Writing about the NY Giants spring training in Marlin Springs, TX, this is written by Sam Crane of the New York Evening Journal on Feb 27, 1908:
"All the training paraphernalia, such as medicine balls, a new home plate, bases, balls, uniforms and the big pushball came yesterday from New York, and a variety was added to the regular routine. The pushball, a new institution to the young players, was the source of much amusement and excellent practice. The embryo stars of the diamond ran the big leather sphere from one end of the grounds to the other, playing “follow the leader” in leaping onto and over the ball as it rolled over the field."
The rest of the article continues talking about the pushball but it becomes horribly racist and I don't want to post that, although it certainly documents the very nasty bigotry of the time.
I didn't scour the NY papers for this blurb, I just remembered it from the book "The Unforgettable Season" by Fleming.
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