The chronicle=news., 1913-02-28
THORPE HITS BALL
HARD At PRACTICE


Thorpe. tho famoiAs Indian athlete
has lots of latent base ball talent II
his big. physical makeup and recep
tive mind. lie demonstrated tina
when no made his fhst appearance
In the Giant uniform. He took hi
turn at bat with the regulars wht
are here and the recruits. ana Hi
! stand u, bat WAS enough 10 show be
SOnd any doubt that he had the ma
tural way OF meeting the ball. H'
lined the first ball he h!, 10 right
for n clean single. his second was d
liner 10 left and third was II scorch'
er through short that soootcd all the
way to the left field fence.
or course. the pitching the Indian
faced wis not what he will he up
against In mid-xcason. All OF the
pitchers We're ordered to put the
ball over" and not to cut loose any
speed or try any curves, but the way
lin took his wing showed that he
can be- developed Into a good batter.
All the battcrs Were told TO break
for fist after hitting the ball. but
not too quickly. for fear OF stretch
Ing the cords of their legs before
they were plinbic enough To stand
the strain Of a quick start. Charley
horses are caused by that. and they
are the most feared ailment OF tho
training season.
Thorpe's getaway from the plate
was a dream. and his stride down the
line u picture OF perfect running. al
though he made no attempt nj sprin:
Ing. He hnd the grace and supple
ness OF the born athlete.
Thorpe practiccd In right field n
while. hut later was placed on first
and did sp!eniidly. considering l,
was his first day out oil the diamond
lie showed he Ind u fairly good idea
Of how the position should he play.
ed. but he was bit crude In some
important points Of plar and was
carefully coached by McGraw by per-
sonal illustrations.
II Is easily TO be seen that the
manager Ia going to paw lots OF at
tcntIon TO the Indian In the effort
to perfect him into star ana hon
estlr believe McGraw will do 80.
McGrav said. while walking from
III" workout: Thorpe showed me
enough today to make IN. think he
can be rounded into n good bail play
er. the kind ! like. lie Is anxious to
learn. and follows my instructions
to the letter and does not forget
them. lie Is quick 20 see I'll. point |
try to make. and more than al. he
Is willing. energetic aud conscien.
tious In his training. Anyhow. that
was my impression OF him-thc first
II do not know vet in what posi-
tion I shall play him: bu; wouldn't
he make great out'i.ldcr with oil
the speed he has?
big Jeff' Tcsrcau looks to be In
grand form. He has not taken on
much weight during the winter. and
looks as big and strong as grizzly
bear. lie Is called tho "nig Bear
by his fellow players. Muthcwson
appears strong and in superb health
and works out little In pitching
and winds up nj haAdbsli with VILE.
50 Ames and little stocky Stock.
I Captain Larry Doyle takes things
easy except with the baf. but with
thnt lie is n bear. Larry has brought
his good old batting eye along with
him.
Hartley and Roa:n.vu are kept
! very busy warming up pitchers. OF
which there Is n regular throng.
There are out hcrc-besitlcs Mathew
son. T.srcau. wii'sc and AmcS OF
the rcgulars-DcNIarcc. Eadcr. Smith
Kirby. Iiarlcy. Snhupp. Goulnt and
Torrcy OF the fwiriinE recruits
| Schupp is n lcf.hlndcr and has a
record Of striking out more battcrs
last season than any other pitcher IN
the country. Smith Is q splendid look
lug fellow. six feet and grand form
He II II striking looking younsstcr
oI or off the field.
Hanley is n risht-haEdel iptcllcr
long and lankey. built on Slim
Sallcc lines.
[, EN-manaccr and owner Watkins
has written McGraw that he think.
iian1cy has the stuff In him to make
n second Mathcwson. Hope so.
Young Torrer. who firt same tC
the Giants as "a promising pitcher
from the Chicago City league. bu,
who was attacked with typhoid fever
In New York and Obliged tempora-.
lily quit the game. has given up pitch
Ing and Will try for an outfieid po
sition. He looks and acts very mucl
like Arthur ,Shafer. He bnts left hant
cd and gives prcnisc of good things
I, Harry Mccormick. nremier pincl
hitter. who was thought to be n hold
out. is also here.
Gron. Stock and Young Joe Evers
a brother OF Johnnie. and Thompson
are here as possible utility infield
crs. Evers looks much like his ia
nous brother and handles himself
like u ball player.
Electric 'nunciators will be place.
In tho Chicago White Sox ball parl
this summer In All attempt TO d.
away with the annoyance to patron
who have heretofore been unable L
catch the names OF players substitut
cd when changes of lineup becom
reccssarv