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 HOiA£ TO PL-KV 
 
 itki 
 
 
 HENRY CHAD-WICK, 
 
 With Instruction in the 
 
 Ml 
 
 MhM 
 
 *P^rt of pitching, i^n 
 
 r 
 
 ^F^IEl-DING.* 
 
 Batting and Base Running. 
 
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 r-^^r" A. G. SPALDING & BROS., ulT^ot:. | 
 
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 Eagle Press, Brooklyn, N, Y. 
 
Spalding's Special Hand ^ade 
 
 KANGAROO BALL SHOE 
 
 FOR 
 
 Professional Players. 
 
 No. 2-0, - - - Price, $7.00. 
 
 WE now have on the third floor of our New York Store a thoroug^hly 
 equipped Shoe Factory for the manufacture of fine Base Ball and 
 Athletic Shoes. This department of our business is under the immediate 
 charge and supervision of Wm. Dowling, who for several years past has 
 enjoyed the reputation of being the leading- maker of Atliletic Shoes in 
 New York. We employ in this department the most skilful workmen, and 
 use only the very best material and are prepared to take special orders and 
 make a special last for professional players. 
 
 The special attention of Ball players is called to our new genuine 
 Kangaroo Base Ball Shoe, which will be used this coming season by 
 the Chicago, New York, Detroit, and other prominent League p'ayers. 
 
 The above cut represents this Shoe, which is maae from selected 
 genuine Kangaroo skin, all hand sewed, slipper heel, cut low in front, and 
 wid<% so they can be laced tight or loose as the player hkes. 
 
 Each pair is provided with alligator laces, and the whole Shoe made 
 with reference to comfort and the hard usage required of it. 
 
 Our new Hand Forged Shoe Plates— for toe and heel— will be riveted 
 on when required, without additional expense. 
 
 HOW TO MEASURE. 
 
 MEASUREMENT BLANKS will be 
 
 furnishe > on application, or a player can 
 
 take a piece of manila paper ot sufficient 
 
 size, and by following the directions 
 
 herein eriven, can take his own measure: 
 
 Place the foot flat on the paper, and 
 
 with a 1 encil draw around the foot close 
 
 p » »TTTT V to it. Then take other measures as shown 
 
 [ANKLE in the cut. 
 
 left foot. 
 
 „„„, Ankle Inches. 
 
 ^^^^ Heel " 
 
 \^ ^/V INSTEP Instep " 
 
 ^-^ / %^ Ball 
 
 k Ball Ball Players will bear in 
 
 ^^ rriind that we make a special 
 
 last for each m^n, which 
 
 .-S will be kept for future use. 
 
 ^ Satisfaction both as to fit and 
 
 quality of shoe guaranteed. 
 
 CHICAGO. A. 6, SPALDING & BROS, new york. 
 
HOi/\Z TO RL-KV 
 
 BASE BALL 
 
 BY HENRY CHADW^ICK:. 
 
 COMPRISING 
 
 A TREATISE ON THE SCIENCE OF THE GAME 
 
 — WITH— 
 
 Special Chapters of Instruction in the Art of 
 
 Pitching, Fielding, Batting and 
 
 Base Running, 
 
 TOGETHER WITH 
 
 Hints on Playing Points in the Game — How to Manage 
 a Team— How to Captain a Nine, etc. 
 
 —AND THE- 
 
 PLAYING CODE OF RULES FOR 1889. 
 
 —WITH THE— 
 
 OFFICIAL EXPLANATORY APPENDIX FOR 
 THE USE OF UMPIRES. ^ 
 
 (COPVniGHTED) ( J[jM 6 1889 
 
 — V - .^^?/>^ 
 
 rURLISHED BY 
 241 Broadway, New York. 108 Madison St., Chicago. 
 
 ■h ~y^ 
 
HENRY CHAD WICK— "Father of Base Ball." 
 
 Henry Chadwick, the veteran journalist, upon whom the honored so- 
 briquet of " Kather of Base Ball " rests so happily and well, appears in 
 portraiture, and so well preserved is his physical manhood that his sixty- 
 three years rest lijjhtly upon his well timed life. Since the a^e of thirteen 
 he has resided in Brooklyn, New York, and is an honored member of the 
 distinguished Society of old Brooklynites. He entered upon the journalis- 
 lic career in which he has attained eminent distinction in 1856, his first work 
 finding a ready field on the New York Times. In 18^7 he associated himself 
 with the New York Cli/^per., and was identified with that journal steadily 
 for thirty-one years. After twenty-nine years of remarkable devotion to the 
 interests of morning journalism in the metropolis, Mr. Chadwick retired in 
 1886 to accept an editorial position on the Outing Magazine^ which, together 
 with his work on the Brooklyn Eagle ^ keeps his ready pen busy. He is one 
 of the most valued contributors on The Sporting Life staff, and his work in 
 other journals has made his name a household word as the "Father of Base 
 Ball." He comes from a famous family of English birth, his brother, Mr. 
 Edwin Chadwick, being the noted sanitary philosopher of England. Mr, 
 Chadwick has edited our League Guidf. since 1S80. 
 
 A. G. Spalding & Bkos., Chicago and New York, 
 
 S^^/c?^^- 
 
/ 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 In preparing Hit. 't of his standard works on the 
 
 tional game, Mr. Ciiadvvick has combined in one 
 "lume his two separate books on Pitching and Field- 
 ing, and Batting and Base Running, previously com- 
 prising Nos. 3 and 4 of our Library of Athletic Sports ; 
 and in doing this he has produced the most complete 
 manual of base ball yet published. 
 
 In the chapters on tiie art of pitching and fielding, 
 which comprise the powers of the attacking force in 
 the game, Mr. Chadwick presents a series of instruct- 
 ive articles on the work of the pitcher, in which are 
 shown the special methods of delivery, the philosophy 
 of the curve, the tactics of a strategist, headwork in 
 pitching, the effects of speed, throwing to bases, balk- 
 ing, pitching by signals, battery work, change of 
 pitchers, and the technical terms used in pitching. 
 
 In regard to the fielding there are special articles on 
 team work in fielding, the pitcher and catcher as 
 fielders, the infield, first base play, the second base- 
 man's work, third base play, short fielding, the out- 
 fielder's work, backing up, and throwing to first base. 
 
 Added to these are instructive chapters on scientific 
 batting, placing the ball, base hits and earned runs, 
 the right form for hitting, playing points on the pitcher, 
 the proper swing of the bat, facing for position, the 
 
4 PREFACE. 
 
 correct position in batting, the true criterion of eff ,ct- 
 ive hitting and sacrifice hitting, togetlier with the 
 latest points of play in base running. 
 
 This instructive work is the result of thirty years of 
 experience in reporting the leading contests each year, 
 as well as of work in formulating the rules of play in 
 the game as Chairman of the Committee of Rules of 
 the old National Association during the period of 
 existence. 
 
 A. G. SPALDING & P3R0S. 
 
 The following letter from Mr. John M. Ward is note- 
 worthy as emanating from so excellent a judge of the 
 game and so able a writer on the subject. 
 
 Hotel Marlborough, ) 
 New York, April nth. ) 
 Henry Chadwick, Esq.: 
 
 My Dear Sir: — I have read carefully your book on the arts 
 of pitching, batthig, fielding and base running. Your reputation 
 as a masterful writer upon every department of base ball is so 
 well known as to need no further endorsement. Yet I desire 
 to express to you my appreciation of the merits of the book 
 as an instructive and valuable work. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 JOHN M. WARD. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 In presenting a book of instruction for those de- 
 sirous of learning how to i)l;iy base ball, during such 
 an exceptional period in the history of the American 
 national game as that of the year 1889, unusual care 
 has to be taken in preparing the work, so as to grasp 
 every new point of play which has been developed 
 within the remarkably eventful decade in base ball 
 progress which marked the ten years prior to the year 
 1890, 
 
 In the earlier history of the game the task of pre- 
 paring a book of the kind was comparatively an easy 
 one. But base ball, as now exemplified by the leading 
 professional experts of the day, differs materially from 
 the base ball of twenty years ago, when books of in- 
 struction in the playing of the game were first issued. 
 In fact, base ball, as now played, has become an art, 
 and it is now a field sport calling for more manly 
 qualifications, mental as well as physical, than any 
 field game known to the Anglo-Saxon race, not ex- 
 cepting the noble old game of cricket. 
 
