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Show The First Chapter of This I q, i-it I A BASEBALL ' STORY B9 Story Appeared in The WW I 111 R mm WmwmLP ISlill lH by ohbisty mathewson H M Tribune Monday,March 14 J f fl 111 11 MCj I 11 1 JM 1 copyright, iqio.'r. j. Badmer oo. II This absorbing story by Christy Math-ewson Math-ewson was begun In Tho Tribune Monday. Mon-day. March 14, Two chapters have already al-ready been printed. The story has to do with the ambition of Hal Chase, star first baseman of tho American league. It Is a story that Is of intense interest to every lover of tho national game, and who is there that Is not? No other newspaper news-paper In the intcrmountain empire prints this story. It can be had only in The Salt Lnko Tribune. Issues containing the preceding chapters can bo had at The Tribune business office. CHAPTER V. The First Lino-Up. "Well, what do you think of your freshmun phenoms?" It was Johnny Everson who was speaking. speak-ing. Johnny, besides being the regular second baseman of tho varsity, was the chum of Hughlc Jenkins, the manager of the team, and his chief adviser with Captain Larkc. Johnny knew the game from top to bottom and across tho middle. mid-dle. They called him "a little bunch of brains and nerves," and ho deserved the compliment. He was small in size, but large in brains, and many a game had been won for the collego by his quick-work quick-work at trying moments, to say nothing of the fact that he was largely responsible responsi-ble for tho discovery and development of many of the plays which had come to bo known as "Inside baseball." Ho had an aggressive chin, which seemed to bo always, al-ways, pointing forward, and his eye was as quick and accurate as a sharpshooter's. sharpshoot-er's. "Wo seem to have a good many gaps to fill and I guess we will find mostly yaps to fill them with," he went on. "anyway, that's the way I felt tonight after looking over the unpromising material ma-terial that we put through tho stunts at the cage today." "I don't feel discouraged. You can never tell, of course, on one trial, but watching some of those youngsters this afternoon made mc think that with a little lit-tle training some of thorn will make good," said Hiighle. "Let's go over the list and mark the fixtures we can count on, and then wo can toll what wo have to do to get a real nine together," said Everson. "All right, at second we havo vou." said Hughlc. "and I guess we won't need to worry about the keystone bag. and at third wc have Delvln, who I think will develop this year Into a grand star at the near station. Captnln Larkc will handle left field all right, as usual. Miner Black will come back stronger than ever this year In the box, and George Glbbs will, I think, do the catching ail right. That's just about half a team, isn't It?" "Now, at tho first sack we need somebody some-body to take Penny's place, and I must confess that I did not notice any likely candidate, unless It was Bill." "Wc are going to have a hard time. I think, to find some one at short in place of bur good friend. Joe Brlnker." About tho Right Field. "Did you notice tho bowlegged and awkward looking German named Hagner In the cage today?" broke In Everson. "If he wasn't so big and awkward looking look-ing he might be ablo to bat and wc could play him In the outer gardens, but I hardly think he would ever mako a shortstop." short-stop." "I hardly think so. either," said Jenkins, Jen-kins, "but I had a talk with him and he said ho would play short. I have also had a report from Texas, where he came from, that ho Is a perfect terror at bat. T can hardly hope though that he wl' bo ablo to fill Blinker's place. I think If wo could figure out some scheme to remodel his anatomy we might bo able to make something out of him. I don't think' you can tell anything about any of them until you see them work in the open air for a week or two." Getting Ready for Battle. "What do you think about right field?" asked Johnny. "If I am not mistaken," answered I-Iughie, "we Jiave the real prize package In that young chap from Georgia. Robb (a regular cracker nnme. Isn't It). Did you notice him at-all? Did you ever sec more speed? I arn knocking on wood when I talk about him. because I don't want to fool myself, but if I was a scout for a professional learn and saw this fellow Robb playing ball on some back lot I think I'd buy him without Instructions Instruc-tions from headquarters." "Lots of them look like stars the first few days of spring." said Johnny. "I noticed Robb particularly, too. I was thinking that while he Is a clean, neal-looklng neal-looklng fellow, I'd hate to get Into a fight with him. because he looks like a chap who has no fear of anything." "Besides Robb there wore half a dozen others who looked like they might be made Into fielders." said Hughlc. "There was Tnlkington. McKce, Rnymur. Oakley. Oak-ley. Lunley and Flack. If any of them know how to swing a bat I think wc will be able to teach them what they