Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-23

men on bases, and a pinch hitter was sent IN
to bat for me. That meant that was done
for the day. With my head hanging low,
started for the clubhouse. | had no further
interest in the game.
THE rubber was waiting for me, when
undressed, to massage my arm.
whats the matter with it," he asked.
3Nothing at ALL replied rather bitterly.
@Just hard luck, that's all. They'll hit any
body today
This rubber didn't dare question my state
ment; but he knew! He had heard the same
thing from the scores that had gone ahead
of me.
The minute the rubber left me, however,
l began to examine my arm. | saw the trou-
BILE in a minute 1t would be month before
l could work again.
| examined my arm very carefully. The
shoulder appeared to be all right, and the
large biceps muscles were in perfect trim.
The trouble was in the forearm To give it
thorough test, | stretched my fingers and
then placed them Against the wall over my
head | pushed my weight against the rigid
arm, and a pain shot through me like knife
thrust. The little muscles in the forearm
lust below the inside of the elbow could not
stand the pressure.
pitchers condition. They control all the
curves, and without their use he is helpless.
Unconsciously | had allowed my forearm,
during the last few years, to become over
developed. The muscles were as hard as
rock, and they had so bound up the hga-
ments that they were no longer pliable. That
meant that the end was near.
A pitcher doesn't train as the ordinary
player His arm must never become too
muscular. The idea is very simple. 10 be
able to throw and control ball, the arm
must be as near slingshot as possible. Prob
ably "whiplike' would be more expressive.
Unless it is loose and can be twisted and
snapped like piece of leather, it loses its
cunning. Great physical strength is always
important; but this does not necessarily
apply to the arm. | shall never forget how
| came near running my ARM during my sec
ond year in the league, through ignorance.
Someone suggested that get pair of dumb
bells to exercise with in the winter. | used
them for awhile and then went on hunting
trip which caused me to forget them. If l
had continued the use of those dumbbellS,
nv arm would have been ruined before had
pitched three years. That form of exercise
would have developed my forearm, and the
little loose muscles would have become abSo-
1utely useless.
| knew one young pitcher who ruined his
arm through mania he had for trying to
make long throws from the outfield. A
pitcher needs to throw only sixty feet, and
he should train his arm to that distance only.
The making of long throws will develop
muscles that are in the way, and tighten up
the arm where it ought to be loose.
TWAS very discouraged when | went home
that night, and my wife noticed that
something was the matter. At dinner | had
little to say.
Something is troubling you,' she said to
me- "What is it?7
ooh, nothing" replied. 3My arm isn't
exactly right; but it's nothing to worry
about.
4Why don't you retire from the game:?'
she asked, looking at me anxiously. "You
can make living all right, and we are pretty
well fixed"
aRetire?o' l exclaimed. "Why, I'm better
now than half of those young fellows! I'll
be all right
mo- you're not" she went on, 3and you
know it! l hear everybody saying that you
are going back
aWell, I'll show them" replied.
Just then there was ring at the doorbell.
l found that my caller was the cashier of a
bank in which l held considerable stock.
His manner indicated that he had called
o,, b,,s;nacc. though I had often met him