 Base ball in its early days was simply an active and 
 enjoyable field exercise, well adapted for youth, and 
 also for men of adult age whose sedentary business 
 habits rendered it necessary that for health's sake 
 alone they should participate in some recreative out- 
 
6 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 door game. But the base ball of the period has passed 
 its youthful days, and it is now in the full growth of 
 a sturdy manhood, which calls for qualifications to 
 excel in the game which men of healthy and strong 
 physique, steady nerves, and of mental ability alone 
 possess. In other words, base ball in its most at- 
 tractive form has ceased to be a boy's game, and now 
 stands forth as a field sport requiring manly (pialities 
 of the highest degree in every respect. 
 
 It is therefore no small task to prepare a complete 
 book of instruction for the acquirement of a full 
 knowledge of the art of playing base ball up to its 
 highest standard, and it is this which the author has 
 undertaken in presenting this latest of his works on the 
 national game, trusting that his earnest desire to ad- 
 vance its popularity and promote its welfare, as also 
 to develop its most attractive features to the fullest 
 extent, will compensate for any shortcomings in 
 other respects which may characterize any chapters of 
 the book. 
 
 This new work replaces the two books previously 
 issued by the publisher from the pen of the author, 
 and as a whole they form the most complete book of in- 
 struction and the largest manual of base ball yet 
 issued. 
 
HOW BASE BALL IS PLAYED. 
 
 There are two ways of learning to pla}- base ball; 
 the one is to learn it for objects of recreation and ex- 
 ercise, and the other in order to become a noted and 
 skilful professional exemplar of the game. The 
 former involves but little trouble, inasmuch as the 
 theoretical knowledge requisite for the purpose can 
 readily be acquired in an hour's study of any standard 
 work on the game, while an afternoon's practice on 
 the field, in an amateur contest, will afford all the 
 practical information necessary. To become a profes- 
 sional expert, howevei-, not only requires an attentive 
 study of all the rules and special points of the game 
 but also a regular course of training in order to fully 
 develop the physical powers, with a view to insure 
 the highest degree of skill in each and all of the 
 several departments of the game. This latter is a 
 task which demands persevering application, fatiguing 
 exertion, plenty of nerve and pluck, thorough control 
 of temper, considerable powers of endurance, and, 
 withal, the physical aptitude to excel in one or other, if 
 not in all, of the four special departments of base ball, 
 viz. Pitching^ battings base-runnings ixndjielding. 
 
 The theory of base ball is as simple as that of any 
 field sport in vogue, and herein lies one of its attractive 
 
8 HOW TO PLAY BASE BALL. 
 
 features. And yet to play the game up to its highest 
 point of excellence requires as great a degree of 
 mental ability, and the possession of as many manly 
 physical attributes, as any known game of ball. 
 
 THE THEORY OF THE GAME. 
 
 The theory of the game is simply as follows.: A 
 space of ground being marked out on a level field in 
 the form of a square, canvas bag bases are placed 
 on three corners of the square— or 'Miamond," as 
 it is technically called — and a home base of stone 
 or metal on the remaining corner ; the latter being 
 so placed as to form the head of the diamond 
 field. The contesting sides, comprising nine players 
 on each side, then toss up for the first innings, 
 and the winning side goes to the field, placing their 
 nine players in the following nine positions. 
 ^/•When the fielders have taken their positions and the 
 umpire is ready to discharge his duties, he calls for 
 the striker, and the batting side send their first man 
 to the bat. The pitcher then delivers the ball over 
 the home base, and within the specified reach of the 
 batsman (that is between the height of his knee and 
 his shoulder), and the latter tries to hit the ball out of 
 the reach of the fielders, so as to enable him to make 
 the round of the bases, from first base to home, before 
 he can be put out, in which case he scores a run. 
 Others of the batting side succeed each other at the 
 bat until three of them have been put out ; in which 
 case the first part of the first innings is ended and the 
 
HOW TO PLAY BASE BALL. 9 
 
 field side then take their first innings at the bat. This 
 is continued until nine innings on each side have been 
 completed, and at the end of the ninth even innings 
 the side scoring the majority of runs wins the game. 
 Appended is a complete diagram of a ball ground 
 with its ^' diamond " field, giving the figures of the 
 dimensions, etc., in accordance with the revised rules 
 for 1889. (See following page.) 
 
 THE PLAYERS IN THE GAME. 
 
 It is not within the scope of this work to refer in 
 detail to the qualifications necessary to fill every 
 separate position in the ball field, as the book is 
 intended more to give instruction in what may be 
 called the scientific points of the game. We, therefore, 
 refer briefly to what are considered as essential for 
 the players who comprise the occupants of the three 
 several departments of tiie field side in a game, viz : 
 the ^'' battery^' players, the infielders and the outfielders. 
 
 THE BATTERY. 
 
 The double team of players of a nine known techni- 
 cally as " the battery," comprise the pitcher and catcher^ 
 and these two players are to the balance of the 
 nine what the battery of a regiment is to the line of 
 infantry. In fact the pitcher is the main reliance of 
 the attacking force of the field corps, and on his 
 skill in the delivery of the ball to the bat the success 
 of the team as a whole largely depends. Of course, 
 in order that the battery be made complete, it is 
 essential that the catcher's work in receiving the ball 
 
CORRECT DIAGRAM OF A BALL GROUND. 
 
 LEFT 
 
 CENTRE 
 
 # 
 
 RIGHT 
 
 ./e 
 
 • % 
 
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 y 
 
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 5 PS 
 
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 J 
 
 17^ 
 
 
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 2 
 
 
 
 
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 ,.♦ CATCHER. 
 
 UMPIRE 
 
 CATCHERS FENCE. 
 
 / 
 
 \ 
 
 \ 
 
 \ 
 
 ..ro 
 
 
 □ 
 
 A. A. A. — Ground reserved for Umpire, Batsman and Catcher. 
 
 B. B. — Ground reserved for Captam and Assistant. 
 
 C. — Players' Bench. D.— Visiting Players' Bat Rack. 
 E.— Home Players' Bat Rack. 
 
HOW TO PLAY BASE HALL. 11 
 
 from the pitcher should bd well up to the standard of 
 excellence shown in the delivery of the ball itself. In 
 other words, the two players should be trained to 
 work together as a team, and not as two separate and 
 distinct players in their respective positions. 
 
 THE INFIELDERS. 
 
 The infielders of a nine are the immediate support- 
 ing force of the " battery ;" and they include the three 
 base players — first, second and third — and the short 
 stop or short fielder. While each of this quartette of 
 players has, in a measure, separate and distinct field- 
 ing duties to perform in their respective positions, 
 they form a special team, when ably captained — and 
 they work together as a whole in backing up each 
 other in their duty oi playing for the side. Of course, 
 when any one of the four ignores team work in his 
 play, and simply goes in to play for a record, the 
 harmony of the infield is broken up and the support 
 of the battery is weakened in proportion. 
 
 In the division of the special duties of the four 
 positions of the infield, the first baseman is required 
 to excel in securely holding swift and widely thrown 
 balls to him by the other three infielders; while the 
 other two basemen are more busily engaged in fielding 
 batted balls, and in throwing them to bases, or in 
 putting out base runners; the short stop being the 
 general backer-up of the infield and an assistant to the 
 pitcher. In the field work of this quartette of players 
 the second baseman holds the key position of the in- 
 field. 
 
12 HOW TO PLAY BASE RALL. 
 
 THE OUTFIELDERS. 
 
 The trio of outfield players of a nine differ from 
 those of the infield to the extent of their being 
 required to be long distance throwers, and especially 
 well up in judging and catching high fly balls to deep 
 outfield. Some years ago the left field position was 
 regarded as the most important in the outfield ; but 
 the advance in scientific play at the bat has brought 
 the rightfielder into a greater prominence, that posi- 
 tion now affording the most opportunities for fielding 
 assistance in throwing out base runners. It is a 
 necessity in team work in the outfield that all three 
 players should be on the qui vive the moment a ball is 
 batted to the outfield, to aid one another in its quick 
 return to the infield, backing up each other being as 
 important a feature of skillful outfielding as it is of 
 first-class infielding. 
 
 THE PRIMARY RULES OF PLAY. 
 
 The best way to impart instruction in regard to 
 playing the game is to describe the working of the 
 primary rules of play and this we now proceed to do. 
 
