New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-21

when they are ready 20 cut loose the
recruits generally dwlndle INTO the
background and the veterans Jump lnto
the glare of the limelight. This is true
not because the recruit slows up
through his early efforts, as some are
inclined to believe. but because the vet.
eran has gradually generated his full
power until he is able to trave! at top
speed. And a veterans best, as rule,
is ever SO much better than rockies
best.
A week ago | promised 70 tell Of the
training system followed by ball play
ers in the South. ] should have SAID
systems instead of system, for almost
every manager has different ideas on
how TO best condition his men. How
ever, there is a sort of basic principle
that is followed throughout. and 1t IS
with this principle that | will deal.
The first few days in camp are spent
in merely tossing a baseball about
catching it and throwing it easily.
Never try to throw baseball as hard
as YOU can the first few days out
Work up TO the highest speed notch by
degrees. You employ muscles IN
throwing that are not employed IN
many other athletic pursuits, and Whlie
YOU may have been in gymnasium all
winter, playing basketball or working
on the weights, you are apt 10 STRAIN
your throwing muscles by taxing them
too severely before they have been
properly loosened up. 4 strain Of TINS
kind frequently results in weakened
throwing arm that takes days ana
weeks of rest before becoming strong
again. | have known cases where full
strength has never been recovered.
Tossing the medicine ball, basket
ball, handball and long tramps cross
country-not necessarily runs. but
brisk walks are frequently part OF
the early programme. Ihey all help
20 timber 90 the muscles without taX-
ing them too much. Running IS only
Of benefit to devclon the wind or 10 re-
duce when player is greatly over
weight. If it is to be employed to de-
velop the wind it is advisable 10 wait
until the muscles have become accus-
toned TO rigorous exercise before IN
dulging in it. If running is employed
to reduce superfuous weight it should
be INDUCED in Immediately, but not too
vigorously at first. In this connection
basketball and handball are rapidly
finding. more favor with the players
Each is good exercise and rigorous
enough 70 produce the pcrspiratlon de-
sired.
After the preliminary processes Of
training have been engaged in for the
proper length of time, batting and
iielding of light kind are the next
order. This is to give the players the
"feel" Of the ball again. If heavy bat,
ting and hard fielding we're jumped
into even after the muscles had been
sufficiently loosened. cracked finger
jcints and terrific pains in the back
would be the result. A ground ball IS
Judged by instinct almost as much as
by the quickness Of the eye, and after
a winters lay-off it requires time to
develop both the quickness of the eye
and the instinct to a point OF per1ec-
/ ton where it is permissible TO slam
/ the ball around and field it when batted
/ hard.
Coaching in Sliding.
After two or three days of this light
order batting and fielding the sliding
/ pit is prepared. The dirt is loosened
up and the players forced TO wear
heavy pads to lessen the chances of m
Jury as much a. possible. Then me
PLAYERS are coached in sliding. TINS
4 is one of the most important parts OF
the preliminary conditioning. for sind
ing is one of the most dangerous Feat
ures of baseball. An awkward slide
. Fraouentlv results in 4 broken ankle,