Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-26

I
be ready to give them some tough games"
When | was thoroughly warmed up the
manager called me to the box to pitch to the
batters. | was exceedingly nervous; though
tried not to show it.
Gust put them over" he advised. Don't
try to put anything on the ball yet.
pitched three or four over the plate, and
then decided that | would try slow curve.
"Hey, there!' yelled the manager keep
your foot on that rubber. You are making
balk every time you pitch.
| had unconsciously taken a hop when
threw the ball, as had always done at col
lege, and that took my foot from the rubber.
Again and again l tried to throw the ball
without taking the hop, and each time he
called me down.
you'll never get away with that IN the
league" he said. at might go in college;
but the league umpires will call balk on
you every time"
For the rest of the afternoon | tried to
break myself of that habit, and the manager
caught sight of me practising on the side OF
the field.
"Look at that young fellow over there!r
pointed at me- Gle is trying to learn. |
believe there's something in that boy"
| kept on as if l had not overheard this
remark, and from the kindly way the mana
ger spoke to me in the bathhouse l knew
that l had pleased him.
With nv friend Red to help me | tried to
rid myself of that hop again in the room that
| night, and the next day had shown much
| Improvement.
THE regulars arrived in a few days, and
L we Youngsters had to take back seat.
| Everybody seemed to know them, and our
/
| look We envied the veterans. We knew
that hereafter they would be in the mana
gers eve, and that it would now be fight
| to attract any attention.
l worked extra hard the first day [ ap-
peared in the box against the regulars, and
| that night felt pain in my throwing arm.
| 1t was very similar to the one that caused
me so much trouble in college. decided
| to keep this a secret and take my work
| little easier didn't even mention it to the
| rubber; but | discussed it with Red when
| we went to our rooms.
keep it quiet, he advised me, and may
be you can slip one over on the manager.
| My old wing is also on the fritz, he added.
looked at him in surprise. He had been
keeping his sore arm secret longer than l
| had
l said nothing the next day; but l saw
| the old catcher look at me curiously when
| attempted to throw him slow curve. APP
parently the manager was paying no atten-
| ton to me at all.
The rubber told us that on the following
Saturday two teams would be taken to
Dallas and Forth Worth to play exhibition
games against the minor league teams on
Saturday and Sunday. We had heard OF
great hotel where the team stopped, and as
we were getting awfully tired of the poor
food in the training camp all the players
were anxious to be taken on the trip. No
| body dared consult the manager about it.
l was very anxious to take this trip, be-
cause l wanted to show that was good
pitcher, as well as to satisfy my appetite.
All the rest of the week | did everything
could to attract attention, and felt sure
| that had earned a right to be taken along.
Red also felt that way. We were nursing
our arms at night and keeping secret the
fact that they were sore, and were happy in
the thought that nobody knew of Our distress.
A S l was dressing in the bathhouse on
= Friday at noon saw all the oldtimers
over in the corner looking at some object in
which they were apparently deeply inter-
ested. l didn't want to butt in, for fear of
calldown; SO stuck to my cot and waited
until they had gone.
what is it they are looking at?" asked
of the rubber.