 When the fielders are in their respective positions, 
 the pitcher in his "box" and the catcher standing 
 about fifty feet back of the home base, the batsman 
 takes his position in his "box" and the umpire calls 
 ''play." In the first place the pitcher is required by 
 the rules to deliver the ball while standing within the 
 lines of his position so as to face the batsman, at the 
 same time holding the ball in front of him in sight of 
 
HOW TO PLAY BASE BALL. I3 
 
 the umpire. In doing this one of his feet must be on 
 the back line of his "box" position. In the act of 
 delivery he can take but one forward step. In deliver- 
 ing the ball he can either throw it, pitch \\.,jerk it, or 
 use a round arm form of delivery as in bowling in 
 cricket, provided that the ball does not touch the 
 ground before passing the home plate. Every ball 
 delivered by the pitcher to the bat which passes over 
 any portion of the home base, and at a height not 
 higher than the shoulder of the batsman nor lower than 
 his knee, is a fair ball, and must be struck at by the 
 batsman under the penalty of having " strikes " called 
 on him, and three such called strikes puts the batsman 
 out, just the same as if he had struck at three balls and 
 failed to hit any one of them. If the pitcher fails to 
 deliver the ball in the manner prescribed, and, instead, 
 sends them in above the shoulder of the batsman or 
 below his knee, or not over the home base, the penalty 
 of ^'called bails" is inflicted, and four such called balls 
 send the batsman to his base. The pitcher is also 
 ])enalized in case he delivers the ball illegally or fails 
 to deliver it after making one of the series of motions 
 he uses in his method of delivery, such penalized 
 action constituting a balk. In the case of an ^Hllegar 
 delivery the batsman is given his base as well as the 
 base runners occupying bases ; but ordinary balks 
 which do not involve the actual delivery of the ball to 
 tlie bat, only give runners on bases a base and not the 
 batsman. 
 
 The batsman is out when ""three strikes" have been 
 
14 HOW TO PLAY BASE HALL. 
 
 called on him; when the ball he hits in theairis^^caug/i^ 
 on the fly, ^' either "fair" or "foul;" when, in running to 
 first base after hitting a ''''fair ball,'' the ball be held by 
 the base player while some part of his person is touch- 
 ing the base bag before the runner touches it, or if the 
 batsman steps out of his box to strike at the ball, or if 
 he be touched by the ball in the hands of a fielder 
 when not touching the base bag, or if he strike at a 
 pitched ball out of his fair reach for the plain pur- 
 pose of hindering the catcher. But if in running to 
 first base the runner touches the base at the same time 
 that the ball is held there the runner is not out. 
 
 The moment a batsman hits a ball fairly, that is, 
 hits it so that it strikes the ground inside the boundary 
 lines of the diamond field, either between home base 
 and first base, or home and third, he becomes a base 
 runner^ and as a base runner he can be put out as 
 follows: First, for failing to reach first base before 
 the ball is held there; secondly, if the batted ball 
 rebounds from the fair ground and strikes him while 
 running; thirdly, if he be touched by the ball in the 
 hands of a fielder before reaching a base, or while 
 momentarily off a base which he is entitled to hold, or 
 while running to first base he runs outside of the speci- 
 fied base path to first base, or if he fails to avoid inter- 
 fering with a fielder in the act of trying to catch a fly 
 ball. In running to first base the base runner is 
 privileged to overrun that base, and he cannot be 
 put out in returning to that base after such overrun- 
 ning, unless he crosses the foul ball line in an effort to 
 
HOW TO PLAY BASE BALL. 15 
 
 run to second base on his hit. Or if, in running between 
 bases, he pushes a fielder out of his way who is in the 
 act of fielding a batted or thrown ball. 
 
 The moment the base runner reaches first base it 
 becomes his imperative duty to reach second base at 
 every risk short of a certainty of being put out. He 
 has no time to waste, for if the pitcher does his duty, 
 and sends in balls so as to force the batsman to strike 
 at them, the runner will find himself "forced" off his 
 base under too disadvantageous circumstances to avoid 
 being put out. The point is to be actively on the alert 
 to steal another base the moment the first base is 
 reached, and not to wait to be batted around. A 
 good base runner needs to have his wits about him all 
 the time, and to act promptly and without hesitancy. 
 In fact, a base runner who hesitates is lost. Base 
 runners must bear in mind that they have not the 
 right of way on the base paths when fielders are 
 fielding batted balls, as in such cases they must avoid 
 obstructing a fielder in any way. 
 
 Balls are batted "fair" or "^four' according as they 
 fall on fair or foul ground ; fair grou?id being that 
 portion of the field lying in front of the foul lines from 
 home base to the boundary of the field to the right or 
 left ; and foul ground sdl that portion of the ground 
 lying back of these lines. There is an exceptional 
 rule, however, in respect to foul balls, which makes a 
 distinction between a ball hit direct to the ground 
 from the bat, and that hit up in the air. In the for- 
 mer case if the ball is hit direct to the ground from 
 
l6 HOW TO PLAY BASE BALL. 
 
 the bat, and, after striking fair ground, either rebounds 
 or rolls on to foul ground it becomes foul, and if it be 
 similarly hit foul and then rolls or rebounds on to fair 
 ground it becomes fair; provided, that this change of 
 position of the ball occurs before the ball passes either 
 first or third bases. Under the revised rules of 1889, 
 the batsman cannot be put out by a caught foul ball 
 sharp from the bat while the catcher is standing up 
 close behind the batsman. 
 
 PROFESSIONAL BALL PLAYING. 
 
 Up to 1868 the laws of the then existing National 
 Association prohibited the employment of any paid 
 player in a club nine; but so strong did the rivalry be- 
 come between leading amateur clubs of the principal 
 cities where the game was then in full operation, that 
 the practice of compensating players had worked its 
 way to an extent which entirely nullified the law. 
 Finally at the Convention of 1868, the rule dividing 
 the fraternity into two distinct classes was adopted, and 
 in 1869, the first regular professional Club — the Cin- 
 cinnati Red Stockings— took their place in the arena, 
 and during the campaign of that year they 
 encountered every strong Club in the country from 
 Maine to California, and they met with such remark- 
 able success as to make their career in that year note- 
 worthy in the history of the game. 
 
 The success of the Red Stockings in 1869 led to the 
 organization of other nines of that class, and by 1871 
 the professional Clubs had become numerous and in- 
 
HOW TO PLAY BASE BALL. I7 
 
 fluenlial enough to establish a professional Associa- 
 tion of their own; and accordingly in that year the 
 first series of championship contests under a regular 
 ofificial code of rules was established, and since then 
 the professional contests have been the most interesting 
 base ball events of each season. 
 
 With the introduction of professional base ball play- 
 ing came sundry evils under the rule of pool gambling, 
 which at one time threatened the very existence of the 
 base ball fabric. This reached such a point of rotten- 
 ness that the patrons of the game at the professional 
 grounds became disgusted, and the interest in the 
 leading contests of the period fell off to such an ex- 
 tent that the prominent professional club men, finan- 
 cially interested, found that nothing but the most 
 stringent measures would save their clubs from bank- 
 ruptcy. It was at this time that the "National League 
 of Professional Base Ball Clubs" was organized, and in 
 1876 this League superseded the old Professional 
 National Association; and from its advent the evils 
 which had threatened the life of the game were gradu- 
 ally removed, as far as the prohibition of pool 
 gambling in connection with the game was concerned, 
 no pools being allowed to be sold on any League 
 Club grounds, or even open betting permitted, un- 
 der the penalty of the expulsion of the Club from the 
 League which disobeyed the mandate. But no sooner 
 was this trouble removed than a new abuse sprang 
 into existence, and that was the evil technically 
 known as ''revolving." The rivalry existing between 
 the League Clubs led to such efforts to strengthen 
 
l8 HOW TO PLAY BASE BALL. 
 
 their respective club teams that underhand methods 
 were used to induce strong players to secede from 
 their home clubs and join those of a rival club whose 
 financial resources were such as to admit of their pay- 
 ing higher salaries. This new trouble was increased 
 by the organization in 1882 of a rival professional 
 League known as the American Association; inasmuch 
 as after the National League Clubs had agreed not to 
 steal one another's players they offset their reform by 
 stealing those of the American Association Clubs. In 
 addition a revolt took place among certain leading 
 players, which was brought about by the adoption of 
 the rule of reserving certain players each season, and 
 through the revolt a new League was organized, known 
 as the Union Association, which offered a sort of sanc- 
 tuary for offending '' revolvers," alike from the 
 National League and the American Association. But 
 experience soon taught all three of the professional 
 associations that " revolving " was an evil that must 
 be done away with at any cost, so the National League, 
 the American Association and the Western League 
 formed a compact together known at first as the trip- 
 artite agreement, and afterwards as the " National 
 Agreement," by which they united their forces and 
 combined their interests in such a way as to deprive 
 the revolvers' organization — the Union Association — 
 of its means of existence, and finally it disbanded, the 
 League forgiving its offending players and taking them 
 one and all into camp again. From that time to the 
 present the League and the American Association 
 have stood shoulder to shoulder under the influence of 
 
How TO PLAY BASE BALL. IQ 
 
 the National Agreement, which was strengthened and 
 improved each year, until these two organizations 
 became the controlling legislative power of the entire 
 professional fraternity. Since this union for preserva- 
 tion occurred minor Leagues have sprang into exist- 
 ence under the sheltering wing of the two leading 
 associations, until the time arrived for the introduction 
 of one set of rules governing the entire professional 
 fraternity, and this is the position the professional 
 clubs and their Leagues and Associations occupy to 
 this day. The grand result of this union of forces for 
 the benefit of the majority his been to drive pool 
 gambling out of the professional arena, and to put an 
 entire stop to the revolving evil, and with this has 
 come implicit public confidence in the integrity of the 
 professional methods which now govern the fraternity 
 at large. 
 
