Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-17
PAR0URKE GIVES
TRAINING PLANS
Has a Scheme Worked Out by
Which to Win the 1912
Pennant.
EARLY TRAINING TO DO 1T
Will Take Entire Squad to Joplin
for Month.
MORNING PRACTICE EACH DAY
Big Game is Scheduled for Each
AfteaOOn of Stay.
WARMER WtA4AER TO HELP
ia says He Hopes by the New Train
ing Plan TO Equal the Record
Made by the Grizzlies
Last season.

Ia Rourke accredlts the winning of the
1911 pennant of the Western league by
Denver to the fact that they were in bet
ter condition than any other team in the
league This fact was due, he asserts. to
the spring training trip made by the
Grizzlies For the express purpose OF
getting into condition early and thereby
getting a good start Pa decided to make
the training trip to Joplin next spring.
Last year the Grizzlies, under the tutor
ship of Jack Hendrix. made a trip into
Texas, where they stayed for thirty days,
and then jumped back to Denver just a
few days before the opening of the sea-
son. When the gong rang for play in the
first game of the 1911 season the Denver
team was in a better physical shape than
any other team in the league, and this
condition stuck with the Grizzlies all
through the season. Very few of the
Denver players were retired from the
Eame during the season because they
were in perfect condition, and not
Charley Horse or a lame arm was chalked
up against the team.
Month in Joplin.
On March Is of next year Pa Rourke
in company with almost three full ball
teams will board a train at the Union
station bound for Joplin, Mo. The very
next day the Rourkes will line up against
thei st. Louis Browns in the first prac-
tice game of the season. Every morning
for twenty-four days Pa Rourke's bunch
viii be seen on the field at Joplin getting
into shape for the 1919 season. Every
afternoon a regular game will be pulled
off. either with d visiting team or among
themselves. At the present time the
Rourke owner has signed up over twelve
games to be played in Joplin and tenta-
tive arrangements for at least ten more
have been made. Pa expects to line up
every afternoon against fast major
league team or an American association
team. 49,"
Il believe" said Pa Rourke, that by
making this spring trip I will bring my
team back in elegant shape and ready to
put up a battle that will show that they
are in the very best of physical condition.
] have had but one team in twelve years
which has been In shape at the opening
of the season and 1 intend to have one
next year In 1902 had a team which
was In good shape at the beginning of
the season and they were in the running
all through the year and were beaten
out by but three points for the pennant.
If / am not badly mistaken my 1912 team
will either land the coveted rag or be
among the top-notchers all through the
season.
Three Full Teams.
Il intend to stay in Joplin for twenty
four days and not move from that town
all that time. do not intend to play
games on the way home, but to jump
from Joplin to Omaha on April IL and
then play game every day until the
opening of the season, which will be
April 49, As the season will open in
Omaha l figure that my boys will be In
better condition than amy other team in
the league. BY going to Joplin 1 figure
that a will get a two weeks start on the
Omaha weather that will prove both
profitable to me and the Omaha fans. BY
staying in Joplin all the while the men
will get accustomed to the weather,
water and conditions, so that when we
are ready to jump to Omaha the differ
ence in the climate will not be felt as
warm weather viii in all PROBABILITIES have
set in.
II think from present indications | will
take about twenty five or thirty men
with me and give them all fair workout.
will take charge of a certain squad of
men myself and let Manager Charlie
Arbogast take charge of the other squad
and then pit them against each other.
OF course. every man viii get a chance
In regular game to show what stuff he
has in him and ] will begin the wedding
out process towards the last of the stay in
joplin. BY this method 1 will be able TO
get the best men out Of the entire squad,
and when / arrive In Omaha on April 1s
! will have strong team built up"