need to know about catching files." "As usual, most of the candidates want to pitch, and if Miner Is all right this year wc won't ncod any one to help him. except perhaps a left bander. Did you notice anything promising along the lino? I was so busy looking over the fielders and possible first basemen that I didn't pay much attention to the pitchers. I rather liked the delivery of Crossley the short time ho was throwing. throw-ing. He looked promising for a rich man's son. Besides that will bo easier when old ,man Young gets here and we got them out for coaching You can also pick them out In batting practice. Just tell them to throw straight, swift balls over the plate and 'you can pick out the. poor ones anyhow, because a pitcher who can't put a straight ball over nine times out of ten Isn't worth developing. Then, by tho time Young gets a chance at them for a week we'll know which ones It will pay him to coach." "I had a talk," said Johnny, "with that California lad. Case. Ho Is a qulot chap and unassuming. He says lie Is a' southpaw pitcher, too. and ho may be what we are looking for.' A few days after this talk In Ilughlp's rooms tho snow began to melt, and within with-in a woek Lowell Field, which had for months been covered with snow ond ice. suddenly took on a greonlsh look the ground became dry and firm, and every one began to feel the spring in the air. One clay not long after there appeared on the bulletin board the following notice: "University Baseball. Outdoor Practice. Prac-tice. On tho Field at 1 p. m.. Feb. 25, Candidates must bring their own suits "HUGH JENKINS. Manager." There was joy In the hearts of the hundred, for there were about that number num-ber who hoped to be picked for the varsity. var-sity. Out of the hundred at least ninety were certain to be disappointed as far as the varsity was concerned, for thoro were only about ten places to fill, counting count-ing the substitutes. Of course there was a chance that a fellow would get on the second squad, which might help to the varsity next vcar. and then there was always the "freshman team, which was formed last, and which generally was an nll-pltUior team, so lo speak, because every man on It hod nursed seoret, hopes of making tho varsity his first yoar as a pitcher. Harold Case was out early. He was now sitting on the steps of the clubhouse waiting for ilngner, who had become his good friend. U was a strange friendship that had sprung up between these two tho tall, big-boned and awkward German lad. almost a man In looks, and this youmc and exceedingly graceful western lad and both were profiting by It. While he was sitting there, what was left of last years champions trotted out on tho field Glbbs. second catchor last vcar. and Larke. old cronies: Black and Delvln, and last of all, of course, the Inseparables, In-separables, Everson and Jenkins. The rest of the candidates straggled out onto the field In twos .and threes, to the num. ber of fully a hnndrud. and presently Hagner como out with his old bat and glovo In hand ami Harold got up and thV walkod over to the- diamond togotln r. "Letter not let your.silf out any to- day," said Hagner, as they approached the others, who had already paired off and were tossing balls back and forth to each other Before Harold had time to answer, however. Jenkins had said the same thing, practically Not Liko Football, "Getting ready for a baseball season isn't quite like developing a football team," said Hughlc. "In football you have to get the team in shape for one or two big games, each of them requiring a terrific outburst of energy, without thinking about the morrow, but In the case of a baseball nine you have to develop de-velop your bodies to withstand the strain of a long scries of games mostly In warm weather,, and you must start slowly and get Into condition gradually, so do not try to do it all today. Another thing in football, wc train the team to withstand hard knocks, a sort of bulldog development,' develop-ment,' while a baseball team must have the nice strength of a greyhound, so as to enable It to keop going at top speed for a long lime, and so I wish you to go i easy." So he bad them stand in clrclos. mak- I lng five or six groups, and passed around medicine balls, an exorcise to strengthen the trunk muscles. Then they paired off again and tossed the baseball to each other two by two gently Just liko boys playing catch. All at once Hughle called out, "Come on, boys, around the field!" and, starting oft in front, he trotted all tho way round the field along the fence. By the time thev got started on the second round a lot of the fellows were puffing and blowing blow-ing hard and found It difficult to keep up. but Hughie knew how Important It was for tho ball player to have wind and he knew this kind of a stunt practiced a couple, of times .a day would fix them up in good shape by the time the games started. i CallB for Pitchers. Then he called them all up to the plate for batting practice and asked if