The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-17
HOW TO PLAY BALL
LESSONS IN THE ART GIVEN BY
McGRAW OF THE ORIOLES.
AMATEUR TEAM ORGANIZING.
TO PLAY McGRAW's NINE ON ITS
ARRIVAL HERE MARCH 20.

l.
Men and Will Have Most of the
Rest Players of the City-Win
COMPLETE His Arrangements This
week and start Practice Immedi-
ateIy-BOItOn Street Park Being
Put in Condition for PIay-McGrnw
a student of the Game and His Ad-
vice Therefore Valuable.
l. ]. McGraw, manager of the Bal
.ir,ore baseball team and about twenty
men will reach Savannah March 20, to
begin the spring practice that will get
the team in shape for the opening of
the big league. The coming of this
team has aroused much interest among
the local ball players. and an effort
will be made this week to get together
team that may be able to play a Sc
ries of games with the Orioles and.
later in the season, with other anna
teur mines of this part of the country.
The chief mover in this effort for
local team is Mr.. Lee w. Virgins,
who was the star second base of the
C. L. A. team last season. and who
is one of the best all round players in
the city. This gentleman says that
he has already received the assurance
of many of the best players of the city
that they will be glad to become men,
bers of his proposed team, and he asks
others that care to join to commune
cate with him at once, as he wishes to
get the team together and begin prac-
tice Immediately.
The Bolton Street Park, which has
been in execrable condition for the last
two seasons, is being put in shape the
grass and weeds are being cut away
the uneven places leveled, and the
drainage bitches that were so serious
a handicap to rght-fielders last year
are being covered over. Nothing in the
way of repairs has as yet been done
to the grandstand and the bleachers,
but Mr. Virgins has been assured by
the lessees of the Park that this work
also will be attended to and that the
Park in every way will be put in
first-class condition and kept so
through the season so long as ball may
be played there.
McGraW, who. before he quit the
field and went to managing the team,
was recognized not only as the great
est third baseman in the big league,
but also one of the grea test students
some views OF play and players that
will be of interest to other players as
we'll as to those that take an inter
est in the national sport as spectators
NcGraW says:
Pitching the First Lesson.
Ny first talk to boys who re>anx-
ious to shine on the diamond Will Re
the pitcher. upon whom more than any
other one player the game depends. He
is the keystone, the bulwark of de-
Tense and if the opposing batsmen can
slug him at will while the fellow act
ing for the other side is pitching fair
ball all the brilliant fielding of his COL
leagues cannot save the game.
OF course, the pitcher isn't everv-
thing. The other eight men must do
their share of the work, both in fielding
and in batting, but the pitcher is more
important than any one of them. One
of the first things essential to becom-
ing successful baseball pitcher is to
get control of the ball, so that you will
be able to put it over the plate when
ever lou want to.
The next essential, change of pace.
The most successful twirlers in the
hu~:ness are the ones who can mix up
their fast and slow balls. By doing
this you constantly keep the batter
guessing as to what kind of ball you
will send IN next. A curve ball is no
harder to hit than a fast one. The
only advantage of the curve ball is that
by sending one in you can see how a
batter steps and hits, and then you
NAV be able to fool him on a wide
curve. You must study the batter's
Weakness. Some batsmen are abe to
hit high balls all over the iield end
are 2owerless before low balls ard
vice versa. Nine out Of ten batsmen,
however, hit low balls effectively
Learn. therefore, especially to control
the high balls and get them over the
plate just about the shoulders. They
generally cause trouble.
To be a successful pitcher day a
man must be a good fielder and must
be quick, especially in the handling
Of bunts.
Watching the base runner is another
important matter You must not let
man on a base get too large a lead.
Make the batter hit the bail. DO not
allow him to get you in hole if pos
sible. Work him instead of allowing
MIN to work you. To 10 this you
must study his weakness.
In practice pitch every ball as if it
counts. 1t helps you to get control of
the ball and prevents you from be-
coming careless which is one of the
worst faults q, pitcher can have. Also
IL
IN training, especially not to strain the
arm. Do not pitch curve balls oftener
IMAM necessary, as they are very try
Ing on the arm. Be cool and collected,
never get ratified, and make up your
mind to settle down for honest, hard
work.
Catcher Needs Brains.
The position of catcher of a baseball
club does not need as active a man
as the other positions of the team, as
ne has less ground to cover than any
OF the fielders. But if the man behind
tne batter is as active and 1.-the, then,
OF course, he becomes a more valuable
player.
All catchers must have some little
uegree of activity to enable them to get
qulck starts after foul flies and to field
snort hunts. 1t is a position that re-
lures more brains than any other on
lhe team. He has to know the weak
ness of every batter, as the pitchers al
most wholly rely upon them for their
signs and various other signals. Quite
number of the star pitchers success
IS due to the good coaching and teach
ing that they have received from the
catchers.
successful backstop must have u
GEAR head and be quick of thought and
DC close observer n take adj