Evening journal., 1914-04-06
SWATTINC
THE OLD BALL AGAIN
Chick Rockies Get in for
First Practice and Are
Looking Good
FIRST REGULAR
GAME ON THURSDAY

A little after 10 o'clock this morning
as the sun passed behind light cloud
and then beamed with all the bright
ness Of spring, Jimmy jackson rubbed
his hands on his grey Chick uniform
and with a bat tucked under his arm
walked slowly out to the plate at Front
and Union Park. Somebody pitched
him a little square box and with
smile Jimmy reached up in the air at
the little package and dashed IL TO the
ground. Like a cocoon giving up IFS
butterfly TO the warm air Of spring the
box broke open and out of its wrap
pings OF paper and bright tinfoll rolled
a brand new baseball, the white robin
of modern times. The "sprnc training
season OF the Chicks was in progress.
ITS the old life. now boys shouted
Jimmy; crack went his bat az IL met
the leathercd covered sphere full on the
nose. The ball kissed the last years
battle ground about the pitchers box
and then delighted with the first SEN
sation, after almost a whole year Of
anxious waiting. 1t kissed the old dia-
mond time and time again on its speedy
fight down towards second
A half dozen recruits made dive
for the little beauty which landed with
little sound OF Joy in a finger nit
and then sailed gracefully over the FIRST
station where IL buried itself in a big
catcher's nit. Tex Myers won't arrive
until next week and there is no first
baseman's glove at the park now.
Oh, there was JOY after that first
grounder at the old ball park. The
long talked about and much written
about reporting time for spring
training arrived this afternoon. It
was great TO hear the old hickory
as IL resounded over the fences Of the
old battlefield and met the street cars
before they turned the curve, causing
seyaral of the anxious fans to drop
on and make a run for the gate. II
seemed like old times to see Jimmy's
chubby right leg kicking up the dirt
in center field while he waited his
turn at a long fly.
The would-be Chicks soon had half
dozen balls flying through the air
until the diamond was almost a net
work of white streaks as the new
spheres cut their capers in the air.
These recruits are a hefty bunch,
, and while some, or most of them are
bound 20 go back TO the woods, from
whence they came. the crowd looked
good. Jimmy has been telling the
truth about his players. Everyone
of them Is above the average usually
found at the park during the first few
days and this afternoon they went
at their work with a determination
that would have opened the eyes of
some of the Champions" had they
been there to watch the proceedings.
II was all the manager of last
I years pennant winners could do TO
hold the colts down. Jimmy really
| did not get a chance TO handle the
ball much He was too busy chas-
ing after the young fellows and warn
ing them that It was April instead
Of July G.
The complete list OF players who
will report today is as follows;
Brown, Of last seasons team. Shol-
lenberger, of last seasons team
Dutch" zeibel. a third baseman, OF
Upland, but who played with Raleigh
N. c., last year.
Harry Pearce, a shortstop from
Philadelphia, who played with the
Dayton, o., team last year.
Howard Morgan, second basemar
from Baltimore, recommended by
Gus Gleichman.
J. ]. Gagen, a pitcher from the
Burlington, n. j., team.
William Swallow, a, pitcher from
Philadelphia, who played with the
Southwark Club, of that city.
Ed. Allen, a third baseman from
Gloucester. n. J.
c. Bussins a pitcher from a Wash.
ington, ID. c., professional team.
Oscar Jacobs, third basemar
from Aberdeen, Md.
W. J. Nealon, an outfieider from
the New London. Conn, team.
George Yerger, a catcher from Car
lisle. Pa.
Earl Bennett. a pitcher from Cam
bridge. Nd recommended by Alar