there was anv fellow around who could pitch. He kne'w. of course, that Miner Blnck was there, but Miner knew enough not to say anything. What Hughie wanted was. to find out what kind of control these new fellows who thought they could pitch had with a slow, straight ball. Hughie and Coach Young, who bad arrived, stood back of the plate, with Everson and Larkc watching. Out of the dozen youngsters who saw they would try he picked out Hacketl and told him to go into the box. "Now, go ahead." said Hughie. "Don't use any curves and don't try to turn them over: just give us some slow, straight balls and try to get them across the plate." What he really was trying to do besides be-sides give the man batting practice was. to get a line on the new pitching material, ma-terial, and this was the best way to get It. Then ho had tho batters take turn at the plate, and each fellow was expected ex-pected to stay there until he had made a hit, Hughie standing by, showing each, especially tho new ones, how to stand up to tho hall and meet it fairly. Hack-ett. Hack-ett. the first pitcher, didn't seem to bo ' able to get them anywhere near tho plate, and so Hughie told the next one. Crossely, to go in and give It a. trial. He was a little better, but they had finally to call on Miner to put a few over. As usual, Miner was long on control. Johnny Everson stepped to the plate. Miner served one up and blng! the ball went scurrying out to right field. Each fellow took his turn at bat. boys like Delvln. Larke and Glbbs standing up like veterans and cracking the hits out in fine shape, giving a' little more running practice to some of tho youngsters young-sters who had been sent out to the field to chase the balls. Oloar Over Fence. Finally It came Hagner's turn. He stepped up to the plato and stood there rather slouchlly and loosely, far away from the mark, as If he wero afraid of the ball "Better stop up a little closer," said Hughie, "he won't hit you." "All right," said Hagner, "I want to learn all about It." Miner served up one to him straight as an arrow. Ilngner swung hard at It and missed. He felt a hit surprised himself. The next one he fouled off the bat near his hands. ' Just as Miner sent up the third ball Hagner stepped back from the plate, swung the bat easily, mot It squarely, and crack went the ball In a white streak clear over the center-field center-field fence. Miner looked at him surprised sur-prised and said: "You tan't do that again." The next time Hagner came up Miner decided to use some curves and make him earn his hIL He sent up what looked like a fast straight ball about waist high; Hagner swung on It and missed. The ball had a terrific out-cure, out-cure, and of course Hagner understood under-stood they were only to be straight. He eyed Miner closely and when he started to Pitch Hagner stooped over to watch tho ball like a hawk. On came the ball, starting wide ot tho plate and Hagner first decided It was a ball, and then as the Inshoot started In toward tho plate, quick as a wink Hagner swung his bat and over the fence she wont again. The fellows went wild. Hughie and Everson Ever-son standing back of the batting cage looked at each other. "What do you know about that?" asked Everson. "I don't know anything." said Hughie. "For a big. awkward fellow ho seems to be about the quickest thing I ever saw. Why, he didn't even look ready to hit at tho ball until It started to shoot In toward the plate, and I was sure he was going to let It go by. If be can bat like that regularly we'll play him some place If he fumbles every ball that Is batted to him." Oaeo in tho Box. 1 Pretty soon Hughie asked. "Haven't wo got another left-hander here?" "There ought to be." said Everson, looking around. "Here, Case, get out there and show what you can do; this Is your chance." "Thanks." said Case. In his pollto way. "I'll try If you want mo to." He walked Into the box and picked up the .Tairrei- J ball where Miner had dropped It He had not really tried to pitch, since Ian summer and was a hit nervous. The first ball went a little bit wild. The second one nearly hit the batter. The line of waiting batters grinned. "Southpaws are either very good or very bad." said Capt. Larke to Delvln. After he had thrown a dozen balls or so. however. Case's arm got In working order and only an occasional ball went wide of the plate. "Ho seems to be pretty good on the straight ones." said Jenkins. "If he can do as well when we ret them begin to try the curves I think we' can put him on as a substitute." "What do you think of the bunch in general?" asked Everson. "Well." said Hughlc. "I think I can see a team out of this crowd all right, though I am not quite sure of Dill at first hise. This fellow Robb seems to be a fine batter, and so does Talklncton. Coach Young says there was one of the young pitchers that looked good, too young Adams. If this Hagner knows as much about any position as he seems to about batting I think I'll lot him choose his position. Think of