The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-24
Browns Plug Holes That
 Weakened Team Last Year
St. Louis Americans Going About Spring Training With Air of CheerfuIness-Fans Think the Com
 ing Season May Produce
l.

league. Frank Smith from Rock Is- land Henry Deien, Claude Noel, Roy Davis and John Overlook, semipro players and all right handlers and James Elliott, from Terre Haute and Hubert Pruett. from Tulsa. left handlers.
 Second Stringers
 At the time of writing, the likely lchoice for the second string of five were Wright. overlook, Roy Davis, Pruett, and Meine.
 John Heving, from the Tulsa team of the Western league and Arthur Watkins. recently with the famous Staleys of Decatur are trying for jobs on the catching staff but their chances Of busting either Pat Collins or Josh Billings is not bright. Sever cid, fine receiver. great thrower and heavy hitter is them first string man without any argument
 On the infield the incompatible Sisler covers first. McManus second, Walter Gerber short and Frank FL lerbe third. Eugene Robertson, who has been on the Browns list for two years or more. and who filled in last season at Joplin. will be first utility infielder and 40-year-old Jimmy Aus tin, still a kid, will be the second " lilldfn AulltDt NOBilt lilIu DdSt- man is also trying for a utility job but will hardly land this time.
 sisIer Ranks First
 Of the regular fnfieiders, Sisler cas- fly ranks first in all around ability over any other first baseman in the country. Sisler divides with Heil- mann and Rogers Hornsby the honor of being the best natural hitter in baseball, In the American league he has no rival for speed on the paths except Sam Rice. He fields bunts to third and second even better than Joe Judge. goes farther for fouls than anyone else, and takes bad throws nearly as well as Sheeley. At short stop Walter Gerber ranks uncom- fortably close to Peckinpaugh and Scott. He will outhit Scott and. per haps, outfield Peck by a narrow mar gin. McManus. because of his lack of experience cannot be counted the equal of several of the other second basemen of the league, and it is not expected that he will develop into 8 Collins or a Harris but between Ger Der and Sisler he will do very well, thank you. Ellerbe is covering more ground at third than he did for Washington, and while he was always a good batter he is considered to | 1idNo lHPAONCQ d dttl oihSO joining the Browns. Ellerbe's unique exploit in a game at Chicago, when he turned home run drive into the bleachers by Ed Charity into the third out, and which cost him his job with Washington, taught him to run with his head up. Third base is now filled satisfactorily for the Browns for the first time since Jimmy Austin began to show signs of wear.
 Regular 0utfield
 John Tobin, considered by some managers the most scientific of hit ters. Bill Jacobson and Kenneth Will Hams have the regular outfeld posi- tions cinched. Charles shorten, for nlerly of Boston and Detroit was taken on during the winter for pinch hitting and pinch running, while the role of spring phenom is taken by Cedric Durst, last year with Beau mont Durst hits left-handed, goes to the fence or to the infield for fly balls and makes himself prominent generally Still he will hardly crowd out Ken, Bill or John. Club roster;
 Catchers: Henry Severeid. John Billings, Pat Collins, all right-hand- ed batters; John Heving and Arthur Watkins.
 Pitchers; Urban Shocker, Dixie DAVIS, Elam NanBliuert iie ehe-HaiiuSN throwers; William Bayne, left; Dave Danforth, left Raymond Kolp, right; Wayne Wright right; James Elliott, left; Henry Meine, right; Frank Henry. left; Frank Smith. right; John Hallady; Henry Deien. right; Hubert Pruett, left. Claude Noel, right; Clar- ence Lillpop; Roy Davis, right; John overlook, right; Robert Cook and Ed ward Lambing.
 Infielders: George Sisler. bats left handed: Martin McManus, right; Wal ter Gerber, right; E. Robertson, left; James Austin, left; Frank Ellerbe, right; William Mullen, right; Herman Bronkie.
 Outfelders: John Tobin, left; Kenneth Williams left; William Ja- cobson, right; Chick Shorten. left; Cedric Durst, left.