The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-12
sprInr Practice in Base Ball.

With the first warm sunshin that comes
after the frost is out of the ground, there
stirs in the heart of the base ball player an
intense desire to get into the field and begin
playing, says Walter Camp in st. Nicholas
for May. I remember young man who
used to work in clock factories in Connecti-
cut. Although an excellent workman, he
never seemed to secure any permanent po-
sition, but drifted from one town to
another. Early one fall he applied to me
for position, and as he showed that he
knew his trade. he obtained employment.
He worked admirably and we'll through the
winter and even into the spring. One day
and it was beautiful day, everything
just turning green and the sun shining as
bright and warm as i'll midsummer missed
him, and asked the foreman of the room
what had become of him. "oh, he's
Of. was the reply; he'll get his
till next fall.'' took pains to meet the
came to take away his traps. whats the
matter?" inquired. Nothing said he,
"'cept yesterday heard bluebird singin',
and ]! ! don't do any work in shops after
A similar yearning te be ont of doors
tempts the ball-player. Many times the
fine weather is treacherous, and premature
practice is cut short, or even rendered detri
mental to the welfare Of the nine, by damp,
chilly winds. As a rule, it is wise to take
advantage OF only the very warmes est; gays vs.
weather is fairly settled. The New York
nine were once obliged to take vaca-
ton, after few weeks practice
in cold spring, because SO many
of them had lameness Of one kind
or another from exposure in inclement
Whar. oo1lano mir Syroo ON tho
field for the first time there is usually
superiority of enthusiasm, which leads play
ers to practice too long or too violently.
Captains have learned this, and, unless
they are carried away by the same tenden-
ey, 90 not encourage any long practice dur
become "b1oken in,'' and the weather i'm
proves, the players are allowed to do more
work. All the men playing in the out
field can practice together, as the work of
the three felders is much the same. These
men take positions in the out-feld in some
to interfere with one another), while q
batter knocks fly balls out to them which
they take turns i'll catching.
A most important preliminary to this
practice is the selection of an experienced
man to bat the ball. There are many men
knocking flies to an out-field is an utter
impossibility. Such men have to hit the
ball half a dozen times before sending
fy-ball near any of the fielders. Again. it
is not advisable to select man who knocks
only the simplest kind of flies every time
although such man is to be preferred to
the wild hitter who sends the men chasing
half-dozen failures in order to receive
one catch. The batter should be able to
knock high flies, line hits, long flies, and
occasionally sharp, hot grounder. His
object is to give the felders as much prac
tice of every kind as possible, and good
man will gauge the ground the ielders can
cover, and, while avoiding running them to
opportunity to make brilliant catch.
Nothing encourages and improves the
candidates SO much as keeping their ambi-
ton thoroughly aroused during the entire
time of practice.