Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-11
BALL PLAYERS
METHODS OF TRAINING

Does skating keep a ball player in shape?
This question was discussed at a tanning
matinee recently in Cincinnati, says the
Enquirer of that city. Bill Sweeney, the
new Cub recruit, and Nick Altrock of the
White Sex. insisted that 1t was beneficial,
while others, including Hugh Hill (brother
of Still Bill HID, declared it developed the
body from the heart and kidneys down,
but left the upper portion of the anatomy
in the same old condition as before the
skating exercise began. "One year while
was in Kansas City, said Hill, "it was so
cold that Manager Tebeau made the team
don their skates every day and for hours
we would skate around Blue river like birds
flying, and when we would turn in at night
we were pegged out and ready for the hay
This style of work was kept up until the
park was thawed out. but when we began
TO toss the ball around We found that while
our limbs worked all right our arms and
back muscles did not" Hill says st. Paul
has its park turned into skating pond
every winter, and 1t Is something awful for
the ball player in the spring, as the frost
does not get out of the ground entirely be-
fore the middle of summer.
II would like to play under Ed Ashen-
back next season." continued HILL IT
think Ash will get together winner, and,
besides, 1 like him personally" Hill started
out as pitcher but developed into a fine
hitter and has been playing the outfield of
late. He is stopping with his brother Bill
In the East End for the winter.
Speaking of getting ball players in condi-
ton caused Harry Vaughn to remark that
u was amusing to him to hear the talk
about bowling, skating and other winter
Indoor sports being just the thing to keep
men in shape. ITO my way of thinking.
what the ball player wants after hard
seasons work is rest. and plenty of It. Let
him take on fifteen twenty pounds IL he
wants to; it will do him good. But when he
commences to train in the spring 1t is hard
work he wants to put him in playing condi-
tion: and right here Is where the manager
has his troubles. Some players are gluttons
for work while others take a spin around
the park and try to sneak off to the club
room This is the very fellow that needs
the most work to get in shape. Now,
don't mean to say that every man should
train exactly alike. for the player that does
not take on flesh during the winter season
does not require the same amount Of hard
work as the man that does. Where the lat
ter will be ordered to run around the park
ten times in a canter the lean man should
make the circuit two or three times But
do II in as fast time he Is. capable of
doing. The pitchers i generally work out
the same as the men that do not take on
hesh- My Idea Is to get their blood In cir
culation and to strengthen their wind.
do not believe in the cold shower baths
after practice either. as 1t stiffens the mus
cles. and cold water bath when the body
Is heated is a shock to the system. To my
mind II Is very Injurious to any one. 1t Is
much better for the players to sit around a
red-hot stove after they come in from the
ball field for nearly an hour, and when they
get up a good sweat take a good rub down
and a warm bath. II this method is~fol-
lowed out there will be less colds among the
ball players in the early spring practice
and the manager will find his PLAYERS in a
condition he never would have got them
IL they had played indoor base ball or kept
up the bowling habit all winter"