“Has any man used tobacco since training began?” continued the coach.

Again there was silence.

“I am gratified to note that I can’t get a response to either question,” smiled Mr. Luce.  “This assures me that every one of you has kept in the strictest training.  It will show as soon as you begin to meet Gridley’s opponents in the field.

“Faithful observance of all training rules bespeaks a good state of discipline.  In all sports, and in team sports especially, discipline is our very foundation stone.  Every man must sacrifice himself and his feelings for the good of the team.  Each one of you must forget, in all baseball matters, that he is an individual.  He must think of himself only as a spoke in the wheel.

“During the baseball season I want every man of you in bed by nine-thirty.  On the night before a game turn in at eight-thirty.  Make up your minds that there shall be no variation from this.  In the mornings I want every man, when it isn’t raining, to go out and jog along the road, in running shoes and sweaters, for twenty minutes without a break; for thirty minutes, instead, on any morning when you can spare the time.

“Whenever you can do so, practice swift, short sprints.  Many a nine, full of otherwise good men, loses a game or a season’s record just because this important matter of speedy base running has been neglected.

“Not only this, but I want every one of you to be careful about the method of sprinting.  The man who runs flat-footedly is using up steam and endurance.  Run balanced well forward on the balls of your feet.  Throw your heels up; travel as though you were trying to kick the backs of your thighs.  Breathe through the nose, always, in running, and master to the highest degree the trick of making a great air reservoir of your lungs.  We have had considerable practice, both in jogging and in sprinting, but this afternoon I am going to sprint each man in turn, and I’m going to pick all his flaws of style or speed to small pieces.  We will now adjourn to the field for that purpose.  Remember, that a batsman has two very valuable assets—–­his hitting judgment and his running steam.  Wagons are waiting outside, and we’ll now make quick time to the field.”

Arriving there, Coach Luce led them at once to the dressing rooms.

“Now, then, we want quick work!” he called after the sweaters and ball shoes had been hurriedly donned.

“Now let us go over to the diamond; go to the home plate as I
call the names.   Darrin Ripley-Prescott-Reade-Purcell-----”

And so on.  The young men named made quick time to the plate.

“You’re up, Darrin.  Run!  Two bases only.  Halt at second!  Ripley, run!  Reade, run!  Not on your flat feet, Ripley.  Up on your toes, man!  Reade, more steam!”

Then others were given the starting word.  Coach did not run more men at a time than he could readily watch.