In the latter instance, every boy has to receive an education before he is at all fitted to fill the position assigned to him.

There must be long arduous drills in a dozen particulars, from bucking the line, and carrying the ball, to making a flying tackle, or punting.

Then the intricate system of signals must be thoroughly learned, so that instinct takes the place of reason in the carrying out the play.
But every kid plays baseball from the time he can toddle.

By degrees they keep on improving their game, so that when they arrive at the dignity of high school freshmen honor, it is only a question of ability, rather than any necessity as to education in the art of driving home a runner, or snatching a liner hot from the bat.
So Mr.Leonard anticipated having only to inoculate his bunch with the proper virus and ambition, after which he could let the drilling do the rest.
Among others who were out was Nick Lang.

There was nothing really strange about that fact, because Nick would almost rather play ball than eat; and any boy about whom this can be said must be pretty fond of the National sport.