File:How to play base ball (1903) (14777710234).jpg

Identifier: howtoplaybasebal01murn (find matches)
Title: How to play base ball
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Murnane, T. H. (Timothy Hayes), 1852-1917
Subjects: Baseball
Publisher: New York, American Sports Publishing Co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
ay. The third base-man need hardly play as deep as the first baseman, because hisis a long throw to first and there is always the danger of bunts.So much for the fielding of the positions. Then comes in the science of team play—what man shall coversecond, and whether to play for the batter or base-runner. Noset rule can be laid for much of this, and it is here the instinctof a ball player shows itself and the difference between goodand bad players is shown. My general rule is to play for thebatter unless the score is very close. In other words, do not tryso much to recover from harm already done as to prevent moreharm. So, unless the score is^ery close and it is near the endof a game, I never pull in my infielders for a possible play atthe plate, but rather play for the base-runner. The same applieson a single to the outfield. Forward the ball to second, and keepthe runner at first rather than try for a doubtful out at theplate. Of course, situations alter any such rule, and circum-
Text Appearing After Image:
NELSON, Down on one knee while fielding a ground ball. Poor form, as the ball plays the man, where the player should play the ball. How to Play Base Ball. ■ 91 stances may force an infield play close in, although the batterschances of cutting it through are greater. Whether the shortstopor second baseman shall cover second is a question determinedby team signals and is frequently changed. Often an opposingbase-runner will make a bluff to steal second, so his batter maysee which man is slated to cover the bag. The batter thentries to cut the ball through the prospective opening. This ispart of the science of the game. With one man on base, the play on a ball hit to second orshort is naturally to second base, with a chance for a double-play. But on balls hit to third, or first, the play is generally tofirst. With a man on first and third, unless the hit be very short,the play is to first or second, allowing the runner to score, forthe chances are he has a good lead and cannot be caugh

Note About Images