Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 148, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1916 — WHY YOUNGSTERS FAIL [ARTICLE]

WHY YOUNGSTERS FAIL

Nervousness Sends Many Back to Minor Leagues. Voting Player* Unable to Get Mind Off Huge Stand* and Immense Crowds —Do Not Concentrate Their Mind* on Game. The greatest enemy of the young ball player is nervousness, according to St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Many a youngster of promise coming up from thQ..minors ruins his chances by “aeroplaning" when he finds himself lined up against players of experience and reputation. He is likely to play far below hl* normal speed, and the impression produced on his manager is faulty. He may not have a chance to become fully accustomed to his surroundings or to get over his nervousness before he is railroaded back to the bushes. The best way for a player to succeed Is to try to forget that he is up in the big show and put his whole mind on the ball game. If he can fall to see the huge stands and the big crowd and just remember that he is playing a game of ball and trying to do his part toward winning it he will surely succeed if he has the ability. The player who is doing everything in his power to win the ball game is the lad who catches the eye of the foxy manager. One serious fault with many young players is that they think too much of their base hits. This is a natural fault for every player, old or young, likes to wallop the ball to some far territory; but the real manager is looking beyond that. He sees the fellow who can hit with no one on and two out and does not care for his style. On the other hand, the man who has the nerve to come up with the smash in the pinch is the man who is retained, even if his batting average is many points below that of the other fellow.