 Professional ball playing has of late years taken 
 giant strides in popularity; and this advance has been 
 largely due to the fact that stock compiuiy base ball 
 organizations have found it absolutely necessary to 
 their pecuniary interests, in investing their capital, 
 that the game should be played in its integrity. 
 Honesty in the ranks was several years ago shown to 
 be not only the best policy to pursue, but a vital 
 necessity in the preservation of the very life of 
 professional playing. "Crookedness" among profes- 
 sional base ball players hai been weeded out from 
 the fraternity by strong coercive measures; and the 
 lesser evils which have brought discredit on the class, 
 are rapidly being eliminated from the game by 
 
66 HOW TO PLAY RASE BALL. 
 
 means of the repressive rules of the comprehensive 
 "national aofreemcnt," which joins ever\' well con- 
 ducted professional organization in a combined effort 
 to make professional ball playing an honorable oc- 
 cupation. 
 
 Within the last two or three years there has been a 
 marked improvement in the character and standing 
 of professluiial ball pla3'ers. Tempted by the lucra- 
 tive advantages of becoming a professional ball 
 player, young men of marked intelligence and of 
 superior education to the general class of the fraternity 
 have entered the arena, and with the advent of this 
 latter class of men has come a higher degree of in- 
 tegrity in the occupation. In fact, it is no longer 
 considered discreditable to engage in the occupation 
 of a j^rofessional ball player as it was a decade past, 
 when the professional exemplars of the game were a 
 few of them under the influence of the pool-gambling 
 element. And just here, let it be stated, that the 
 professional stock company organizations never ad- 
 ministered a severer blow to dishonesty in the ranks 
 than when they prohibited pool gambling on all 
 professional association club grounds. There never 
 has been, nor is now, a greater evil connected with 
 all American sports tnan tne curse of pool selling, 
 which is the blight of all honorable professional work 
 in sports of all kinds. Fo'-tunately our national 
 game is sufficiently attractive to draw crowded as- 
 semblages of spectators by its own healthy excitement, 
 without the extrinsic aid of the pool box to attract 
 large gatherings of peojole. 
 
THE ART OF i'lTCHING. 
 
 THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 THE DELIVERY OF THE BALL. 
 
 There are five distinct methods of delivering the 
 ball to the bat in base ball, the pitcher having the 
 choice of the simple toss of the ball, the Jerk^ the 
 regular pitchy or the underhand or overhand throw. 
 He also has the choice of the round-arm form of de- 
 livery, as practiced by the bowler in cricket. This 
 latter form, however, is rarely used. The prevailing 
 rule of delivery, is that of the underhand and over- 
 hand throw, the latter now being legal under all the 
 codes of rules. With the choice of such a variety of 
 forms of delivery at command, it will be seen that 
 the pitcher only needs to attain that degree of pro- 
 ficiency in pitching which will give him perfect con- 
 trol of the ball, as regards accuracy of aim, combined 
 with the power to impart that bias to the ball which 
 yields the puzzling curve in the line of its delivery, to 
 place him in the position of being able to take every 
 advantage of the additional aid strategy will give him 
 in fully acquiring the art of effective pitching. 
 
 The rule governing the pitcher in delivering the 
 ball to the bat is as follows : 
 
22 THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 " Rule i8. The pitcher shall take his position 
 facing the batsman with both feet square on the 
 ground, one foot on the rear line of the 'box.' He 
 shall not raise either foot, unless in the act of delivering 
 the ball, nor make more than one step in such delivery. 
 He shall hold the ball, before the delivery, fairly in 
 front of his body, and in sight of the umpire. When 
 the pitcher feigns to throw the ball to a base he must 
 resume the above position and pause momentarily 
 before delivering the ball to the bat.'^ 
 
 The correct definition of this rule is that the pitcher 
 is debarred from lifting the foot which rests on the 
 rear line of his position until the ball actually leaves 
 his hand. In fact, as it is from the pressure of this 
 foot on the ground which enables him to give the ball 
 its last impetus in delivery, it necessarily follows that 
 in lifting the rear foot before the ball leaves his hand 
 he takes two steps in the act of delivery, and this 
 double step the rule explicity prohibits. In feigning 
 to throw the ball to the base it will be seen that he 
 must immediately thereafter resume the original 
 position of standing squarely on the ground and 
 facing the batsman, and make a pause before attempt- 
 ing to deliver the ball to the bat. Should he feign to 
 throw to a base and then by the same motion throw 
 the ball to the bat, he violates the rule and commits a 
 balk. This violation of the rule is defined in Rule 32 
 which states that: 
 
 ''Rule 32. A balk is 
 
 Sec. I. Any motion made by the pitcher to deliver 
 
THE ART OF PITCHING. 23 
 
 the ball to the bat vviihoiit delivering it, and shall be 
 held to include any and every accustomed motion 
 with the hands, arms or feet, or position of the body 
 assumed by the pitcher in his delivery of the ball, and 
 any motion calculated to deceive a base runner^ except 
 the ball be accidentally dropped. 
 
 Sec. 2. The holding of the ball by the pitcher so 
 long as to delay the game unnecessarily ; or 
 
 Sec. 3. Any motion to deliver the ball, or the 
 delivering the ball to the bat by the pitcher when 
 any part of his person is upon ground outside of the 
 lines of his position, including all preliminary motions 
 v/ith the hands, arms and feet." 
 
 It will be seen that the pitcher is required to be 
 very guarded in his strict observance of this rule. The 
 penalty of a '' balk " is the giving of a base runner 
 occupying a base the succeeding base. 
 
 In the case of ^'' an illegal delivery'' of the ball tc 
 the bat the batsman also takes a base, but not other- 
 wise, and a ball is illegally delivered to the bat when- 
 ever the pitcher in the act of such delivery steps out- 
 side of his position ; takes two steps in delivery, or, 
 after feigning to throw the ball to catch a runner off 
 a base, fails to pause and take his original position be- 
 fore delivering the ball to the bat. 
 
24 THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 THE CORRECT POSITIONS- 
 
 The pitcher can no longer take up the old familiar 
 position in delivery in vogue prior to 1888, and which is 
 shown in the appended cut, a position which enabled 
 him to keep the ball behind his back prior to its direct 
 delivery 
 
 The above position, when about to deliver the ball, 
 is now prohibited, and he must stand in the manner 
 described in the new rule which says : "The pitcher 
 shall take his position facing the bats7nan, with both 
 
THE ART OF PITCHINCx. 
 
 25 
 
 feet squarely on the ground, the right foot on tlie 
 rear h'ne of the 'box.' This correct position is shown in 
 the appended cut." 
 
 Under the new code of rules of 1889 the pitcher 
 can place his rear foot on any part of the rear line, 
 and is not required to step forward and place his 
 right foot on the left of the centre line of his position 
 as under the code of rules of 1888. 
 
26 
 
 THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 In throwing the ball to the bat his position just as 
 he is about to take the forward step would be like 
 that .shown in the appended cut. 
 
 STRATEGY IN PITCHING. 
 
