The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-04-18
KEADS.UP DIAMOND
GAME SENDS 'BAMA
STARS TO MAJORS
Sewell and Boone Brothers,
Pratt, Stephenson, Cohen
Developed in Dixie
By HORACE c. RENEGAR
(Asscciatcd Press Sports Writer)

(Asscciatcd Press Sports Writer)
Tuscaloosa, Ala, April 18.-(R)-
Good old-fashioned heads-up base
ball rather than any particular
coaching system is regarded here
as the secret of the University of
Alabama's phenomenal success in
sending diamond stars almost d.
rectly from the campus to the major
league show.
The jump from college to the
American and National Leagues,
usually considered in the realm of
near-fairy tales, has become such a
habit on the Alabama campus that
the most rabid fan at the institu-
ton has difficulty recalling all the
big-time players who matriculated
here and landed with Cleveland, the
Chicago Cubs, st. Louis Browns
New York Giants and other clubs
within a few years.
The proof that no individual sys-
tenn has -nade Alabama players
above average is the fact that stu
dents from the Crimson Tide teams
have continued developing into we'll
known professional players under
several coaches.
Pratt Was First
Del Pratt, second baseman, was
one Of the first great stars the Tus-
caloosans sent to the majors. He
went up more years ago than the
average fan can recall and stayed
until some six or seven yers ago.
Since then, Riggs Stephenson, Joe
Sewell, Luke Sewell, Ike Boone,
Dan Boone, Sam Hinton, Lena
Styles, Ernie Wingard, Tommy
Sewcll, Andy Cohen and others
have followed more or less in his
footsteps for a time at least. Now
Grant ellis, shortstop, and Emile
Barnes, outfielder, are making a
spirited bid for regular berths with
the Washington Senators.
Stephenson and the Sewells grad
uated to major league ranks under
the coaching Of Ken Scott, late
Cleveland sports editor, who, was
head football and baseball coach at
Alabama until illness, which later
caused his death, forced him to re-
tire.
Cohen is a product Of Wallace
Wade, who is still head coach here
but has turned the reins of baseball
tutelage over to Sam Hinton.
Always On Top
The Tuscaloosa teams each year
figure in the Dixie collegiate title
chase, frequently finishing either at
the top or near it. A series lost to
Georgia Tech last spring probably
deprived Alabama Of the conference
title which went to Alabama Poly
technic institute Of Auburn.
AS for the prospects this season,
Hinton is faced with the task of
filling five vacancies of graduates
who will be seen in professional
baseball this summer. Ray Pepper.
one of last seasons graduates, is
now owned by the St. Louis Cardi-
mails while Sidney Cohen, Of the
1927 nine, is with the San Francisco
Seals of the Pacific Coast League.
Jack Hayes, shortstop of the late
Crimsons has been competing with
Bobby Reeves and ellis for the
Senator shortstop berth with the
triangle scrap one of the most in
teresting in years, all being said by
Clark Griffith to be of big-time cali
bre. Tommy Sewell, brother of
Luke and Joe of Cleveland fame,
is now lead off man for the Read
ing Keys Of the International
League having been farmed out by
the Cubs.
Quite a few members of the 1928
squad already have attracted the
attention of scouts who have seen
them appear against professional
clubs in spring training games.