The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-12
lBy MONTH";

the beginning Of the spring training
trips of the big league clubs. All of
the sixteen clubs have selected their
pilots and all but one have chosen
their preseason stamping grounds.
. Hot Springs. Ark. will be the lead
Ing ante bellum spot in a baseball way
this year. Five teams will work out
the kinks and drinks Of rusty muscles
American league outfit and
four from the National. Jake Stahl
Will superintend the early work of his
Boston Red Sox In the Razorback
metropolis, while the National leag-
uers-Fred Clarke Of Pittsburg, Bill
Dahlen Of Brooklyn. Charley Dooin Of
Philadelphia and Umpire Hank O'Day
OF Cinctnnati-will be on the job with
charges.
There will be some tall times down
in the fascinating little city that used
to be known as the Monte Carlo Of
America. 1t will be the first time in
history that SO many big league teams
nave been In action at one time in
any single city.
Hot Springs Leads.
ftot Springs is an easy first in the
race for popularity as a spring train
ing camp. Next comes New orleans.
Two clubs will work out there-the
Cleveland Americans under Harry
Davies. and the Chicago Cubs under
peerless" Frank Chance. st. Louis
might be said to be tied with New
Orleans for second honors. as the
mound city entries in both National
American leagues will do their
preliminary conditioning on the home
lot-tne hrst time In recent years that
a major league team has dispensed
with a southern trip. Bobby Wallace
n Roger Bresnahan. who again will
lead the st. Louis ball tossers. both
disapprove the playing in warmer
climes when the home city is in a
zone OF mild temperature such as is
enjoyed in the Missouri metropolis.
Connie Mack will take his world
champion Athletics TO San Antonio,
the White sox to Corsicana. Tex;
Harry Wolverton will lead his New
York Yankees to Atlanta. Ca; Clarke
Griftth will convene his Washington
senators at charlottesville. Va, and
Muggsy McGiraw will once more nut
the Giants through the PAGES at Mar
I'M, Tex. The Boston Nationals of
Johnny Killing, r the only ones who
10 not Know where they are to go.
Amusement for Fans.
The systems of training that will be
In vogue at the baseball camps this
spring offer a larger variety than ever
before, n there will be many other
things to interest the fans in the early
workouts. In some cases the work
Will consist, largely Of general ALL
round exercise to timber up the mus
Giles of the men: in other cases prac.
tically all the time will be devoted TO
actual playing. Some of the moguls
Will drive their men hard. SO as to
nave them in tip-top. finely drawn
shape when the season begins: others
VIII take things easy. starting the sea-
o at a little below par, so that the
maximum of effectiveness can be at
tanned in mid-season.
One factor that will enter prom
inently into the spring training of 1912
is the mineral bath. This wal one Of
the chief considerations in the select
ing OF Hot Springs by SO many of the
clubs. Corsicana. Marlin and an An
tonic, Tex, are also bath cities. and
were attracted 70 these places in the
Lone Star state largely because of the
mineral waters on tap there. Whether
the press agenttngs Of the magic vir-
tues OF mineral baths are bunk or
not, remains to be seen.
Season of Trades.
Just about this time the air is Atm
gle with rumors Of big baseball trades
Impending, and 1t Is not unlikely that
some deals will be put through before
the beginning Of the spring trips that
VIII revolutionie the outlook for the
championship races. Accordingly. It
Is hard to form a definite line on how
the teams will stack up against each
other when the starting gun is fired.
But speculation is already noticeable
among the fans as to who will win
the pennants in the two leagues.
This Is u human nature, however:
moreover. it indicates that the love of
the fan for his favorite pastime Is not
six months Of baseball. When he
can't see 1t or play 1t. he must talk
IT. So we already have heard pro-
phectes, nominating this or that team
as the one to be watched next veal.
At this time last year. the Athletics
n Giants were generally picked to
WIN the two pennants, and the pre-
dictions came true.
The consensus seems to be in favor
OF the same teams this year. In the
case of the Athletics 1t is for the same
reason as before-thev figure just
about 100 per cent stronger than n
other team in baseball. In the case
or the Giants 1t Is different. The dis
migration of the Cubs Ia the chief
thing that throws the Giants to the
tore In n representations.
1He american league race looks like
2 for the Athletics, with
Detroit finishing second. while the
Giants undoubtedly will be closely
pressed by the Pirates. Phillies and
Possi?iy st. Louis. according to the
way the bugs" in this town have It
inquired. None of them seem to be
able to see" Chicago at ali.
Well. there is a lot of time vet for
this Wall street business before the
opens. 10y