 "What is strategy in base ball pitching?" is a per- 
 tinent question. The reply is, that it is a resort to 
 legitimate artifice to deceive the judgment of the bats- 
 
THE ART OF PITCHING. 27 
 
 man. The priinary elements of successful strategic 
 play in pitching may be summed up inbrief as follows : 
 First, to deceive the eye of the batsman in regard to 
 the character of the delivery of the ball, as to its 
 being fast or slow. Second, to deceive his judg- 
 ment in reference to the direction of the ball when 
 pitched to him, as to its being high or low, or where 
 he wants it. Third, to w^atch the batsman closely 
 so as to know just when he is temporarily "out of 
 form" for making a good hit; and Fourth, to tempt 
 him with a ball which will be likely to go high from 
 his bat to the outfield and be caught. 
 
 The moment a strategic pitcher faces a batting 
 opponent he begins to study up the peculiar style of 
 handling his bat, with a view to discovering his weak 
 points in batting. He observes how he holds his bat 
 to begin with, and if he finds that it is not held so 
 as to be well poised over his shoulder, ready for an 
 effective forward swing to meet the ball, he counts it 
 a point in his fiivor. The same, too, if the batsman 
 holds his bat out in front of him, drawing it back as 
 he prepares to meet the ball. Then the pitcher 
 watches the character of the batsman's stroke, so as 
 to note whether he swings his bat forward with a 
 sharp, quick wrist stroke, or in the "slugging" style of 
 hitting at the ball from the shoulder. The former 
 style of stroke is likely to be effective against a 
 swiftly pitched ball, while the latter generally f^iils 
 unless designed to meet a comparatively slow ball. 
 Another strong point in strategic pitching is catch- 
 
28 THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 ing a batsman "out of form." In fact, the pitcher 
 should deliver the ball at the very outset with the 
 view of getting his man out of form, and this he 
 can generally do by sending in what may be termed 
 "aggravating balls," that is, balls near enough within 
 reach to make the batsmen want to hit at them, and 
 yet too far away for effective hitting. A ball close 
 in, followed by a wild pitched ball, keeps the bats- 
 man's nerves in tension ; and this, with his constant 
 expectancy of a good ball, and his disapponitment at 
 not getting one, causes him to become impatient, and 
 then he temporarily gets out of his position of 
 readiness to hit, and just then is the pitcher's op- 
 portunity for a quickly delivered ball over the base 
 and at the legal limit, and if this is " done well 
 when it is done" a calletl strike, or a poorly hit ball, 
 is almost an invariable result. The catcher's assis- 
 tance is needed in playing this jDoint, for unless the 
 catcher returns the ball to the pitcher quickly and 
 accurately, the latter cannot avail himself of the 
 chance to catch the batsman napping. The pitcher 
 should consider the batsman as one o^Dcn to a suc- 
 cessful attack whenever the latter relaxes his sharp 
 watching of the delivery of the ball, or fails to be in 
 perfect readiness to meet it. 
 
 Another very efTective point in strategic pitching 
 is a thoroughly disguised change of pace in delivery. 
 This is difficult of attainment, and as a general rule it 
 can only be played with effect on the careless class 
 of batsmen. It is absolutely requisite that the dis- 
 
THE ART OK PITCHING. 29 
 
 guise of the delivery should be complete, or other- 
 wise the batsman will have time to prepare himself 
 for the change of pace. The change from a very 
 swiftly pitched ball to a medium pace or slow ball 
 should' largely depend upon the condition of prepara- 
 tion the batsman is In to meet the ball. If he is seen 
 to be ready to make a quick wrist jolay stroke, then 
 a swift ball over the plate would not be timely. 
 Or if he is a "slugger" and is ready to hit from the 
 shoulder, a slow ball would be just what would suit 
 him. It is extremely bothering to the general class 
 of batsmen to have a swiftly pitched ball flash by 
 him when he is looking for a comparatively slow ball; 
 and, vice versa^ a slow ball proves troublesome when 
 the actions of the pitcher lead the batsman to expect 
 a fast ball. 
 
 It is a point of strategic play in pitching to avoid 
 sending in a ball which is over the base and within the 
 legal limit, as long as it can safely be done. When the 
 batsman is seen to be ready for a straight ball, the 
 pitcher should avoid sending the ball in over ''the plate." 
 When he does send it over the plate it should be when 
 the batsman is not ready to meet it. The point is to 
 keep the ball close to the limits but not within the 
 legal range, except when it becomes too costly not to 
 do so, and that is when three balls have been called. 
 If a batsman takes his stand in a leisurely kind of 
 manner, as if he was going to get ready to hit just 
 when it suited him and no sooner, it is safe to send 
 the ball in right over the plate at the outset, and 
 
3© THE ART OF PITCHING 
 
 within the lej^al range, liiit if the batsman is one who 
 gets right into form for hitiing the moment he takes 
 his stand, it is better to keep the ball wide of the 
 straight mark, even to the extent of having two or 
 three balls called, as then there is a chance of tiring 
 him out so as to break up his good form for hitting. 
 It is the part of a skillful strategist in pitching, never 
 to let his batting opponent see that he is ''rattled'^ 
 by " punishment," and this term " punishment," by 
 the way, does not mean base hits made from his 
 pitching without regard to the runs they may 
 yield being earned or not, but only base hits scored 
 before three distinct chances for outs off the pitch- 
 ing have been afforded the fielders and have not been 
 accepted. A pitcher is only '* punished " — in the 
 technical application of the term — when runs are 
 really earned off his pitching. Suppose the pitcher 
 sends in a ball which the batsman hits in the air and 
 which affords an easy chance for a catch, but through 
 bad play the chance is not accepted. And suppose 
 that the next batsman taking his stand has three 
 strikes called on him, and on the third strike the 
 catcher fails both to catch the ball, or to throw the 
 runner out at first base. And then suppose that the 
 third batsman hits a short ball toward third base, and 
 the ball is thrown too low or too high for the first 
 baseman to hold it in time, and the third chance for 
 m out is lost, and then base hit after base hit be 
 made. Such hits cannot justly be charged as punish- 
 
THE ART OF PITCHING. 3I 
 
 ing the pitcher, as, but for poor fielding, the side 
 would have been out without a run having been 
 made or a single base hit scored. Where failures of 
 this kind occur, they should not be allowed to discon- 
 cert the pitcher, nor cause him to be "rattled," as 
 they do not in the least militate against the effective 
 character of his work. But when base hits are made 
 and runs are scored before three plain chances have 
 been afforded the fielders for outs, then it is projDer 
 to charge the pitcher with punishment. Kven then 
 it is his point to play to control his chagrin at the un- 
 toward result, and to endeavor to make up for the 
 punishment by improved play in his position. This 
 however, can only be done through thorough control 
 of temper, aided by plucky, nervy, up-hill work in 
 recovering the lost ground. 
 
 The rule of success in strategic jDitching is never to 
 send in a ball to suit the batsman unless you are 
 obliged by the circumstances of the case to do so. 
 The strategist learn« how to pretend to do this with- 
 out actually doing it, and therein lies his art as a 
 strategist. 
 
 CURVING THE BALL. 
 
 The curve-line of delivery was first practically 
 developed in pitching, by Arthur Cummings of the 
 old Star nine of Brooklyn. It had frequently been 
 noticed that many players in throwing the ball in 
 from the out-field would throw it in in such a way as 
 to make it curve through the air, and in such a line of 
 
32 
 
 THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 motion as to prove conclusively that tlie curved line 
 was produced by some force other than the eflect of 
 the wind, or that of gravity. When this curve was 
 practically brought to bear in pitching, it led to quite 
 a controversy among scientific men in our colleges, 
 such a thing as a horizontal curve bemg imparted to 
 a ball in its passage through the air, having been re- 
 garded as an impossibility. It was conclusively 
 proved, however, by a practical test in Cincinnati, — 
 referred to elsewhere — and the solution of the problem 
 turned out to be a very simple matter. The introduc- 
 tion of the curve made quite a revolution in the 
 pitching department, and little else was thought of 
 for a few seasons, a.^an element of success in pitching, 
 until the batting began to recover from the demoral- 
 izing effect the curve had had upon it. Now, how- 
 ever, something more than either mere speed or the 
 curve has been found necessary to give the attacking 
 force a winning advantage over the defence in the 
 base ball field, and it has been found necessary to 
 combine strategy with the other essential elements of 
 success in pitching. As before remarked, the three 
 great elements of effective pitching in base ball, are: 
 First, thorough command of the ball, witho;'t which, 
 strategic play in the position is next to impossible. 
 Second, the power to send in the ball with speed, and 
 also the power to impart that peculiar bias or "twist" 
 to the ball, which produces the curved line in all its 
 variations: and Third, the endurance to stand the 
 fatigue of the work of swift pitching, and the 
 
THE ART OP PITCHING. 33 
 
 pluck and nerve to coolly stand the hot fire of the hit- 
 ting which marks a successful punishment of swift 
 curved pitching by experienced and skillful batsmen. 
 Combined with these is the sfreat essential of stratesfic 
 skill In pitching, without which element, no pitcher 
 can ever reach the goal of complete success in his 
 position. We shall take up these elements in regular 
 order, fully illustrating the merits and points of each 
 in a separate chapter. 
 
