Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 145, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1917 — CATCHER JIM ARCHER TAKES THROW ON THE FINGER TIPS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CATCHER JIM ARCHER TAKES THROW ON THE FINGER TIPS

Veteran of Chicago Cubs Has Method of Saving Hand Different From Most Backstops. With a catcher the most important thing is to keep his hands in condition. Since the backstop handles nearly every ball that is thrown and the ball that he has to receive is thrown with more speed than to any other player, the constant pounding in the center of the big mitt is not by any means inconsiderable. At the center, where the ball lands there is but little padding and the hand is likely to be put out of commission in a short time unless more than or-

dinary care is taken of it. In the big show the methods are many, but Jimmy Archer, catcher of the Chicago Nationals, seems to have them all beaten. In the springtime most catchers are with stone bruises on their receiving hands because of the tenderness of the flesh after a winter of idleness. Archer, when he began catching; found a scheme to avoid bruises of that nature, but never revealed his method to his teammates, because he thought they had systems of their own. Not long ago, however, he acquired a stone bruise; and It is the first one he has had in years, and it was due mostly to an accident. While watching batting practice hp wgs hit on the fingers with a foul tip. To avoid hurting his digits more he stuck his hand deep into his mitt and caught the ball la the palm of his hand. This was contrary to his method, As he has only an extremely thin padding on his glove the bruise resulted. ( / ; When his hand is well he does not insert it into the mitt more than half way and catches the ball practically on his finger tips, thus avoids possibility of getting a stone bruise, which is a source of. much annoyance to catchers. w Other catchers have their own methods to avoid a contusion on the right

hand from the constant impact of the ball into the glove. At the opening of the spring training period some catchers have large pieces of raw beefsteak which they place in the palms of their hands for a week or more and their skin becomes hardened and is able to stand the force of ,the globule. Some use a small cork pad, and others pieces of chamois, and many keep them In use all summer long. *

Jim Archer.