El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-23

= \ THESE days when baseball has be
come a great profession as well as
great game and so many thou
cand American boys are looking for
ward to a big league career, perhaps
q few words from one who has been
through the experience might be &C
ceptabIe.
The life of a professional ball play
er appeals TO the healthy boy more
than ever before, and IL is right that
IL should. ! believe one of the most
wholesome effects of the national
game has been the influence which IL
has exerted on the healthful outdoor
life and physical exercise which IL in
spires in the young But, like all ideals,
I must say IL fades on realization Tor
IL involves a great deal Of hardship and
disappointment However, in the end
il certainly repays man for all MS
anxiety and labor.
The boy who is to make the big
lea que player of the future gets MS
experience on the sand lots in the back
yards, OF on the outlying fields of his
home town. Here he receives his first
valua ole lesson In that training upon
which his future success is built.
This is perhaps the most pleasant
experience Of the big league players
life. for any petty worries or cares
which may come to him then are quick
~ lost sight OF In the dreams he builds
I
taking part in these games sees him
self some time as a Ty Cobb or Hans
Wagner, and the fact that most OF
these dreams never come true doesn't
make the battles Of the cOrnor lot d1a-
mOnds any less pleasant
Little Boys Have Large Ideas.
Most Of the boys. OF course, who en-.
gage in these childhood pastimes go 20
higher schools or drift into other Occu-
nations or lack ability enough 10 pro-
ore in nj M
But those who have the most ability
and most opportunity in time make
good enough showing to be taken on
by some independent club. Here the
training is more eXacting, more steady
ing and more according to schedule.
There IS some Of that system which
was lacking in the first games OF the
players earliest experience when ne
sometimes engaged in game with sew
en- men on side and ball made out
of carpet rags. Here he begins to lose
some of his ideal view Of baseball In
the hard knocks Of practical experience
and IL is here, If ever, that he makes
progress enough TO call his Work TO the
attention of some major league scout
1t is a proud day in the life Of any
ball player when he signs his first con-
tract. 1t does not make much differ
ence how small the league is or how
far down in the list of class d clubs, it
is at least a part Of organized baseball
and he is a real professional ball play
er. He does not stop TO consider that
there are thousands Of players signed
up yearly in this way and that only
few OF them can ever hope to rise to
Dig league standard. He knows in
general way that many viii fail, but
he feels sure that he will not be one Of
this number.
The Tactics of the Coach.
1t is here that the coach or manager
begins to drill into him his first real Z
lessons in professional baseball He /
learns much in fielding. batting and I
base running which he never dreamed
of before He begins to see how real I
ly little he did know about the game I
and how much he must improve If he IS ]
ever to attain his ambition. This min /
or league practice is great school [
and like all schools. il involves hard I
work and many disappOintments-
The young player in the minor I
leagues has his eye fixed from the first .
on the majors, with their high salaries 4
and bright hOnOrs- He pictures nlm- 3
self as standing on the diamond some
afternoon with many thousands or Z
spectators appIauding his brilliant \
feats. The picture looks very good to \
him, so he works for it accordingly.
He may stay in the minor leagues
one year or several years, but some
day, If he is persevering and has II In
him, his work viii attract the attention
Of a major league scout. In this way
he is recommended to some one or more
Of the big league clubs and after a
good deal OF negotiation he reaches the
first step in the final realizatiOns OF