The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-13
POINTERS ID RANDOM
BY HUGH ". ROBERTS.

With the possible exception of Frank Sparks. Mccain Robinson is the best all round athlete who ever wore the eolors of Howard college.
 He starred in every branch of sports. He is the greatest basketball performer that Howard has ever claimed, one Of the fastest and more daring gridiron cham pions and d fine baseball artist
 In addition he is exceedingly popular, and has always been. He comes of an excellent South Alabama family, and IS now finishing course of medicine at Tu- lane.
 Last season Robinson was given try out by Montgomery. He was atterWard released to Jackson of the Cotton states league and under the wing of Roy Mont ssonerv became one of the star twirlers of that circuit. Carlton Molesworth, scout ing for 1908 material for the Barons, saw him win one-hit game in Jackson last summer and as another battle was to follow, requested Montgomery 10 sehu Robinson again to the hill. Montgomery connlied and the youngster got away With A two-hit victory. Molesworth brought hack information to Birmingham that caused the drafting of the young pitcher. If can hardly be told whether he is fast enough for the Southern league put ne made an excellent beginning yesterday at any rate.
 After feeling the strength of each other, the eastern clubs have started on the hrst invasion of the west
 At the conclusion of the western trip the fans will be able to get d fair idea of the relative strength of the east and the west, and of each club in the league as com- pared to the other.
 The west is stronger than it appears on paper New Orleans will get much hlgh-
 fs at Little Rock, though handicapped by poor start is destined to gradually ln- crease it's pace.
 Memphis although composed of un- known men. is unquestionably strong, ana will make a great fight for the l9oS pen nant Mobile although it has shown won derful form, is going, 1t IS peHeNeu' too fast for it's natural ability.
 After their woeful performances m the east. the fans can hardly believe but that the Barons are going 10 continue shoollHs the soapy chutes. There are few, now ever who believe the Barons Will get busy in the west and improve tneir "orh and their standing.
 There is absolutely no doubt but that Birmingh ham has as good team lndlVldu- ally as there is in the league. when m mt ting and heetness are considered, no east ern team can compare with the Barohs. For these reasons the more optimistic are bonefuI that the Barons will brace up and make creditabLe showing In the wild and woody.
 For the first time in the history of the league, Montgomery got away "i'n series in Birmingham
 The games of the Montgomery series were peculiar. In each the Berons ou.nl. their opponents. In spite Of th1s Tact they won one and dropped three games: This fact is due to combina ton of hard and pNrPediDRlX dump WOTk. Rut there is not a fan who can say that man for man Montgomery is as strong as Birmingham.
 Rut the Pretzels are playing as piece of machinery. and are receiving the sInnes Of Dame Fortune It Is this combination That wins pennants. It was this combina- tion that gave Birmingham the rag in 1906. I, velops. if accidents happen, or luck ae- serts the Pretzels. they will slump into the second division. where, properly, thev are rated. If neither of three mis- fortunes occur, then nothing can keep Montgomery out of the first division, and inc team that wins the rag will have the Pretzels to overcome
 The game yesterday is notable for the reason that it was close through out and the Barons remained at their Tn other close battles. the Barons have flied the coop and handed the bat tie to the opponents.
 Their exhibition of nerve yesterday mav indicate their improvement in all other directions.
 There were some other remarkable vames in the Southern league yester- dav. Atlanta established big league record. and Nash vile tied the score onlv to close out again at the finish.
 Little Rock defeated Memphis in the eleventh inning. the game being one of the hardest fought of the season.
 In the ninth inning 'Whitey' Guese If New orleans gave way to the bit of "vellow" in his makeup, and let the Sea Gulls of Mobile trim him by 2-to-1 score.
 There was great baseball in Dixie yesterday, and the defeated, in no in stance, has anything of which to be ashamed.
 After winning IA straight games, overall lost control yesterday and was beaten
 The defeat of Chicago and Pittsburg and the victory of New York, served to bunch the three leaders closer, and
 
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