The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-12

tCharnpion DatSnan or last years Western
leaguc.l
cat when they happen to get u chance and
seek their couch as IL it were an instru-
ment of torture. Arson says, IAN hours
sleep before midnight Is worth three after
that time" Yet it is n rule, rather than
an exception, for players not to be in bed
or asleep before ~ O'Clock. Club rules
generally require players to go to their
rooms while on the road at IL O'Clock.
Managers find 1t almost impossible to en-
force the rule. Then all the s O'Clock
calls left with the hotel clerk for next
morning cannot bring these players from
their late sleep. They drop into their
breakfast from 0 till II o'clock and arc
ready for lunch at half past l2.
John Ward once told me that no would
not have any Of his players called in the
morning because sleep to an athlete was
worth moro than regular hours. Ward
himself was late to bed and about the last
member of his team to get up next day
These arc 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 ono Is wrong.
There is no trouble in enforcing the bath
on ball players, either by plunge or towel
They love it as duck loves water Some
OF them abuse the habit and weaker them
selves by an excessive uso of the outside
application OF water.
1t is n rather remarkable fact that tho
bicycle has never been general attraction
among baseball players Probably not
onc-third of the professional players can
ride wheel or have any desire to learn.
There is widespread fear that the risk is
too great. y broken arm, u sprained leg
or IA dislocoted shoulder would be a very
aNyto cix-r fr,i,
Anson's painful experience with q balky
bike last fall helped to increase the bail
players prejudice against the bicycle.
Manager Irwin Of the New York club
has training hobby OF his own used no.
where else In tho National league. 1t is
tho system of sweatboXcs arranged to
give nearly tho same effect as q Russian
bath. Irwin says the University of Penn
sylvania teams have used these steam
boxes for years with excellent success and
he claims that sore muscles are iInpossibl-
tiles with men who have the use of the sys-
tenn. Thcro is danger, however, of catch
Ing severe colds unless extra precaution
Is usod after the player leaves the box, and
tho general carelcssness Of ball players
makes the sweatboxes questionable in
struments Of training. Their use by tho
New York club this year will be carefully
Nt'ShNN ~ tiic IIbltSSlOU
Amos Rusies recent action in going he
foro the national board and asking for his
release from reservation by tho Now York
club on tho grounds OF unpaid salary has
been baseball sensation. Tho big pitcher
frequently broke through club discipline
last year and was fined $500. The sum
was deducted from his last nstallment of
salary. lic claims that the fines were ex-
fessiVe ana illegal and that therefore the
rluD still owes him part of the salary
which was due Oh Oct l, 1895. The ma
tional agreement provides for tho release
OF player whose salary at any time is due
and unpaid for Is days That section,
however, is intended to protect players
from bankrupt or dcfaulting clubs.
Rusie has been badly coached. The base
Dali maBnates cannot afford to admit his
claims against tho New York club, for IL
thcy ala they would turn half tho players
OF the coontry upon their respective clubs
Shouid no go to law and seek TO establish
his alleged rights the lnagnntcs would be
forced To stand together and place him
outside the professional breastworks AS an
awful example for Others who might be
tempted to seek the courts for relief. When
tho big pitcher put himself into tho hands
If lawyer, he out-A faxed Ajax. AS
Puck once remarked, "Whnt fools these
mortals bc!'
Charles Frank who won tho honor of
being champion batsman of the Western
league last season has record to which
he can point with pride" During tho
last four seasons he has played with five
clubs and has lead each one in batting.
These triumphs were achieved with tho
Mobiles in 1892, tho St Louis Browns in
1893, the Tolcdos in 1894 and the Memphis