Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 159, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1916 — STICKS BY DAVE ROBERTSON FROM START [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STICKS BY DAVE ROBERTSON FROM START

“Demon Dave” Robertson, whose heavy hitting started the Giants climbing out of the cellar, is the sensation oi the early baseball season. And Dave Robertson Is the best answer to the arguments of those who think John McGraw is a baseball dodo. “Demon Dave” was under age, studying veterinary surgery and pitching In a Tidewater league club down In Virginia, when McGraw first got a line on him. With his father’s permission, Robertson was signed up to a contract giving his services to the Giants. He played a little more in the Tidewater league and then went back to college In North Carolina. Robertson is a big, powerful fellow and a great all-around athlete. McGraw advised him to cut out football for fear some injury might interfere with his ability. Robertson had been playing baseball under an assumed name. Back In college he couldn t avoid getting Into the football lineup again without making some awkward explanations. He played football. As a result, in the last game of the season he had his left shoulder broken. “And right there,” says John McGraw, “I lost the greatest southpaw the game ever knew.” Robertson’s shoulder mended, but a pitching arm must be a perfect ma-

chine. He was never able to stand the rack of pitching again. After finishing his studies Robertson reported to McGraw and went to Marlin with the Giants. Wise people advised McGraw to let the cripple ball player go. They said Robertson never would be any good. Robertson offered to go through the season without pay, hut McGraw kept him an Insisted upon paying him the salary his contract called for. He had the youngster’s shoulder treated and let him rest. Three years ago Robertson went to Marlin again with the Giants. He to pitch, and put the weak shoulder out of commission. McGraw induced Mike Finn of the Mobile team to take Robertson for the season and use him as an outfielder. Right there “Demon Dave” began to pick up again. He couldn’t pitch, but he could play In the outfield and he could knock the seams out of a baseball. He became the hitting sensation of the South. And then McGraw reached down and took him back again. McGraw had been sticking to Robertson principally because he knew the boy could hit. One morning at practice in the Polo grounds he saw Robertson take a short swing at the ball and knock it into the centerfleld bleachers.

MANAGER JOHN M'GRAW