The Washington times., 1914-03-22

had to give up and his heart schsd him
OF course, there are countless traGe.
dies In the spring when the patches OF
recruits join big league clubs with
their hopes high that they VIII make
good and stick in the majors. Taen
there are the veterans who wear out
in the service and get old and still
struggle on, making the fight to last .
few years longer In the Span yies. :"
When a youngster goes South in the
spring to join the big lea9uers. he
generally has pictured himself in the
uniform of the club while Thousands
1 know I had my dreams tefore my
trial. Then comes the weeding-out
process when the disappointed candi-
dates are sent back to tho minors one
by one. some for good and others for
more seasoning. 1 believe have seen
ing camp than anywhere else In the
world. What hurts is for these boys
to go back home and admit that they
could not make good after having had
the big chance.
Some recruits show slowly, while
others endeavor to start out witt q
rush. It II this overa mbitton which
sends so many back, because a young
ster Is liable to hurt himself for the
season by overworking before the win
ter stiffness and staleness is out Of the
muscles. This Is particularly true Of
the young pitchers. who are Invariably
SO eager to show that some Of them en-
deavor TO curve a ball on the first day.
and generality show up on the sccond
with a lame arm and arc never fit to
perform again before the team leaves
for the North. They are sent back to
the minors, therefore. practically with
out trial. because manager cannot
afford to spend too much time or to be
too discriminating In the hustle and
hustle Of spring practice.
1t is not well known that the White
Sox almost let "Reb' Russell. one jof
go back TO the bushes" Russell was a
wise youngster and did not hurry his
conditioning in the California camp,
where the White Sox train, and run
risks of a lame wing. His work was 30
mediocre by the time the team broke
camp that FIVE or six young pitchers
looked more promising to Callahan. and
"Reb" was sent along with the second
team, Callahan not declining 1t worth his
while to watch Russell closely any more
because Of the little he had shown.
But Jimmie heard glowing reports
of the pitching Of this youth as the sec
ond team of the White Sox worked its
way home, and he decided when the club
got back to Chicago that he would hold
on tn "Reb'' and see if he showed any
thing.
He Looked Very Bad.
The first time 1 saw Russell in the
box he looked very bad, and had all the
habits a young pitcher should not have.
but he carried plenty Of nerve. He used
a motion toward first base to hold up
runners which was easily a balk.
recall the first game the Detroit
team played with him pitching. He
gave me a base on balls. and had evil
IDENTIFY been told to watch me to see that
/ did not get too big lead off the bag:
Tho first thing I knew, bang! he had
shot the ball to first base after having
made very perceptible motion toward
the batter which was plainly baik.
OF course. he had me easily. so | broke
for second, there being nothing much
else 10 do. AS luck would have II, l
got into the bag safely anyway, but l
thought it was time to protest on the
motion.
what do you call it, 'Ty'" he
asked.
"a baIk. if I ever saw one" I replied.
promptly.
You're right. but you were safe any
way" answered Evans. 80 what is tne
use of soaring the youngster to death:
III warn him. You could NOT aoVancS
further than second base on the oatk.
Evans gave Russell a Word OF ma' =.
at once set to work to correct the 1aui-
ty move to the bag and now mas as
good q one as any twirler IN the Iea So,
except such experts In this line as 70
Walsh and some Of those otneIs rs I. haa
the great and studied move TO the pas
that Just shades being 6aik. put
which is not, according to the ru!Ss.
Russell is sp endid example Oh nv
wise recruit. while the five or SIX o.her
young twirlers who were supposetG - ~
the camp with the first team OF tne IN
White Sox are still sticking In inc
minors.
Another Walter johnson.
We had a young pitcher come Sou'h
tn ioip the Detroit club three seasons
ago who looked like another NAhcI
Johnson He had worlds OF speeu iilu
a fine break on his curve pall' 80
nings, as usual warned an MS Pc
against going al II haIo III ,hI,d
had worked out welt but on 'ne ,'"ru
dav after the regulars reachcI c;;ilp
This youugstcr was acnt 10 VIC poA
to pitch TO the battcrs for h'ttInS p.:
tirC. None OF the boys were "atu"T
much. and when It conl" ny tufi l
,ya. "urn,iscJ 10 sec one come up with
:: big hook on it that missed my nat q
font or 50 of course. | could no. do
rnytlinr much against curE" ball pitch-
ing with all the winter ntSt on NY
l.Inr., 80, / g,ru,.k ont The Toy .;riuned
mn over. lie was sure he was making
good. ] huntcd up I"mninss., VINO was
Conch,n.. some Of the recruits In tho
art ur the faII-.,way siuc.
Say. 'iIughiC. sad J. lhai 'ohh-
Ter ont ttcr,. is throwing hooks HU'l
putting on steam a@ ii it was the mid
Gle Of August.
II didnt think you fellows were hit
,n- them uruci,. said Jennings. Hey.
on" he yelled ut TIE young pitche"
Come here.
yas xssxais shot up eas Iasxs last one