The Washington herald., 1909-03-07
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

BY FREDERIC j. HASkIN.
They al look like champions in the
spring. is an old baseball maxim Whleh
has It's veriheation in the glowing re-
ports sent 10 the newspapers from the
spring training camps" of the profes-
sional clubs. The custom OF having
baseball team assemble at a point far
away from its home city. generally in the
Far or Middle South. FOR a period OF
training. has grown so rapidly in the past
few years that even those who follow the
game most closely do not realize the i'm
portance OF the financial transactions in
VOWED. directly and Indirectly.
The idea Of a training trip has spread
until not only the leagues Of large ealiber,
but such organizations as the Tri-State
League. the Western League. and the
Central League send their bas sbull squads
to various places which have been recon-
mended as having plenty OF sunshine and
warmth when EuOWgtOTms are still likely
farther North. u is estimated that the
two major leagues. the National and
American. viii carry into the South this
spring 500 men, and that the combined
cost OF the expeditions will be something
Ike s500000. The smaller fry may be ex-
pected to spend at least $l50.00o more.
The name training camp Is a mis-
homer. especially with the big leagues
Instead OF a camp" the major league
teams put Up at the very best hotel il
the town. travel IN Pullmans when the
journey lasts overnight. eat In the dining
cars. and have the best OF everything
They carry a professional trainer OF ath-
letes. one or more experts 20 rub sore
muscles. a manager, a treasurer. and Of
ten a half dozen newspaper men. II IS
not unusual for a major team 20 carry
from thirty 10 forty players on these pro-
longed jaunts. which gives some idea or
the expense and detail involved.
The longest training trip this year is
that Of the Chicago American League
club. which Will condition its men at
Los Angeles, Cal. Besides the players.
newspaper men. AID attendants. a dele
cation OF ardent "rooters" went along on
the special train. The next longest trips
are those OF the New York National
League club to Marlin Springs. Tex, and
the Washington American League club
TO Galveston. Tex.
Southern cities are noted for their local
patriotism and the rivalry between them
is so intense that they gladly welcome
Northern ball teams which may camp
there for preliminary practice. The local
baseball park IL usually placed al their
disposal, frequently without charge. The
local management does sH In its power to
make the visitors welcome. and the hotels
offer the lowest possible rates. The an
nouncemeut that one is a member OF the
strangers household carries weight. and
the citizens almost without exception ex-
ert themselves to the utmost 70 give a
favorable impression OF their city As
rule, the cOurtesies OF the local theaters
are extended 10 the squad. and il any
public celebration takes place the athletic
guests are sure OF special attention.
To the honor OF the professional ball
players be 1t said that they have seldom
abused the kindness with which they
are received. Cases OF rowdy conduct on
their part are exceedingly rare. The ma
jority OF them are from the North and
West and are unaccustomed 70 the sec
tiOnal peculisrities and punctiliousness Of
the South. But they adjust themselves
10 conditions. and have frequently fur
nished admirable instances Of self re-
straint when taunted by the rOWdies
which are Inevitably found in all cities.
Some years ago. when the custom Of
baseball teams going to Dixie was not so
firmly established. a member Of a squad
''camped" there tried 10 make a mash"
on a young woman in Atlanta He fol-
lowed the usual persistent masher meth
DDS and was promptly repulsed. The
relatives and friends OF the young woman
took it up and he was forced to leave the
city. He returned a year or so afterward
and only the quick action OF some Atlanta
newspaper men who spirited him away.
saved him from rough treatment. That
( is one Of the few cases Of the kind on
record. and II made an impression that
has not been forgotten.
One Of the reasons for the cordial vel
come given the visiting squads is that
the newspaper men who go along fire.
quently write themselves out" on the
subject OF baseball. and then send out
feature stories about the city. Baseball
fans" come from every walk in life. and
they read with avidity. not only the news
OF the team itself. but Of all that even
remotely concerns IL. II thus happens
that thousands Of people in the North
and West who did not know Marlin
Springs. Tex. was on the map. can now
tell all about II. Hot Springs, Ark, is
kept constantly IN The public eye during
the training season, because the Boston
American and Pittsburg National League
teams are there. The Washington team
is not the first 10 visit Galveston. as the
Chicago National League club used it as
tEaining base when the famous Pop
Arson was manager.
The straining on these trips is by no
means easy. In fact. It Is an extremely
painful operation at first, and becomes
exceedingly aonotonous toward the last
For the first week the arms and legs OF
most OF the men are SO sore that they
can scarcely move without pain. They
are assiduously massaged by the rubbers,
and have 70 take precautions against