The Detroit times., 1915-01-11
Attributes Downfall of "Phe-
nomsc to Oyer-Zealous At
tacks On Hotel Menus
TOO MUCH WATER DRUNK
IN BASEBALL, HE SAYS
Tiger Trainer Says keenness OF
Batting Eye Depends Largely
on Digestion
BY HAROLD V. WILCOX

Tiger Trainer Tuthill, tactturn sage
of Cherry-st., has permitted himseil
TO be interviewed for the public PRINT.
Breaking a silence OF years, he mas
recklessly engaged In some obserya'
tions on why ball players go wrong
and has graciously permitted his opln-
ions TO be passed along 10 the fans.
Mr.. Tuthill declares that ii Is his
firm conviction that ball players drink
: too much water, that many promis,
ing recruit has eaten himself out OF
the major leagues, that the keenness
OF the batting eye depends largely
upon the well-being of the batters
digestive organs, and that there IS no
great difference in the correct meth
ods of conditioning boxers football
players and diamond performers.
Working on the principle that the
first shall be last, Mr. Tuthill plunged
at once into an amplfcation OF his
assertions relative to the conditioning
OF ring. gridiron and diamond heroes
Since he has been prominently con-
nected with all three games in his ca.
reer, he is qualified 10 speak with
authority. He believes that the best
possible training for any sport is con
~
forms of exercise. however, are al,
ways inttoduced to some extent for
the sake OF the wind, stomach and
legs. Every athlete must be in per
feet condition in respect 20 those par.
ticulars to attain the Tuthill ideal. and
the same methods OF conditioning
serve equally well in boxing, football
and baseball, according 10 his notion.
at nj a
part in caring for the second particu-
lar. and the Tiger trainer is firm be
lever in track work for the other
two. He has no objection to handball
and similar games that develop speed
and agility. but holds that lots Of
early track work is the greatest thing
In the world for developing endurance
and powerful underpinning. invaluable
assets TO every sort OF athlete.
But Tuthill by no means believes
that the average baseball player keeps
nearly as we'll conditioned as the ay-
erage gridder or boxer, and he blames
oyer-indulgence in pure spring water
and hotel eats for that fact Harry
is very much opposed 10 the accepted
practice OF continually drinking wa
ter during baseball game. He claims
day and that IL waterlogs the players
II is not permitted on the gridiron or
in the ring. and IL Tuthill had his way
the bubbling fountain would be chas-
ed from the bench to the club house,
where 1t could be interviewed after
the game.
The Cherry-st sage attributes the
failure OF many a promising baseball
~ re
hotel menus. An amazing number Of
cracking good youngsters gorge them
selves out OF the major leagues, as
serts he, and he seems 10 have the
cards to back up his play.
"The average busher who gets a
chance to break into the big show
goes to training camp, and in his zeal
10 make good gets himself into pretty
good condition" says Tuthill by the
time the team starts for the north.
the youngster is frequently playing
fairly good ball. and shows up fine be-
cause the veterans are having TO take
more time than the kids in limbering
up their joints. BY the time the
season opens and the team goes on
fits first road trip, the phenom is play
ing fast ball and looks like a regular
menus. Being allowed three or four
times as much money for meals than
he was back in the trolley league.
and facing real swell eats for the first
time In his life, he wades in and
gorges himself to the limit Advice
is wasted on most OF these youngsters
and in two or three weeks the rich
food gets to them. They begin to
slow up and lose their wind. and just
at the time when the veterans are
reaching top form and the kids will
have hardest to fight for their Jobs,
they crack. Then it's back to the
jungle for them.
"1f some way could be figured out
to keep secret from a phenom' Just
how much grub a firstclass hotel can
turn out for one meal, there would
be a lot more good young ball play
ers in the major leagues
There have been some players who
could bat like demons regardless OF
their physical condition" concluded
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