The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-01
ALAbAMA'S NINE IS
 ONE OF STRONGEST
 IN RECENT SEASONS

| University, March 31.-(Special)-An
 athlete of peculiar tendencies is Fur key Roman, Alabama s star mounds
 man. and admittedly tae classiest cole- ] giate hurler in the south this season. For Turkey Brown apparently has thrown
 away what most athletes in his position
 would have nursed as priceless oppor- tunity, namely, chance to snow his wares in the nations fastest company, The Alabama star, it will be remem- bered, was sent a contract by Miller Huggins of the St. Louis Cardinals some weeks ago. With the contract came in structions to report at the Cards train- ing camp on the first of March. But
 pleased as he was With the opportunity, Turkey considered the accomplishment of winning a degree from the University of Alabama a greater achievement than winning a position on IIuggns' staff, and accompanied his signed contract with a statement that it would be impossible for him to report until after the close of the present college session. This ar rangement failed to suit the Card boss, who wrote Turkey that it was impera- tive that he report at the time stipu- lated. The Alabama moundsman weighed the opportunities in the balance and then | informed the major pilot that his request was impossible This ended the corres- l pondence and at present Turkey doesn | know just where he is "at,' but it is 1 generally conceded at the university that the big pitcher will hardly be in major | company this season.
 | But evidently Turkey is worrying not | at all. He is senior at the university, captain of the baseball team this season | and has plenty of time to make good in professional company and, furthermore, 1 Turkey is not of that calbre who Jet | success upset reason.
 | Rain has hindered baseball practice at | the university considerable during the | past week, but Coach Noojin is putting | his men through stiff pra actices in en- l deavorng to shave off the rough edges and show the visitors certain degree | of team work, at any rate.
 | While Coach Noojin has made no defi- l mite decisions as to the permanent posi-
 tions on his 1917 machine, the process of | elimination is well under way and the | Crimson lineup can be dscertained to a fair degree of certainty at least Graves l Styles will do the bulk of the receiving i '.Skeet' Hamilton is serving his fourth l and last season at the initial cornery. 1 Jap Wilson has been switched from short l to second, to make room for Pratt, a newcomer who is showing remarkable ] form in the infield. Sessions, another | third station job, anu bids fair to strengthen a position woefulIy weak last season.
 1 Charlie Cargile and Boone, both vet
 eran fieders of last season, are on the i crippled list, but are evidently leading l in lively fight for garden positions. The remaining outfield position probably will 1 go to Stacy, another new man, whose | pra ctiee work has stamped him as a | conner Bowman, Thompkins and Wikle 1 compose the Crimson huriing staff for the secnd consecutive season.
 1 Viewed from any angle, the Crimson looms strong as q fast and clever aggre- 1 gation and one that should meet with 1 few defeats this season. There is plenty ! of experience on hand and plenty of | natural ability. with just enough opposi- l ton to keep the regulars fighting for 1 their jobs Barring injuries it is gons 1 to be a difficult task for their opponents l to force Noojin's men from one. two, three position in the $. l. A. A. standing | this spring.