The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-03-13
BaciNa,Poker,
Food Galore,
In Ball Camps
Sunshine the Only Thing Free
in South, Except SCribeS'
Card Manners,

George l. Morelnnds complete record
of baseball statistics does not say much
Of anything about spring training trips.
and We nre disappointed Morehnd has
covered his field with the most exquisite
care and yet every one knows tho Inn
portance Of spring conditioning
In point Of mileage this trip Is the
longest Journey made by any major
League team. and is much further than
most OF them get after the jaunt ls con
Cludcd
team goes south on the theory that
the players need warm weather and sun
shine TO m them for their race for tho
league pennants Warm weather and
sunshine do not cost anything IN the
south. being NJ tho few things that nrc
inexpensive below the Mason and Dixon
line After Rssmintlng many square
feet of warm weather and sunshine the
hahplayer returns to the frigd north.
and usually manages TO catch anything
from n large herd of n grippe hacnlI
TO small hut sterling cluster of pncu-
monR germs These germs take IN a
suite or apartment in the ball plaver's
system. bringing their own entertain
Went and amusing themselves M they
may until they finally are expelled bv
the said system. Ry that time the holl
player In IN M good condition almost Hs
he wns before he went south to improve
his condition
The spring training trip lasts several
weeks. during which time the hRl play
er is entitled 10 cnt free Of charge. travel
without cost and win Ms much money ms
he can nj stud poker from ambitious.
hut amateur card players who are gen
orally wearing the costumes and the In
| uulsitiye look OF newspaper reporters II
| IL tho upVuuODpr tnpp'u iIpp that tho hnll
| player Is always huffing when he raises
| the bet and n he can catch the hall
| plnver nj II once In ten times ne Is a
happy n eventually poorer, citizen.
Not Like the One Arm Places
Hsving arrived In the south. tho first
! thing the bah PLAYER does Is 10 Kick on
! the food This shows q professional
| sophIsiry thot may almost pass os poise
Rotten food" saws the hnll nlnver
when he reaches New Orleans He rc-
peois this M Memphis. Nashville Louis
| vile, nd llhtum Compared 10 the lux
| urlOus fnrc md the splendid service to
| which the ban player has been nccus-
| toned during the long winter months In
Cedar Springs Mich II ia no wonder
| he complains A. no Ig going 10 have
| free food he can NJ least, insist II he
good, aud every one. particularly n man
| from Cedar Springs Mitch or KokOmO.
| Ind, knows how much those famous
| shore dinners I'm New orleans are over
| rated
when IN the south II ls often ncccs-
| sory for mHiur league club to prove
| It's general superiority md baseball coste
| by wallopinE tho cabinet pudding ont NJ
| n few minor league clubs n possible the
| major le0Eue club does this with great
| flourish. but there nre often encountered
| low down minor league ball teams that
insist on heating the major league clubs
/ Ntffh rru1Tf 1IUu lilo Vtufr1Hrtt, 4 B.
| times the southern baseball fanatic he
cones mn excited citizen and ms snrcas-
| Tic rs n South Carolina senator
Busher Fans Are slerced.
"On the level. Is this big league
| team shouts some hostile ian Where
upon the down hearted ban PLAYER re-
sronds with no little brlllIance and sense
| Of repartce
'Aw, 60 chase YOURSELF"
There ia always largo party o'
/ strangers on n southern trip Most of
| them wear badger hair cuts and funny
| looking pants They nro the recruits
| from the minor leagues who nrc trying 10
| prv some veteran loosc from his BIZ
monthly Insult
The veteran who Is Slipping regards
1hcm oslcnqihy with friendly eve.
I however much he would Ike 10 crown
| en- with a baseball bat But on the
bcrths
We have Just happened 10 observe nc
cordlng 10 our historian Morcpnd. that
a novel and amusing contest desIg-
mated by the originator Rs donkey
game. was played AT BroOh'Nn IN N0vcm-
| her, 1851 In which the nine having the
lenst number of runs NJ the end Of tho
game was considered the victor"
| Wen, Well! Brooklyn came by the
! habit honestly.