 COMMAND OF THE BALL. 
 
 The first essential in base ball pitching is a 
 iho7'ough cojnmand of the ball. A pitcher may 
 possess the power to pitch swiftly, to curve the ball 
 and the judgment to excel in strategy; yet of what 
 avail are these essentials unless he has thorough 
 control of the ball in delivery? Therefore the very 
 first thing a novice in the art of pitching should do 
 at the very outset of his learning how to pitch, is to 
 obtain complete control of the ball in pitching so 
 that he may be able to send it in just where he wants 
 it to go. Especially is this command of the ball 
 necessary in the use of the curve. Of what advantage 
 to a pitcher is the power to curve the ball, unless he 
 can control It so as to make his delivery accurate, or 
 to use it or not, as occasion may require? In fact, 
 the full effect of the power to curve the ball can only 
 be realized when that power is one the pitcher can 
 use at will. It is frequently as effective to temporarily 
 drop the curve delivery as It Is to send in the curve 
 
34 I'HE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 ball when it is not looked for. Then, too, it is essen- 
 tial to change the direction of the curve from an ''out- 
 curve" to an "in curve," and from an "up-shoot" to a 
 "down-shoot," and this can onl}- be done when the 
 pitcher has every such movement of the ball under 
 complete control. Pitchers frequently have full com- 
 mand of one kind of a "curve" or "shoot" of the ball, 
 while the other comes to them only by chance, as it 
 were. This fault should be obviated by a thorough 
 study of the subject, so as to remedy the difficulty by 
 becoming as familiar with one curve as with the other. 
 All this involves complete command of the ball and 
 this jDoint of effectiveness must be reached by attentive 
 and constant practice before the pitcher can fully avail 
 himself of the valuable assistance of stragetic play 
 in his position. 
 
 SPEED IN DELIVERY. 
 
 The effectiveness of mere speed in pitching depends 
 largely upon the character of the batting the pitcher 
 has to face, and also upon the ability of the catcher 
 to stand the hot fire of the delivery. Weak and 
 timid batsmen who fear the speed of the pitching too 
 much to be able to use their judgment in facing it, 
 and who only think of the best way to avoid being 
 hit, can readily be intimidated by ver}^ swift pitching 
 so as to be struck out with ease. But when a nervy 
 plucky batsman faces a swift delivery, and brings 
 his judgment to bear on the tactics of the attacking 
 force, it is found that mere speed costs more in wild 
 
THE ART OF FITCHixNG. 35 
 
 pitches, and called and passed balls than it yields in 
 outs or strikes. Besides which, such class of batsmen 
 frequently find opportunities to punish the mere 
 swift pitching by quick wrist-play batting long before 
 the third strike is called from it. In fact, speed in 
 delivery is only advantageous when it is made part 
 and parcel of strategic work in pitching, and not when 
 it is the only feature of a pitcher's work in the "box." 
 There were several very striking illustrations of 
 the inferiority of mere swift pitchers to strategists 
 in the "box" afforded during the season of 1888 
 strategy taking an important lead over mere speed in 
 delivery. 
 
 THE CURVE. 
 
 How to impart the bias to the ball which causes it 
 to make a curved horizontal line in its j-jrogrcss to 
 the bat, is a very important part of the practical 
 knowledge of the art of pitching. A glance at the 
 theory of the curve will enable the young pitcher to 
 get the idea as to how it is done, and then he can 
 very readily find out by practical experience the best 
 way to carry it into effect. The theory of making a 
 ball curve to the right or left horizontally in its pass- 
 age through the air, is based on the fact that there is 
 a retarding effect produced on that side of the ball 
 which passes through the air quicker than the other 
 side; and to produce this additional rapidity of motion 
 a rotary movement is given to the ball as it leaves 
 the pitcher's hand which causes it to revolve on its 
 own axis horizontally as it passes through the air; 
 
36 
 
 THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 and the natural effect is to retard its progress on one 
 side, thereby causing it to make a curved line in the 
 direction of the side on which it is retarded. That is 
 the theory of the hoiizontal curve in pitching. Iti 
 application in practice is to learn to give the ball the 
 necessary bias or rotary motion to the right or the 
 left in order to produce the in-curve or the out-curve. 
 For instance, the appended diagram illustrates the 
 lines of direction of a curved ball, the straight arrov\' 
 showing the forward motion of ball through the air, 
 and the bent arrow the rotary movement on the 
 ball's own axis. The bias to the rii^ht or the left, is 
 imparted by a movement of the wrist. It is impossi- 
 ble to describe tlie action of the hand and wrist in 
 imparting this bias to the ball, the only wa}^ of ac- 
 quiring a practical knowledge of it being by the 
 example of an exj^ert curve pitcher, or by testing it 
 by repeated trials until the curve is attained. The 
 diagram above referred to is as follows: 
 
THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 37 
 
 The methods of grasping the ball when about to 
 curve it are shown in the appended cuts: 
 
 IN CURVE. 
 
 OUT CURVE, 
 
 The effect of the bias given the ball in causing it to 
 make a curve to the right or left, is governed by the 
 speed of the delivery, as well as the rapidity of the 
 rotary motion of the ball on its own axis. Thus, as 
 the speed of the forward motion of the ball relaxes, 
 the bias given it begins to take effect, and just as the 
 rotary motion is rapid or moderate, so is the curve 
 greater or lesser. The great point in curve pitching is 
 to combine with the power of curving the ball that of 
 controlling its direction so as to send it in over the 
 home base, and within the legal radius as occasion re- 
 quires. It is comparatively easy work to send a ball 
 in fast, and at the samQ time to curve it to the right 
 or the left ; but the great point is at the same time to 
 direct it over the home base. Whenever a pitcher 
 possesses sufficient command of the ball to admit of 
 his sending in a swift curved line ball just where he 
 wants it to go, he becomes " a b.id man " for any bats- 
 man to face, provided, of course, that with such com- 
 mand of the ball he also knows how to avail himself of 
 skillful strategy in his pitching. 
 
38 THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 It should be borne in mind in using the curve that 
 the speed of the dehvery has a great deal to do with 
 the distance from the hand of the pitclier that the 
 curve in the line of the ball will begin to manifest 
 itself, as also the speed of the rotary motion of the 
 ball on its own axis. This is shown in the fact of the 
 difference between the curve of a ball pitched forward 
 swiftly, but with a comparatively slow twist imparted 
 to it, and a ball pitched forward at a medium pace 
 with a very swift twist given it. 
 
 The following is the theoretical description of the 
 curve : 
 
 The ball in its flight is retarded in its forward 
 motion by the resistance in the air, which acts upon it 
 precisely as though the ball were at rest, and the wind 
 blowing against it at a rate equal to the motion of the 
 ball. This exerts a pressure on the front of the ball 
 and a friction on its sides, just as the water so mani- 
 festly does upon a vessel. If the ball is merely mov- 
 ing straight forward, the friction is the same on top 
 and on bottom, right and left, and the effect is only to 
 slow the forward motion. But if the ball rotates as 
 well as moves forward, we have a changed relation — 
 a part of the ball's surface is moving against the air 
 with greater rapidity than the rest, as a diagram will 
 make clear. If the ball (or strictly centre of gravity) 
 is moving forward (let us say at the rate of one hund- 
 red feet per second), and at the same time it is revolv- 
 ing so that points on its equator are traveling around 
 its centre at an equal rate, it is evident that ^/is travel- 
 
THE ART OF PITCHING. 39 
 
 ing bachvard ^s fast as the ball, as a whole, moves 
 forward ; while b is moving forward at its own rate 
 plus that of the centre — that is, twice as fast as c. As 
 the friction of the air increases with the velocity of 
 the moving object, it must be greatest at b and least at 
 </, being really zero at d under the conditions given. 
 The b side of the ball is therefore retarded more than 
 the centre or any other part, while the d side suffers no 
 retardation. Tne result must be a curve toward the 
 retarded side. When the rotation is on a nearly verti- 
 cal axis, this effect will be at its maximum, and, ac- 
 cording to the direction of its "twist," the ball will 
 curve to the right or to the left— "^V or 'W/." 
 
