | healed as yet. He will more than likely allow the flapper to get in first-ciass condition before using it again. se | Croll will probably fill this position at l third while Traynor goes to short. Of I course this will weaken the hot corner little, but Ralph ought to furnish good | opposition to the Vol batters who care to pound the pill in his direction. | Old Dutch Bernsen was the only l Baron to get more than one bingle yes l terday, the reliable first-sacker crashing | out two hits, one of which was a dou- 1 ble. Gooch unlimbered his battle axe and crashed one over the right field wall for what looked like would be the only local score.
 Pug Allen again came through in a pinch, getting pretty single when he | batted for Bates in the ninth yesterday. He scored the last count for the Barons. 1 Sunpter Clark opened the eyes of the Sulphur Dell denizens with a circus catch | for the last out in the disastrous first session. Reports from the Vol city in dicate that the center fielder's stab was performance such as is rarely seen in | that village.