trying to tell him how to stand up to the plate. He's just a natural ball player; don't believe he knows himself how he hits them. Black told me after ho came out of the box that he did his best to fool PTagner every time after that first time up. and you know how he succeeded. We'll know-more know-more when we get them out on the diamond dia-mond in the various positions." Made Good With Crowd. By this time the sun was sinking, and It was too dark for further practice. Hagner and Case walked over to tho club house together. "You sure mndo a- hit with the crowd today. Hagner," said Case. "I made five hits with my bat," said Hagner, "two of them over the fence." "Guess you will make the team all right," remarked Case. "I heard Jenkins Jen-kins say any fellow who can bat like that can take his pick of positions and play any one he likes." "Good. I'll play shortstop If they give me a choice." , "Wish I had made as big a hit as you." said Case. "You did. because 1 heard Everson and Jenkins talking It over, too; and they said you had excellent control, and If you did well with the curves they could carry you with the team. If I were vou. how- Kilr ever; I'd learn to play some position and HUll! make your way as a utility player. You IHk U see, left-handed pitchers nre all right. IHKIi Hi hut with a regular pitcher like this Miner mWl r- Black here, you wouldn't often get a IKnff Bi chance to pitch moro than an Inning or Hil7 f ; two. anyhow." HBM V. "I don't know." said Case, "how good MKa this Miner Black Is. but 1 think 1 can HRtH K beat him to the regular pitching job." WmA fcl "All right," said Hagner. "but If vou jBt K don't have any moro luck at ousting mstt p him than most of the fellows havo had Hi hitting him, you'll be out of a regular Wftt y Job on the team for a long time. I'd. HBfrl i', practice playing the first bag. Still think HH f you'd make a first baseman." HrS i "I don't think so," said Case, ns they ORm v entered the dressing room to change their Mtf F clothes, "besides either Dill or Robb HkE i seems sure to land tho Job.'; HRI ff Second Woek of Practice. Hi Rj Tho second week of outdoor practice MM fi tho regular work of the boys was in- 8Sn ' creased. At batting practice every fol- Rtf 1 It low.' was expected to run clear around MM v the bases after he had made his hit. rSttH R The coachers and managers got a line on K9 f the baserunnlng ability of tho boys In HBOI s' this way. Hagner, Robb. Cnsa and Talk- HVtfl 5 Ington all showed up well in this dlroc- kBh'I Pi tion. mWi r Toward the end of tho week the fel- IHs.J lows were lined up on the diamond at fflRHwi their regular positions, the coaches try- naCl'iP lng out the various candidates for the Hpttl P! fielding Jobs. Hughie hatted grounders CanM s to the Infield, to each of them in turn. BivSwi After each play the ball was thrown BiIIjKL from base to base In all of the different GRpl combinations necessary to all the Imag- BUn inary situations, from short to first it ttiHl I went, from firsL to third, from third BHtlu i home, and from there to second, a white IBgjfli streak, tho speed of the players Increas- Omul ' lng dally as the men got surer of their (MbSSIsf' positions. BaKi ?( Others were batting tiles to the out- iKra r field and the coaches were moving about DsBlS watching the work of each man as ho bSvkI was tried In the different positions. Each ImMr fv of the fielders was given a variety of IffOT'ifc'' work at bunting and the fielding of pE-i " bunts, catching high Infield files, picking Bm up sizzling grounders, etc This work IflRTC enabled Hughie to pick out his first line- mat !t' up for tho first and second squads. Hull P How Squads lined Up. By the middle of March tho two fcKftfif'V squads were playing practlco -games 38iij" among themselves. The first squad gen- ESI'JaZ' erally lined up as follows: Bifli'ir Dill. lb. Talklngton, cf. HKffl Everson, 2b. Larke, If. aMflll Delvln, 3b. Glbbs, u. BSIlt Hagner, ss. Black, p. RSft'l;, Robb. rf. ' - The second squad was composed of a 8Bk'& miscellaneous crow, generally lined up fBfimw as follows: sflLBK-Ross. sflLBK-Ross. lb. Oakley, cf. - Cane, 2b. McICoe. If. M&WfU Conley. 3b. McLuin. c. Kt't Wallach, ss. Radams. p. ift Raymur, rf. , f, iA Harold Case was a sort of substitute Hit pitcher for both squads. He would re- i lleve Black for a while for the first ajiv squad and Radams for the other squad. ffiJ3e: so that both teams got plenty of prac- a tlcc In batting a left-hand pitcher. There iv4a!l" was no way for him to find out. in ad- rSHIu (zK vanco what Jenkins though of him, but N&il il' he had high hopes of making tho team, Wwil? and he felt absolutely confident that if efe!Ii he ever got a chance in one of the full 'v'fr regular games he would be able lo mako fE.swjr- good. Crossley also was given a good Kilp- deal of work during these practlco games. fc'iwy as he gave promise of doing well, and It aSWJI? becan to look as though the choice for Mh. ' ' -hand pitchers would bo between these ao |