 In this explanation the effect of gravity is assumed 
 to be nearly a constant force, and not knowing the 
 approximate velocity of "swift pitching," I do not 
 attempt to consider whether the resistance of the air 
 is proportional in this case to the first power, the 
 square or the cube of the velocity. These points can 
 affect the question of degree only. 
 
 This theory of the curving of the ball should be well 
 studied up by every pitcher desirous of improving 
 himself in his work. The more it is studied the more 
 will possibilities for new points of strategic play in 
 the position be developed. 
 
40 THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 THE VARIOUS DELIVERIES. 
 
 The following are professional instructions in the 
 del. very of the various curves. 
 
 STRAIGHT DELIVERY. 
 
 Grasp the ball securely between the first and second 
 fingers with the thumb on the opposite side, the other 
 fingers being closed in the palm of the hand. Deliver 
 the ball to the batsman with all possible speed, either 
 by a straight throw from the shoulder or by an under- 
 hand throw at a level with the waist. In this, as well 
 as all other deliveries of the ball, the pitcher should 
 exert himself to retain absolute command of the ball 
 if possible. 
 
 IN-CURVE. 
 
 Grasp the ball securely with all the fingers, the 
 thumb pressed firmly against the opposite side. 
 Throw the ball at a height equal to the shoulder, and 
 at the instant of releasing it from the hand twist 
 quickly outward, allowing the ball to twist off the ends 
 of the first two fingers. 
 
 OUT CURVE. 
 
 Secure the ball in the hand by pressing it firmly 
 between the first two fingers and the thumb, with the 
 third and little fingers closed in the palm of the hand. 
 In delivering the ball to the batsman throw the arm 
 forward midway between the shoulder and waist, and 
 at the moment of releasing the ball, turn or twist the 
 hand quickly to the left. 
 
THE ART OF PITCHING. 41 
 
 HIGH IN-CURVE. 
 
 Hold the ball between the first two fingers and the 
 thumb. Throw the arm forward with the hand above 
 the shoulder. Twist the hand downward smartly, 
 letting the ball roll off the ends of the fingers as the 
 grasp is released. 
 
 A RISING BALL. 
 
 In getting the " raise " the body should be bent well 
 forward, the ball taken the same as in out-curving, 
 bringing the arm close to the body and the hand 
 on a level with the knee, the ])alm of the hand turned 
 up, and the ball let go when the arm is at its full 
 length. The style of a delivery is very easy on the 
 arm. 
 
 A SHOOTING BALL. 
 
 This curve, or shoot, is produced by rolling the ball 
 offthetipsof the first two fingers^ with the palm of 
 the hand facing forward. The arm should be well 
 drawn back, and with a full swing brought forward on 
 a line with the shoulder; the elbow is bent in towards 
 and across the chest, at the same time bending the 
 wrist and shooting out the arm with the elbow turned 
 as much as possible to the left. The greater the speed 
 the more ''shoot" the ball will take, while too much 
 speed will take the curve entirely out of the " out " 
 and " drop " balls. 
 
 THE DROP BALL. 
 
 The drop ball requires more twisting of the body 
 and arm than the other curves, and few men remain 
 
42 THE ART. OF PITCHING. 
 
 long in the box who follow up this style of pitching. 
 The way of getting the drop ball is to give the arm a 
 jerk and send the ball more from the side. Bufhnton 
 gets his hand as high as his head, with a long swing, 
 shoots the ball from his thumb and two first fingers 
 with the palm turned up. He starts the ball as high 
 as the batsman's shoulder, and snaps it in such a 
 way that it seems to drop two feet in the space of two 
 yards. 
 
 It would seem that all tliese curves would make a 
 pitcher invincible, but they amount to little if the 
 man using them has not full control of the ball and 
 can disguise his delivery as well as change his pace 
 without the batsman noticing it. 
 
 DISGUISED CHANGE OF PACE. 
 
 One of the most elTective points of play in pitching 
 is a well disguised change of pace in delivery. 
 Nothing bothers a batsman more than to be prepared 
 to strike quickl}-- at a swiftly pitched ball only to 
 find that his stroke has been too quick to meet the 
 ball squarely on the face of the bat, owing to the 
 lessened sj^eed of its delivery. The same, too, when 
 in anticipation of a slow or medium paced ball he hits 
 right out from the shoulder, only to see the ball 
 flash by his bat at the utmost speed of the pitcher. 
 It requires a keen-sighted, nervy, and experienced 
 batsman to be ready to meet a well disguised change 
 of pace with any effect. Of course it will not do for 
 the pitcher to openly make a chan ge in the speed of 
 
THE ART OF PITCHING, 
 
 43 
 
 the ballj as all its efFectiveness lies in his deceiving 
 the judgment of the batsman as to the pace of the 
 ball. To make the preliminary movements of a 
 swift delivery, and then to be able to suddenly 
 lessen the strength of the throw, without any ap- 
 parent change of motion in the act of throwing, is 
 not a very easy task. It can be done, however, and 
 has been, and W'.th telling effect on the large majority 
 of batsmen. It is an especially effective point when 
 facing one of the class of heavy hitting batsmen, the 
 regular "slugging" home run hitters, who, as a 
 general rule know rather less about scientific batting 
 ihsLKx the youngsters of a school boy nine. 
 
 The pitcher should make a point of practicing this 
 change of pace so as to thoroughly disguise the differ- 
 ence in the speed of the ball. If done well and so as 
 to deceive the batsman's judgment as to the speed of 
 the coming ball it will invariably yield a strike 
 called, or an easy chance to throw the runner from 
 home base out. 
 
 An essential aid in making this change of pace is to 
 have a perfect understanding with your catcher as to 
 the code of signals which will indicate to him that 
 you are about to deliver a swift or a slow ball. This 
 code should be arranged beforehand, or otherwise, if 
 you send in a slow ball after a swift one, or vice 
 versa, your catcher will be likely to have a passed 
 ball charged to him. Of course the signals must be 
 disguised as well as the change of pace, or all the 
 strateofic effect will be lost. In changing from swift 
 
44 THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 to slow in your pace, see that your slow ball is not 
 such an one as would be likely to suit the batsman for 
 a favorite hit, or, if it be so, be sure that you have 
 your out-fielders prepared for the expected chance for 
 a catch. There is no virtue in a slow b;dl itself, but 
 only in the strategic skill accompanying its delivery. 
 In the old days of Martin's pitching of slow balls, 
 the effectiveness of his delivery was not in slow pace 
 of the balls he sent in, but in his never sending in a 
 ball to suit the batsman, it either being too far out or 
 too close in, or too high or too low. When he did 
 send in a slow, fair ball, it was when the batsman was 
 found unprepared to meet it. 
 
 CATCHING BATSMEN OUT OF FORM. 
 
 A very effective point in pitching is to watch the 
 movement of the batsman closely, while he is standing 
 ready to strike, so as to catch him unprepared to hit 
 a "straight " ball with any effect, the "straight ball " 
 referred to being a ball over the plate and within the 
 legal height. This catching the batsman out of form 
 invariably yields a called strike or an out. To play 
 the point effectually there requires to be an under- 
 standing between the pitcher and the catcher, not 
 only in order that the latter should be quick and 
 prompt in his return of the ball to the pitcher, but 
 that he should be on the alert for a rapid delivery of 
 the ball from the pitcher in return. All such quick 
 returns of the ball by the pitcher should invariably be 
 accompanied by balls over the base and within the 
 
THK ART OF riTCHlNG. 45 
 
 legal height, or the play will lose its point. In play- 
 ing this " out of form racket " on the batsman, it is 
 essential to watch the batsman closely and to note 
 when he becomes impatient in waiting for a specially 
 desired ball, and temporarily takes a rest, as it were ; 
 then it is that he becomes open to this point of attack ; 
 for he is then "out of form" for making an effect- 
 ive hit. In sending in the ball when a batsman 
 is thus caught out of form for good hitting, the 
 pitcher must invariably send the ball in "over the 
 base " and within the legal height, or his effort 
 to catch the batsman napping will fail. It will be 
 readily seen that marked command of the ball in 
 delivery is very essential in playing this point. Of 
 course tbe pitcher should watch the action of the 
 batsman closely so as to be sure that he is not "playing 
 possum" in pretending to be out of form when he 
 is really wide awake to the attack, for this is a point 
 for a skilful batsman to play on the pitcher. 
 
