New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-05
TO FIGHT ALL THE WAY
Yankees, in Best Form in Years,
Eager for the Fray.
CHASE LIVELY AS CRICKET
Squad Puts Much Snap and
Dash Into Practice-Farrell
Pleased with Chance.


the pcnnant in the American League this
year, but one thing is certain. Frank
Chance and his band will be right up
there fighting hard all the time II form
displayed in practice may be accepted as
forerunner Of what will happen when
the Yankees face the real grind the teams
that keep them out of the first division
will he entitled to the laurels. For three
hours yesterday the players, just off the
ship from Bermuda, went through the
stiffest kind of practice on the Polo
Grounds. to the delight of fair sized
crowd of the faithful fans who occu-
pied the choice seats in the great stadium
and sighed for the opening Of the season,
only five days away.
Thore was more snap and dash to the
team than a New York crowd has seen in
the Yankees in many a long day. II
looked like the old Cub machine when
that Ever to Tinker TO Chance combi-
nation was taking the baseball world by
the ears. Tho men fought the ball AT
every twist and turn. making brilliant
stops and sharp throws OF hard hit hails
The men came I'm we'll on the rollers ana
made several pretty snap throws to first
base. II would have taken Collins or
Thorpe 10 beat out some of the slow ones,
so rapidly were they folded.
IL the skeptics have any doubt of the
ability OF Hal Chase to cover the key
stone sack they should have seen him III
action yesterday. Hal took his place In
the field with a heavy brace around his
right ankle, but he skipped and ran about
as lively as a cricket with never the sign
Of a limp. lie made tho same old seem
inGly impossible stops II hard hit balls.
and snapped them over To Chance on first
in fine style. He worked equally well To
either side and seemed thoroughly at
home at his new position.
Frank Chance was in his place at first.
and it looked like old times to see him ca
vorting about the getaway bag. II was
agreed. howcve-. that IL was by far more
agreeable To sec him in a New York uni
form than wearing tho black &C. and
cub rampant Of Chicago Chance said
that his back was I'm good condition. ana
his legs were too. He showed II In his
work, for he was as lively as the proven
biaI "Irishman's flea" Claude Derrick
and Hartzoll were up on their toes all the
while and worked i'm well with Chance aud
Chase Hartzell especially looked ready
He is burned red "a an Indian, and had
a stranger wandered I'm Roy might have
been mistaken for jim Thorpe. lie
showed to good advantage, too. and II IS
hoped that he will keep the good work up
Daniels. Wolter and Cree worked In the
outfield. the first named alternating with
lack Lcllyclt I'm right field. WoItcr was
the centre Of interest and he raced around
with his customary snap and dash. Th're
was not even the slightest sign or imp
in his running. and he made couple OF
pretty catches OF hard driven nys. Birdie
cree was quite mp to his usual torn'
which is sufficient 10 say or him. ia
Sweeney was IN lehind the bat In the real
practice. and his throwing was all that
could be asked of any one. Williams and
Sterrett also got into the game.
Frank J. Farrell. owner OF the Yankees,
was in a happy frame OF mind as ne lett
the park lie could see nothing but
successful season for the team. lie was
enthusiastic over the work OF Frank
Chance and tho general condition OF the
whole squad. He said
EFF good condition counts for anything
at the start of the season the team VIII
no right up in front all the way. chance
has tho men right on edge. and while he
rules kindly. he rules. He is right ready
for the season. and he has assured me
that he IL In better condition to-day than
he has ben since 1910 when the CUBS
made their last successful fight for the
pennant in the National League We may
not win the pennant this year. but We
Will always he among those present III
the fight for position"
For more than two hours the men
whaled away at the ball in batting prac-
tice and against the pitching. as ser'eo
nv RUSSELL Ford. Paddy Green. Al Schulz
George Davis and the others, they nam
mcred out singles. doubles ana tripies'
Hartzell "Bakerized" one ball ana was
highly elatcd at the feat. II was III 'hls
practice that the fans" got real line on
the speed of the players. chance ih""e
the men run the hits out ana Kept 'h'"i
going around the complete circuit lot
wbiIe. lie ran around himself, ana
showed a burst of speed that many
Thought he had lost a couple OF years
400 Az one fan" remarked: wait un-
iii Murphy ses him: he'll have NJ
The work Of the substitutes was eoou'
Midkiff and Young were at SECOND pase
and short stop. with Jack Martin at third
base and Malcolm Barry at hrs'' 1he
colts handled themselves well ana the
foam will be well armed against accidents
with such capable youngsters on the
bench