Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-03-28
Condition Of u Base Bal CLIO,

Condition of a Base BaH Clu6
The Cleveland Leader gets of the
following good thing on the Fore st
City nine OF that city:
"The pitcher for the summer OF
1872 has been practlelng tor several
weeks outside of the city limits, and
though not feeling WELL can now
throw regulation ball with such
swiiincss that it cannot be seen unless
covered with PHOSPHORUS; and often
the friction occasioned by its passing
through the air causes heat so great
as to burn the ball to ashes before il
reaches the catcher, who only finds n
mass of cinderS in his hand. The as
sistant or reserve pitcher has been
practicing but few weeks, but can
t.row a ball through eighteen inches
Of oak plank now and, it he keeps on,
the man on deck will be compelled Ia
incase his stomach in monitor tur
ret and other armOr, or suffer the
consequences.
The catcher has been for three
weeks past engaged in breaking up
pig.iron ut the Nrwburg rolling mills,
and to still further toughen his hands
he allows tho big twenty.ton trip.
hammer to drop on them two hours
each day; they are now abont the
size of wind mill and if a ball gets
by him it will be by travcrsing tho
atmosphere of an adjoining county.
The reader can gamble on this.
The first bascmaa is trying the
diet system to steady his nerves, and
can let a government mule kick him
with both feet all day in the abdomen
without winking. He will never
move his foot from a sand bag unless
in the line Of his duty, an a runner
for the first base may light on him
like a night.hawk on June bug with
out making him swerve hair.
The second bascman has developed
himself more especially for mlSceilan-
eous and active service. lie can
stand on his head, catch ball with
his feet, reverse his position and
knock graSshopper of from mnl.
lein stalk at eighty rods, nine times
out of ten. There will be no use in
a runner trying to dodge him, for he
has globe sights on his nose. aud can
plumb Il man IN the hull or rigging
int as he chooses.
The short stop is probably the best
man for this position that can be
found this Side of the Sucz Canal
He is short himself, and has lived
on pie.crn<t all winter, can turn thlr.
teen somcrsaults without splitting on
his hands, aud catch a ball with equal
facility in either hand or his teeth.
The third baseman has been max.
ing Sour-crout and riding velocipede
all win'or, TO develop the muscles Of
lis lower limbs, which are immense
aud give him the appearance Of being
troubled with clcphantlasts. Bat
don't fool yourself he can run down
a giraffe in three minutes, and can
bat a hall so far that his opponents
never think Of chasing them the same
day they are hit, but proceed with a
new ball.
The three felders have been fr>k-
ing about in the conntry all winter,
and drinking anglc-worm = to give
suppleness to their limbs. They go
Oh all fours faster than many profess
ionas can run, and are so timber that
circus -mcu die of like sheep after
seeing them perform once.
In fact we may well be prond Of
our clQb for the present year, aGl it
there is any organization in the conn-
try that thinks it can compete with
them, let them draw on us at six
months sight through the United
States Treasury Department for soon
er if they get sight Of us,, stating
how many dollars worth OF conf.
dence they feel in their favorte club.
We do not forget our club manager,
who is all that father could be to
the boys, aud who does much more
than his name would indicate 10 make
the season and its matches successful.
The scorer for the present year has
beer selected as the champion whit
tier of the state. He has purchased
bran new jacknife, two thousand
shingles, aud will keep his notches on
the double entry plan, !. e., one entry
for the other side and two cuts for
his own"