New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-26

will be here in a day or two, and we want 10
be ready to give them some tough games
When | was thoroughly warmed up the
manager called me to the box to pitch to the
battcrs. was exceedingly nervous; though
tried not to show 1t. ~ >.
"Iust put them over, he advised. Don
try to put anything on the ball yet
/ pitched three or four over the plate, ana
then decided that | would try slow curve
"Hcv, there" yelled the manager. Keep
your foot on that rubber You are making
a balk every time you pitch.
had unconsciously taken hop when |
threw the ball, as had always done at col
lcgc and that took my foot from the rubber
Again and again tried to throw the bail
without taking the hop, and each time Iie
called me down. H..
you'll never get away with that IN the
league" he said. at might go in college;
but the league umprcs will call a DaIk OH
YOU every time. ,
For the rest Of the afternoon | tried to
brcaL, myself of that habit, and the manager
caught sight of me practising on the Sldc Of
the field. ,,~
"Look at that young fellow over there
| heard him say to the old catcher, rs ne
pointcd at me. "EIc is trying to learn. l
believe there's something in that boy:
kept on as if | had not overheard TINS
remark and from the kindly way the mana
ger spoke to me in the bathhouSe | knew
that | had pleased him
With my friend Red to help me tired TO
rid myself of that hop again in the room thaI
night, and the next day had shown much
improvement.
rIIr roo,,r,rs arrived in a few days, and
L we Youngsters had to take back seat
Everybody seemed to know them, ana our
former admirers passed us by with hardIy
. look. We cnvicd the veterans. we kilc"
that hereafter they would be IN the mana
gers eve. and that it would now be Il ilBht
to attract any attention.
| worked extra hard the first day | ap,,
pcarcd in the box against the regulars ana
| that night felt pam in my throwing arm
II WAS very similar to the one that caused
me so much trouble in college. ! decided
70 keep this a secret and take my work 4
little easier. didn't even mention II 10 inc
rubber: but | discussed 1t with Rcd Whch
we went 10 our rooms
keep it quiet, he advised me, and may
be- YOU can slip one over on the manager
Nv old wing is also on the irltz, ne !ddcd'
looked at him in surprise. lie had been
keeping his sore arm secret longer IMAM
had. ..,,.
/ said nothing the next day; but | saw
the old catcher look at me curiousIy when
| attempted to throw him slow curve. APP
parcntlv the manager WAS paying no attct-
ton 10 me at all.
The rubber told us that on the following
Saturday two teams would be taken 10
Dallas and Forth Worth to play exhibition
Games against the minor league teams on
Saturday and Sunday. We had heard Of u
great hotel where the team stopped, ana rs
We were getting awfully tired OF the poor
food in the training camp all the players
were anxious 10 be taken on the trip. no
body dared consult the manager about It.
| va, very anxious 10 take TINS TRIP De-
cause | wanted to show that | was a good
pitcher. us well as 10 satisfy my appetite:
All the rest Of the week did everything
could 10 attract attention, and felt sure
that hld earned a right TO bee taken along.
Red also felt that way. We were nursing
our arms at night and keeping secret the
fac, that they were sore, and were happy IN
the though, that nobody kncwoi Our distress.
As I was dressing in the buthhou,c on
n Friday at noon | -aw all the oldtincrS
over IN the corner looking at some object IN
which they were apparently deeply inter.