Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 247, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1913 — SOUTHERNERS IN BIG DEMAND [ARTICLE]

SOUTHERNERS IN BIG DEMAND

Wonderful Work of Willie Mitchell That Caused Scouts to Look Over Players in Dixie. , Southern collegians with baseball proclivities are in great demand at the present time, says a Memphis writer. It was the wonderful work of Willie Mitchell, the Mississippi rah-rahster, that first caused the baseball scouts to readjust tjieir itinerary so as to take in the Dixie knoVlMge factories. Following Mitchell along thfe baseball highway came Derrill Pratt, the Alabamian, now, with the St. Louis Browns; Red /Smith, the Auburn prodduct, at present with the Brooklyn Nationals; Eppa Rixey, the Virginia giant, who ie part and parcel of the Philadelphia Nationals; “Mary” Calahoun, the Georgian, who is toiling with the Boston Braves; J. Bradley Ijogg, the Mercer Marvel, recently turned back by Stallings to Mobile of the Southern league, and a-host of others. Nor, has the year of 1913 been an exception in this respect. Among the more; prominent collegians to advance from the amateur fold to the professionals is Percy Hinton, the Arkansas university star, who is elated for a tryout with the Cleveland Americans. Coach Bezdek recently told Manager Birmingham that Hinton with a year’s experience would prove a first-class wonder." Captain Gordon of'Sewanee turned down an offer to pastime in the majors, preferring a modest start with the Macon club of the South Atlantic league instead. Then there is youag Collins of Vanderbilt, who recently cast his lot with the Boston Nationals.