Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-11-04
A PROFESSIONAL eAckSTop.
Qew . Baseball Co ''icr should Train
for His 8 A. - Work.

How q Baseball Co her should Train
for His 9 s,a IS work.
The training of the catcher has in Il
less variety, and is in consequence far
more tedious than that of the pitcher.
The work of strengthening the muscles
of the shoulder and arm is the same al
that described for the pitcher; but in
the throwing practice the catcher
should devote his attention to the
shortarm throw. He should begin al
the short distance of perhaps fifty feet,
and increase that distance very gradu'
ally. In fact, he ought, even when he
can readily throw the full distance
from home to second with comparative
ease, TO do most of his throwing at two,
thirds that distance. After the nine
has begun to work in the field II is no,
advisable for the catcher TO throw to
second anything like the number OF
times the majority Of amateurs attempt
daily. Only after the nine has been
out Of doors for two or three weeks i,
90 much of the full distance throwing
safe for any catcher who wishes to have
his arm in good condition.
The position of the feet in throwing
Is all important. II he be a strong mar
of moderate weight he a and should
throw without changing the position o.
the feet. To this object his gymnasium
practice should be devoted. Standing
steadily upon his feet in the exact po'
sition assumed at the moment of catch
ing the ball. he should, with a slight
swing at the hips, be able 10 send the
ball down. Throwing in a cage with
q low ceiling is the best thing possible
for him, as il forces him to throw hard
and on a line.
APPOINT of catcher's practice, which
does not enter into the work Of the
pitcher, is that Of toughening the
hands. Rowing on thu machines. climb.
ing the rope, swinging on the flying
rings and handball If there are any
courts for that exc, lent game, will all
tend toward this ei L.. He should con.
slider. however, that il is not merely
t~oughening the SKIN of the hands that
is desirable, but also hardening the
flesh SO that il il not easily bruised. For
this reason he Should pass ball" with.
out gloves regularly every day.
At the outset he should receive no
swift balls. and should stop ar the first
feeling Of anything beyond "A moderate
tingling Of the palms. His hands should
receive their full preparatory hardening
before he goes out into the field, for
ordinary care7ulness demands that he
should do noeatching behind the bat
after the season commences except with
hands thoroughly protected by well
padded gloves. What j. called q stone
bruise is one of the tenderest and most
lasting mementoes Of carelessness in this
respect. In his gymnasium practice he
should wear the mask. This seems to
most catchersa useless bore. but the cap.
tain or coach should insist upon il. and
the mask should become almost a part OF
the catcher himself. All his throwing
and catching should be performed with
his eyes behind its wires. in order that,
from becoming thoroughly accustomed
TO il, Il may add no inconvenience to
his work.
The breastplate need not he SO rigor-
ously insisted upon, but even this
should be worn frequently. The right
hand glove must always be worn when
practicing throwing, in order that this
also shall offer no unusual difficulty in
the later work. Many a catcher may
think that it looks silly TO stand up
with a mask and glove ON to throw
at a mark but there is every reason
for doing this, and he will himself APP
preciate the value of such practice
when he stands accoutered on the field
behind the batsnan and with "A runner
first.
As often as IL is convenient the
catcher, particularly II a novice, should
some n swing the bat before
him while he is passing ball" in the
gymnasium, BY the time he gets out
of doors he should be thoroughly nc
customed to the close proximity of the
Walter Camp in st. Nicho-
las.