Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-18

H.
ID have been puzzled by the sudden col
lapse OF Bill James, worlds series hero
in 1914 and a dub In 1915. James case
is one of the oldest and at the same time
paddest in the long history of the game
and players throughout the country are
pulling for Bill to come back, though there
are few who believe that he will ever be
able TO take his regular turn on the
mound.
when the Braves were in Miami TINS
spring, James could just about raise MS
arm above his head, and his attempts to
warm up were pitiful. The members OF
the Boston team and scribes with the team
felt absolutely certain that there was not
a chance for tho worlds series star TO
come back. 1t looked like n million-to-
one shot that James would never pitch
another game but today. his manager and
n few of the veterans of the Boston team
say that he will be in great shape by the
middle of June.
II James come back he owes 1t to Ed
Reulbach the old time Cub pitcher, VINO
was picked up from the Feds by Manager
Stallings this spring. Reulbach dld nov
report to the Braves until the training
season was we'll under way and was slowly
Conditioning himself when he became III
terested in James
Weight Hurt James
ReuIbach, who has taken off 40 pounds
since the winter of 1914, was surprised at
James bulk and could not understand
how an athlete as young as James coulu
put on much weight while In active train
Ing. He watched James trying to warm
up and noticed that he was so tied up by
additional weight that It was an effort
for him to wind up. He could not under
stand how the big fellow expected to
loosen UP his arm when his muscles were
80 surrounded by fat that easy motion was
impossible under any condition.
The veteran questioned James about the
condition of his arm. He asked him to go
over the whole story Of his first injury
and the manner in which he worked out
after first discovering that his arm was
gone. AS soon as he got all the details,
Ruelbach declared that he could bring
James back IL le would do just as he
directed.
Weight Tightens Muscles
Asked just what he prescribed for
James, Ruelbach said
'"The first thing that impressed me
about James condition was the excess
weight he was carrying. / watched him
warming up and noticed that he was all
tied up. There were rolls of fat on his
shoulders, back and stomach.
This excess weight prevented him
from being free and I know from my
own experience that even n man without
lame arm cannot show anything when
he Is in this condition l know because
] weighed 215 pounds one year ago and
weigh lis now | could not open up or
get anything on the ball year ago, but
today feel as good as ever.
watch the veteran pitchers who have
been In the game for years and you will
notice that the majority of them are
weighing from 90 to so pounds more at
the time of their retirement than they
did when in their prime. They cannot
understand why they are declining be-
cause they claim that the arm feels fine.
"The arm is really in excellent shape,
but the extra flesh they have taken on
has frightened up the muscles and they
cannot get the same swing and con-
sequently lose the work they usually had
on the ball.
II asked James II he would follow out
course of training thought would help
him, and the big youngster said that he
would do anything in the world to bring
his arm back. IL 1t was only for a sea-
son, He is crazy to be right again, and
think he will
Physical Culture Course
1.-THE first thing / told him was not to !
try to throw a ball hard under any condi |
tion until gave him the word. Then /
started him on a course of physical cul- |
James did not have a chance to strengthen
his arm until he had gotten himself in
perfect physical condition L had to be |
careful that he did not work too hard, ns |
It would not strengthen him until his |
weight had been gradually reduced.
'In few days the fat began to disap- |
pear. and James is at the present time |
only few pounds heavier than he was |
when he was in his prime. In about three |
weeks he will be at his normal weight, and |
then 1t will be time to turn hun loose. |
There is a chance that his arm will not re-
spond. but will bet anything have that
he comes back"
Hurt Arm i'm Exhibition
Bill was a big, handsome, easy-gong
and was idolized on the Coast.
Seattle Club, of the Northwestern League, |
and former mate of James. was run
over by a motortruck, and II was neces-
sary to amputate his right leg above the
knee.
SWANS career as a ball player was
ended and his friends decided to arrange
a benefit game for him. The contest was
played In San Francisco in December and
every major league player iv-
ing In the vicinity offered his services
Among those who played I'm this game
were Eddie Burns of the Phillies, and
Fred Snodgrass now here with the
Dutch" Leonard, of the Red Sox,
and Joe oeschger, of the Phillies.
James had not thrown a ball since the
worlds series, but went into the game be-
cause he naturally knew he would be a
drawing card. He pitched few innings
and then retired. He declares to this day
that II had nothing TO do with his trouble, |
N ~