Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-03
TALK ON BASE BALL.
Jesse Burkett Entertains the G.
Y. M. Lyceum.
He Tells the Members About His Trip to
San Francisco and Gives the Ball
Players Some Words of Advice.

Jesse Burkett, the left-f1elder Of the
Cleveland Base Ball Club, and the
champion batsman of the National
League, bIossomed out in new role
Wednesday evening-that of a lecturer
and the members of the Catholic
Young Mems Lyceum and their friends
who heard him, vote him to be as en-
tertaining talller as he is clever as a
ball player. The occasion of his APP
pearance was smoke talk before the
Lyceum, and it is safe to say that the
members of the base ball team will
profit from his good words of advice
as they We're all present and listened
to the talk with much interest.
Mr.. Burkett opened with an interest
ing account of the trip of the Baltimore
AIl-Americdn base ball aggregation to
San Francisco and return, dwelling
briefly OIL the many notable places ne
visited and relating the experiences of
the party in travelling across the coun-
try, all of which has been told in the
Spy before. His practical talk on base
ball and how TO play it was of great
benefit to those who listened to him, as
1t contained many timely suggestions.
He referred especially to the value of
practice by the ball player, saying that
it was practice and that alone which
would improve the playing of a follower
of the game. If player is weak in
fielding, he should give his attention
particularly to that branch of the game,
and if he is a weak hitter he should
stand up at the plate and knock the
balls out as long as he could find any
body to pitch to him. Constant prac-
tice will remedy almost every weak
ness. If a batter pulls away from the
ball in striking at it, he will never be
able to hit any pitcher with a curve.
He should step up to meet the ball, and
should not be afraid of being hit once
in a while. A ball in the ribs occa-
sionally will not do any harm, and it
may often win a game.
He cautioned them about going after
out-curVes, telling them to whistle at
the curves as they went by, or else to
spit at them, but never to strike at
them because, if a pitcher finds a
batsman offering at the curves, he will
get him chasing further and further
until he finally gets him all at sea,
Later in his talk, in reply to a ques-
tion from Capt. Reilly of the Lyceum
base ball team, as to how to remedy
the evil of pulling away from a pitched
ball, Mr.. Burkett said that q batsman
should watch his feet, and instead of
stepping back with the front foot, he
should step forward A batsman in
many cases involuntarily draws his foot
back, and although he swings at the
ball. the blow loses much of its force if
he hits it, because he is out of his natu-
raj position and merely pushes the ball
out. If he steps forward to meet it, he
strikes it fairly and it travels He cau-
toned the batSmen from trying to break
the ball, telling them they would be sur
prised If they knew how far ball will
travel if ii is met with the bat fairly
but at the same time, easily. The other
members of the team should also watch
the batsman's feet and tell him when
he steps back, because the motion is
nearly always involuntary, and it can
be overcome by close watching.
Referring to the work Of the fielders,
especially the outfielders, he said they
should be very careful how they get af-
ter a ball. They should not get after
the ball so fast that they cannot recov-
er almost instantly, in order to throw
it. 1t would be much better for them
If they came i'll slowly, and thus be in
a position to govern their throw at the
same time.
After a game is played and the team
has been defeated, it is always bad poll
icy to Chew" over it. NOBODY is per-
feet in base ball, and it does no good
to call a player down for an error that
has been made. The best players in the
business have their off days Instead of
calling down a player for making an
error, he should be encouraged to do
better the next time, and let the error
go, because no player makes errors on
purpose, and the mistake cannot be
remedfed by a lecture
He told the members Of The team to
take care of their pitchers, and if they
played any kind of ball thay would be
able to beat the teams in their class.
The pitchers should be rubbed down
after every game, so that they will not
take cold In their arms, and thus be
laid up, because it is often times easier
to get cold in one of the muscles of the
arm that it is in the throat.
Mr.. Burkett then entertained
those present with an account
Of the work of the play-
ers in the National League, who
are well known in this city and he mt
in good word for Bransfald, who has
been signed as a catcher by the Boston
Club. He feared, however, that Brans-
held would not be given much Of a show
on the Bostons, because that club has
won the championship ana cannot af-
ford to take any chances with inexpe-
rienced players
n closing, he wished the Lyceum sue
cess on the diamond during the coming
season, but he hoped that Holy Cross
would beat their team in the opening
game One of those present suggested
to him that it was time the Lycenns
beat the college boys, and they would
do it this year, to which MIR. Rurlxett
replied that if they did beat HoIv cross
ball. 80 pa iiis
AT the close Of his talk, Mr.. Burkett
was given rising vote of thanks
IN ADDITION to listening to Mr.. Burkett.
the members OF the Lyceum had short
business meeting, during which The
newly elected officers We're Installed nv
key. William q. Foley, and the quar-
terly reports of the treasurer and finan-
cial secretary We're made, each showing
the Lyceum to be well off financially
and numerically. The following resolu-
lions on the death of John j. LYONS. one
or the members who recently died, were
adopted
Since it has pleased the Almighty
Father to call from our ranks true
friend and beloved associate. John I
Lyons, be it
Resolved, that we, the members of the
Z, M. Lyceum, recognizing the loss
our society has sustained in the death of
our deceased companion, give expression
to our appreciation Of his faithful work
IN the cause official abstinence, and his
constant energy in the advancement of
the best interests of this society. Faith
full to every trust reposed upon him
honest and fearless in every cause he
advocated, of strong faith and Christian
character he was ever the worthy rep
resentative of that ideal manhood this
society strives to attain.
Resolved, that in our common bereave-
ment, we are not unmindful of the
widowed mother, but in her hour of sor
row tender her our heartfelt sympathy
in losing the companionship of a beloved
son.