Norwich bulletin., 1921-03-09
By JAMES CRUsINBBRRY
Special to The Bulletin.)


 Orange, Tex, Mar. 5-It was only a little four inning practice game in the training camp of the St. Louis Cardinals ill this city. A squad, most ly regulars, was combating squad of recruits. Manager Branch Hickey was coaching at third base. Clifton Heath cote, the fleet footed centerfielder, was on second. Another runner was on first. One was out and the call was three and two on the batter.
 Of course both runners were on the go with the pitchers wfndup. The batter bounded an easy one down to the shortstop and was thrown out at first base. But the speedy MT. Heath cote, perhaps the fastest runner in the National league, never stopped at third base. He legged it for home at his best midseason stride and beat the first baseman's shot to the plate by finishing with an August slide that would have been expected in a worlds S series combat but hardly looked for in a spSng training camp.
 Encouragement For Youth.
 Manager Hickey legged it on home from the third base coaching line two paces behind his young star. The Car dinals' boss was screaming at the top of his voice, calling for the boy to hit the dirt. Young Eeathcote was badly jared and shaken up because of the desperate play, but before he had re- gained his feet Manager Hickey was upon him.
 The Cardinals leader grabbed the youth by the hair with one hand and cuffed him in the ear with the other. Then he yanked him to his feet and gave him three or four loving waHops on the back.
 That's the stuff Cliff, old boy" the elated boss yelled. You can do that all the time. There isn't any of them can stop you on that play. You can make it against the best of them. That's the kind of pep to show. Great stuff!' And the manager gave the limping but smiling youth a hug with his left arm and another wallop with his right hand that sent the boy stag gering but happy to his seat on the bench.
 Lcaded With Enthusiasm.
 That is only sample of the spirit and enthusiasm that is in the St. Louis Cardinals. True, it was a team that finished last season tied for fifth place with the Chicago Cubs, although it led the league in batting, having four reg ulars who clouted the ball for an aver age away above the 300 mark. If spirit, enthusiasm, morale and harmony only could make champions the Cardinals could begin right now selling tickets for the big show next I-fall
 They have the livest and best con. iSducted training camp one can find any. where. Unfortunately for them. it re quires some good pitching and some i sterling defense to win pennants. Ina | is what Manager Hickey is trying tC i build up this spring, and if he succeed. ] the Cardinals are sure to be in thu i fight for the flag, because there it nt 1 team in existence that can go out upor 1 the field and knock home more run than this same walloping outfit. | Hickey Modern Manager. Branch Hickey is modern manager l He has broken away from the old styl methods of of making a ball club. H ] has systematized the work in the train ing camp so that things move with regularity and precision that is admir- able. There is no time wasted. H can get as much actual work out o forty athletes in an hour and half a the average leader would get in thre hours.
 For instance, he had constructed an shipped here. two batting cages pro tected on each side for a distance ia out beyond the pitcher by netting a well as protected overhead for a shor distance. The cages are side by sid down in the corner of right field. H has two sets of batters working ou down there while a third set is laborin