The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-30

IIOWtlb VIII apONdtS W ndNC OCCtt
better informed than Overall regarding
the dull finish that. is to be put on the
official balls this year, is quoted to the
effect that the pitchers are going to
have 1t on the rule-makers.
1T seems to me-" remarked Howell
after reading of the abolition of the
gloss from the league balls for the COM
ing season, ''as if this roughening Of
the balls will act as a sort of boomer
ang. II may hit up spitball pitchers
and will probably affect all hands some-
what until we individually devise some
method of overcoming the handicap, but
conquer it we will.
ION the other hand, it may produce
q wingy ball and, If it does. watch the
batting figures drop and see the in
creased difficulty in fielding.
IAN baseball players know hat a
new. glossy ball hit ~squarely on the
nose win go at least fifty feet farther
than a wingy or grassed-up ball.
ut may be that the rule-nakers will
discover that one year Of the r~oughened
hall will a return to the old
style"
Jack O'Connor, the veteran backstop,
is after some one who knows how 10
keep a player from suffering from that
awful thirst" Jack says:
IF those inventors who put in so
much time inventing devices for indoor
baseball work. like batting cages,
things to improve the hitting n
pitching machines, etc, would devote
their attention to a successful solution
OF one little athletic problem they
would coin money. =
t'Mhat dc / mean?
"Why, the finding of something that
would eliminate the thirst which every
athlete feels and which drives him to
driak great quantities Of water, and,
consequently, to increase his weight.
II have tried everything that has
been thought of by the wisdom of the
ages, / do believe. / have cross
examined athletes of every sort, and
their trainers, Jockeys and runners, but
not a scheme is worth anything.
II have let two pebbles soak III water
All night and then put them under my
tongue the next day when taking road
work. and was just as thirsty as ever.
] have had a lump of sugar sprinkled
with phosphate. tried lemon peel and
nfty-seven other varieties of idiocy, and
not a one has done a thing.
sLet some bright mind stand forth
and make his fortune"
1t is probable thai minor league play
ers. who fail to make good with the
majors. and who win be slated for a
return to the lower class, will ma
themselves being offered tempting jobs
by the Union League.
Though the latter organization has
declared that it win not harbor con-
tract jumpers from organized baseball.
it win probably declare that young
players. who do not relish the idea OF
being Harmed out" are not breaking
contracts il they refuse to go to the
club that the big league manager as
signs them. The argument Will be that
the young fellow signed a contract to
play with a big league club and not to
be transferred to the minors.
Though there is much doubt about
the Union League surviving, there is no
doubt that inexperienced youngsters
win succumb to the temptation OF re-
ceiving a bigger salary than they could
get inside the breastworks.
If the Union League continues to
exist their situations will probably be
ecure but If the new outlaws go
10 t..e wall those who jump contracts
will find themselves In an unenviable
place as far as any chance of securing
q lucrative position as a baseball play
err is concerned.
There arc said to be at least 100 youns
pail players who will be EARNED out
or sold to minor league clubs, If the
Youngsters do not object. Inasmuch as
these players will nave had the benefit
Of Southern training trips, and, pre-
sumably. will be in condition TO jump
right in and play fast ball. the Union
League managers will be all the more
anxious to secure some of them.