The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-22
Barons Secure Hard Hitter m New
 OutfieIder
By HENRY VANCE

darry Harper, champion hitter or the Southern league in 1920. and run ming up an average of 1882 in 1s2t, while with the Little Rock club, was purchased Saturday by the Birming- ham Barons for sb.0o0. President W. D. Smith was authority for this state- ment, adding that Harper was pur- chased outright from the Wichita Falls club Of the Texas league.
 By virtue of this most important Southern league deal of the winter. Baronial stock was given great boost The acquisition of Harper, who came to Birmingham from Lit tie Rock, by way of Wichita Falls, gives Mpley one of the best hitters the league has ever seen to look after right field. For the other two fields he has Silva, Allen and Emory-men who pastimed witR<he Barons during 1921-also an assortment of rockies, who will try to win berths, and may be. another deal or so that may reach a climax before the spring season starts at the Wood"
 A Previous offer
 The local club has been angling for Harper for some time, it developed, making an offer for him last sum mer while he was still with Little Rock. At that time Kid Elberfeld hadn't thoroughly resolved to wreck his team, and build from the ground up, and he turned a deaf ear to the Baronial proposition. This winter. after Elberfeld and Allen had de- cided to build a new ball club, they sounded out Wichita Falls on a trade. As a result Harper was sent to the Texas league club. and just as soon as announcement was made of this trade Messr s. Smith and Molesworth got to burning the wires up with off, fers for the services of the fence busting gardener The negotiations reached a climax Saturday, when Smith wired the Wichita Falls man agement that he would pay 5000 berries in chilled cash for Harper.
 Two Traveller Stars
 The announcement atNIIarper Will come to the Barons brings to mind the fact that Birmingham will have on her pay roll the coming summer two of the stars who helped hammer Little Rock to her first pennant in the Southern league in 1920. liar per, who led the league that mem orable year, will look after the fly Tagging in right, and Tony Brottein, who was the star catcher of she league that season, while catching for the Razorbacks, will look after things behind the bat.
 In each instance it took these ath- letes a roundabout way to reach Sir mingham Brot.em was bought by Washing ton rom the travellers, and later purchased by the Pittskurg Pi- rates A squabble resulted and Brot- tenn, along with Bing Miller, was awarded the Washington club by the basepali courts. Later Brostem was given the gate in SenatorNilie and greeoily gopDled up by the Pirates. Then, when the Pittspurg manage menl ueeided 1t wanted Gooch. and l purchased him from the Barons, it sent /Brottem along to Birmingham as part payment TOT John Beverly.
 wanted to Play Here
 Harper, who mas olton voiced a i desire to play on Rick Woodward s l club. had to wait patiently for the chance. He spent three years as a | Traveller, and every year was good | one Then Elberteld ups and swaps | him to Wichita Falls and Boss Smi tn ups and buys him outright from the Lone Star club.
 Harry Harper is one of the most peppv ball players in the circuit. Anu. some times is known to be rather ec- ,.entric Stili, despite the fact that he was full of enthusiasm and pep, he couldn't get next to some of klj l,lberfelds ways. and it IS, said that the Kid hurt rather than helped hls progress towards the majors; rode him heartlessly sometimes. and made him desire a change.
 A Unique Incident
 It will be remembered that Harry Harper figured sin one or the most ,,nioue court suits in Southern. leagns h., seballsin 1920 That was the yedr elberfeld was. rolliekins along U :
 wards a pennant. iils team nds .h Atlanta for series. Now, it is q well l-known tact that Cholly tran~ hates Elberfeld worse than a jitney tcontinued on Page Three)