The Washington herald., 1907-02-05
HICKMAN HAS BEGUN
First National to Start Early
Training Stunts.
HANDBALL WITH DOC WHITE
Both Players are Being Benefited by
the Indoor Exercise In a Local
Gxmnasium-Hnrd Luck Seems to
Follow Cleveland - Detroit Will
Take Twenty-eight Players South.

Charley Hickman, the Nationals right
fielder, and Harry White. the White Sox's
twirler, are firm believers in handball as
an exercise for players before the season
of preliminary practice commences.
Together the partners spend a part Of
each day in a local gymnasium batting
the rubber sphere against the wall, and
both athletes are already considerably
improved as a result OF the indoor sport.
Hickman is somewhat overweight at
present, but expects 20 be prime by the
end of the month, when he leaves f0i
Galveston. The two players viii probably
travel West together, as White has been
ordered TO report in the Windy City about
the same time that Hickman will go TO
join Cantillon and his teammates.
Lave Cross has written that he is all
ready for the call, and is getting irnpa-
tent for the opening Of the spring work.
The veteran has been spending his time
hunting about his farm in Delaware. and
SAYS that he is as fit as a fiddle. He will
take no special training until the work
at Galveston commences.
A kind Of fatality seems 20 follow such
a club as the Clevelands. While in the
National League that club never sue
ceeded in landing a pennant. and here
the club has been a member Of the Amer
lean League since 1901. and has yet to land
first, and there are some who believe that
viii never come about. Perhaps il is but
natural TO feel that way, now that the
club has met with so many reverses
There is no telling, however. once let the
club have fair run Of luck and il may
be that a different story viii be told.
Some have no faith iu Laj0ie. and in
cline 10 the opinion that he Is not q
leader Of the championship order. but a
glance AZ the record his club h2s made
under him VIII show that his efforts have
heen far from poor and an things CON
siccred, he has done as Wen as could be
expected. Il is q very easy matter. in
deed, 81 criticise There are even some
who find Il difficult 10 accord 10 this
great BAH player the position iu the game
70 which be seems clearly entitled. some
day he may succeed iu confoundiug his
critics. There is no question that he is
a hard earnest. and conscientious worker
and does his level best at all times.
Twenty-eieht members OF the Detroit
American League team viii be taken to
Augusta on the training trip this spring.
Eight OF the tHrtv-siX who have been ou
the list viii bee disposed OF before the
start for the South is made. and out Of
the remainder it is hoped that Manager
Hugh Jennings viii be- able % select a
team that will prove formidable in the
younger major league. Unlike the Giant
management, the Detroiters aye not
counting on making money over expenses
on the trip, nor do they expect % break
nearly even Figuring on $50 for each
man. with incidental expenses. viii bring
the outlay close 90 $500. and the share
OF receipts for exhibition games arranged
is not expected 10 be much more than
$1,000.
In the Tiger training expedition win be
eleven twiriers including Donovan, Null
lin. and kilIian. Jennings viii depend
greatly on this trio OF veterans, and il
al show good condition, it is certain that
four or five 0f the others viii be trans
ferTed to other teams. It IS planned ia
split the Tigers into three mines. which
viii meet different teams in the vicinity
Of Augusta, thus giving Jennings "a chance
20 get "a line on his young talent. Some
Of the early games booked TO date are
with Columbia. Macon. Atlanta. and Bir-
mingham, while Memphis may be signed
up later.
The difference between owning a tail
end team and peunant winner is shown
by the Boston American management
which, according TO report. is Offering j
number OF its players less money than
they received last year The management
does not admit that such is the case. bui
from the home towns Of several of The
players come reports to the effect that IN
the contracts submitted for signature Tho
amounts have been cut down. in some lis
stances 20 the extent OF $500
IL is highly probable that this year the
players of the Boston American team vii
bc asked to Sign contracts in the fan in.
stead Of waiting until the first of the year
Secretary Navin. of Detroit tried tht
scheme last year, and he is now having
the laugh on the heads of other clubs who
are having difficulty i'm getting players tC
sign their names TO the agreements. De
troit didn't have bi, Of trouble last fail
for at that time of the year with all theil
faults near ut hand and within easy mem
ery. the men are not SO likely TO be can
tankcToUs as to price. They seem to thinl
they are lucky TO be asked TO sign fol
another year. There mas been littl,
trouble this year over the Boston players
and. to obviatc this, the men viii b'
asked 10 sign this fan.