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Hornsby’s ‘Short and Sweet’ Rules Strict Only for Time of Duty.BY FRANCIS J. POWERS.Rogers hornsby of theChicago Cubs is something of a modernist among major league managers. Pursuing the idea that what a base ball player does off the field Is mostly his own business, Hornsby will have but few rules of conduct for the Bruins, who have started Spring training on Catalina Island.His code is brief and simple and not hard to remember:“Win ball games! Think only base ball so long as you are in uniform.”However, Hornsby, who is an iron-fisted Texan, intends seeing to it that the Bruins follow those admonitions tothe fullest degree.“When my players put on their uniforms they are to have nothing but base hall on their minds until work is finished. I do not want to heai any talk about stocks, automobiles, girls, taxes or anything else. They cannrt even smoke when wearing a Uniterm. There’ll be no smoking or fun ffom the time they enter the clubhouse until they leave it. Just Dase ball.Will Hold Meetings.“I do not care what they do after the day’s work is done. The men can play golf, go fishing (those two hobbies applying to the training camp days, of course), play cards, dance, sing or cut up. Anything, so long as they keep in good physical condition. I want every player in his room by midnight, but they do not have to Arise at any especially early hour. I believe in letting ball players get plenty of sleep and rest what’s the use of getting them up early in the morning and make them sit around several hours before it's time to report for practice?“I will give my men plenty of base ball to talk about and think about. When I see things done wrong on the field we will discuss them at a meeting the next day. I want my players’ opinions and I will give them mine. We will have meetings during the training season and we will be having them the final week of the campaign.”Gave Alee Free Hand.Hornsby had much the same ideas when he managed the St. Louis Cardinals. He took Grover Cleveland Alexander when the Cubs fired him for playing more with white mule than base balls and no other club wanted him Hornsby told “Old Pete” To do as he pleased so long as he was able to climb into the box in his regular turn. Alexander’s pitching helped the Cardinals to a pennant and clinched them the world’s series. Hornsby gives his men plenty of personal liberty, but if they abuse it he knows how to crack down on them. One look into Hornsby’s eyes and you never need ask who is boas around the reservation.Hornsbv started his pitchers training on CataMna Island with soccer foot j in”* rather than base balls Rogers belicv's a Ditcher’s legs must be as strong rs h’s arm or head. So to give them something mo-e interesting than running around the outskirts of the training fe’d he is having th'un Kick a foot hall around William Wrigley’s is’and. When their legs get strong and nimble he will let the flingers start •trengthening their arms.
Newspaper Details
Evening Star
Washington, Washington-DC, US
Fri, Feb 20, 1931
Page 36
Full Page
Clipped by
Michael W.
NA, 10 Mar 2023
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