The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-06

champion batsmsn Of last years Western
loague.l
eat when they happen to get a chance and
seek their couch as IL IL were ON instru-
ment of torture. Anson says, "An hours
sleep before midnight is worth three after
that time" Yet It is rule, rather than
an exception. for players not to be in bed
or asleep before IL O'Clock. Club rules
generally require players TO go to their
rooms while on tho road at III o'clock.
Managers find il almost impossible to on
force the rule. Then all the O'Clock
calls left with the hotel clerk for next
morning cannot bring these players from
their late sleep. Thoy drop into their
breakfast from till III o'clock and are
ready for lunch at half past IL.
John Ward once told me that he would
not have any OF his players called In the
morning because sleep TO an athlete was
worth more than regular hours. Ward
himself was late 20 bed and about the last
member Of his team to get up next day.
These are two great baseball leaders who
differ radically upon tho question of sleep
for players. 1t Is not hard to decide which
one is right and which one Is wrong.
There Is no trouble I'm enforcing the bath
on ball players, either by plunge or towel.
They love il as duck loves water. Some
Of them abuse the habit and weaken them
selves by an excessive use Of tho outside
application OF water.
1t Is rather remarkable fact that the
bicycle has never been general attraction
among baseball players. Probably not
one-third of tho professional players can
ride wheel or have any desire to learn.
There Is widespread fear that the risk Is
too great A broken arm, a sprained leg
or a dislocated shoulder would be very
expensive injury to baseball player.
Anson's painful experience with balky
bike last fall helped TO increase the ball
players prejudice against the bicycle.
Manager Irwin of the New York club
has n training hobby OF bis own used no
where else in the National league. 1t Is
tho system of sweatboxos arranged to
give nearly the same effect as q Russian
bath. Irwin Gays the University of Penn
sylvania teams have used these stoam-
boxes for years with excellent success and
he claims that sore muscles are impossible
titles with men who have the use of the sys-
tenn. There is danger, however, of catch
Ing severe colds unless extra procaution
Is used after the player leaves the box, and
the general carelessness OF ball players
makes the sweatboxes questionable in.
struments of training. Their use by the
New York club this year will bo carefully
watched by tho profession.
Amos Rusie's recent action In going be-
fore tho national board and asking for his
release from reservation by tho Now York
club on tho grounds of unpaid salary has
been baseball sensation. The big pitcher
frequently broke through club discipline
last year and was fined 5000. The sum
was deducted from his last installmont Of
salary. He claims that the fines were OK
cessivo and Illegal and that therefore tho
club still owes him part of tho salary
which was duo OH Oct. /, 1896. Tho ma
tional agreement provides for tho release
Of a player whose salary at any time is duo
and unpaid for Is days. That section,
however, is intended to protect players
from bankrupt or dofaultlng clubs.
Rusie has boon badly coached. The base
ball mnRnates cannot afford TO admit his
claims against the New York club for IL
they did they would turn half the players
of the country upon their respective clubs.
Should no go TO law and seek TO establish
his alleged rights the magnates would be
forced 10 stand together and place him
outside tho professional breastworks as an
awful example for others who might bo
tempted to seek the courts for relief. When
the big pitcher put himself into the hands
Of n lawyer, he out-Ajsxed Ajax. AS
Puck onco remarked, "What fools these
nortals bet"
Charles Frank, who won tho honor Of
being champion batsman Of the Western
league last season, has n record to which
he can point with pride" During the
last four seasons he has played with i've
clubs and has lead each one In batting.
These triumphs wcro achieved with the
Mobiles In 1894, the Sc. Louis Browns Ira
1898. the Tolcaos I'm 1894 and tho Memnhis
ana minneapolis teams I'm 1926. In this
time he led two leagues In batting viz,
the Southern In 1893 and the Western In
1898. He Is only 20 years old. and his sue.
cess on the ballacld Is living proof OF
what good habits and careful training will
do for baseball player.
Another proof that good habits among
professionals of the diamond pay Is found
In the triumph Of Cy Young Of the Cleve.
land club, who, according to the Official
Oitohlua aroraoa. fuoS sxxado ossklfo NO