 PLACING FIELDERS FOR SPECIAL 
 HITS. 
 
 Nearly every batsman has what he considers as his 
 pet ball to hit at. In some cases it is a low ball, in 
 others a high one; but whatever kind of ball it is, it 
 is one which he has become accustomed to as a 
 favorite ball to hit at, and it is a point for the pitcher 
 to make to find out what it is, and when he does, to 
 place his field to suit the special hit, and then to 
 send in the pet ball for the batsman to hit at. The 
 pitcher must first ascertain, however, that the pet 
 ball is not one which yields a telling "grounder," but a 
 
46 
 
 THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 ball which almost invariably goes from the bat high 
 in the air to the outer field. The class of batsmen 
 who are most frequently caught napping in this way 
 are the hard-hitting or "slugging" class, who go in 
 more for home runs than for scientific batting. In 
 playing this point, too, the pitcher must be careful to 
 have his out-field judiciously placed, and to have re- 
 liable judges of catches in position. 
 
 CHANGE OF PLACE IN DELIVERY. 
 
 Wlien the pitcher finds himself facing a skilful 
 batsman, well up in strategic play in handhng the 
 
 ajh,he will frequently find it advantageous to change 
 the place of his delivery from the center of the "box" 
 to the right or left of it. On a calculation of the 
 swing of the bat meeting the ball at the home base, 
 a center delivery would cause the ball to be returned 
 almost direct to the pitcher. Supposing, however, 
 the delivery is from the extreme right of the "box," 
 and the ball should meet the same swing of the bat, 
 the return of the ball would be to tlie extreme left of 
 
THE ART OF PITCHING. 47 
 
 the box. This is shown in the diagram on the pre- 
 ceding page. Tlie dotted line shows the direction of 
 the ball from the bat. 
 
 Of course the position in which the batsman stands 
 changes the line of return of the ball materially. But 
 a point can be made from it by close study. 
 
 To get at the philosophy of this point the pitcher 
 will find it necessary to study the theory of properly 
 timing the hit in batting, which he will find illustrated 
 by diagrams in the chapter on batting. It is surprising 
 how much an intelligent pitcher will find to learn in 
 studying up the philosophy of pitching and batting, 
 that is if he desires to become a thorough expert, and 
 not a mere " machine " player. 
 
 PITCHING FOR CATCHES. 
 
 It is frequently a good point for a pitcher to play 
 to pitch for catches ; tha.t is, to send in good balls to 
 the bat which will tempt the batsman to hit them 
 high in the air, and then lay his whole field out for 
 catches. Care, however, needs to be taken in playing 
 this point, so as to be pretty certain that the pitching 
 is faced by a poorer class of batsmen than ordinary. 
 It won't do to try this dodge on first-class batsmen, 
 for it would be soon taken advantage of and at con- 
 siderable cost of base hits and earned runs. The 
 batsmen most likely to fall into a trap of this kind 
 are those of the class of "' sluggers " who go in for 
 hard hitting and home runs at all costs. Those who 
 wait for good balls and who are content with earning 
 a single base by their hits, are not a safe class of bats- 
 
48 THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 men to pitch to for catches. With the heavy hitting 
 class, however, it is a pretty safe game to play, pro- 
 vided that the pitcher has a sufficiently extensive out- 
 field at command to admit of his men standing out far 
 enough for the longest hit balls. In cases where the 
 outfield fence is too close to the diamond, and long 
 hit balls are likely to go over the fence, pitching for 
 catches will not pay. 
 
 CHANGE OF PITCHERS. 
 
 The revised code of playing rules admit of the sub- 
 stitution of a new phiyer in the nine in two instances. 
 P'irst, in the case of a player who may be disabled 
 from active work in the field by illness or injury; and 
 secondly, in the selection of a reserved player, whom 
 the Captain of the field nine has the power of placing 
 in the field as a substitute for any player he desires to 
 put off the nine, not on account of illness or injury 
 but for strategic purposes. But it is required by the 
 rules that nine men must constitute the field force, and 
 no less number can legally be played in the field, and, 
 of course, no greater number. It therefore follows 
 that the Captain of the nine can change his pitcher — 
 that is, substitute another one of his nine players as 
 pitcher in the place of the regular pitcher — at his 
 option. It is customary, as a point to play, to have 
 a "change pitcher" in the nine, so that in case the 
 regular pitcher becomes "rattled," or is being badly 
 ^'punished" by the batsman, a change of pitchers may 
 be made with the view of keeping up the effec- 
 tiveness of the attack. Of course as a point 
 
THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 49 
 
 to be played, the change pitcher should be one 
 who is different in his style of delivery, or in the 
 method of his peculiar tactics, for therein lies the ad- 
 vantage of the change. If a skillful strategist in the 
 position should find himself temporarily overpowered 
 by a strong assault from the batting force, a change 
 of pitchers which would substitute a swift machine 
 pitcher, frequently proves advantageous. While, on 
 the other hand, if the latter style of pitcher is the 
 "regular" man in the position, and he is being pun- 
 ished by the batsman, a change from the machine 
 pitcher to the strategist comes into play with excel- 
 lent effect. The point to be considered in changing 
 pitchers, is, how to break up the feeling of confidence 
 in hitting which the batting force benefits by when 
 they are enabled to punish the pitching, and the 
 change which will best do this is the change to be 
 made. The reputation which a pitcher has in the fra- 
 ternity, goes a great way in breaking up the confi- 
 dence in hitting which batsmen suddenly attain in 
 a match, for the batting force will frequently face 
 a man comparatively unknown as a pitcher, with a 
 degree of confidence which Is not felt when they face 
 a noted pitcher. And it sometimes happens, thatan 
 inferior pitcher will temporarily prove effective in the 
 position in breaking up confidence in hitting, where 
 a better pitcher wUl fail. All these points should be 
 taken into consideration, not only when making a 
 change of pitchers, but also, when placing a change 
 pitcher in the nine to be used in case of need. 
 
CO THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 THROWING TO BASES. 
 
 A point of play, peculiar to old time pitchers, was 
 that of throwing to bases to catch a base-runner nap- 
 ping off the base. Experience, however, has so 
 plainly shown that throwing to bases should be 
 exceptional and not general, that it has gone out of 
 use to a considerable extent. Of course it will not do 
 for a pitcher to neglect throwing to bases; but it 
 should only be done when he is very proficient in it, 
 and never except by signal from the catcher. Under 
 the existing rule applicable to balking, throwing to 
 base by the pitcher has to be done very carefully in- 
 deed, as regards the movement in throwing, in order 
 to avoid the penalty for balking. The pitcher, in fact, 
 can only safely throw to a base, while standing in the 
 box, before he has made any single one of the move- 
 ments he is accustomed to make preliminary to his 
 delivery of the ball to the bat. Accurate throwing 
 to a base trom the pitcher's position is difficult of at- 
 tainment. As regards throwing to first base, that is 
 the easiest base to throw to, and third base the most 
 difficult. Taking the average result of throwing to 
 bases, reliable data show that it is five to one in favor 
 of the base-runner. The rule is to watch the bases 
 closely, and make a frequent show of throwing, but 
 only to let the ball go when a throw will be almost sure 
 to tell. Under the new "National Rules" for 1889 
 throwing to bases by the catcher will have to be very 
 expertly done to be effective. 
 
THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 A CATCHER'S ASSISTANCE. 
 
 Pitchers should bear in mind the important faci 
 that, no matter how slvillful they may be in the dcHv- 
 ery of the ball to the bat, they must be largely de- 
 pendent for success upon the character of the assist- 
 ance rendered them by their catcher. It is especially 
 a matter of the first importance to a strategic pitcher 
 that he should have a first-rate man behind the bat to 
 second him in all his little points of play. For this 
 reason is it that pitchers and catchers should always 
 work together in pairs. They should be familiar 
 with each othei-'s 23ecuiiar methods of playing their 
 respective positions. A first-rate catcher for one 
 pitcher might be almost useless for another, as far as 
 helping the pitcher in strategic play is concerned. 
 Each should fully understand the other's signals in a 
 match — the catcher those of the pitcher, so as to be 
 able to be prepared for a sudden change of pace; and 
 the pitcher those of the catcher, so as to know when 
 the latter wants his partner to pitch for throwing to 
 bases; for it is almost impossible for a catcher to do 
 his best in throwing to bases unless the pitcher sends 
 him in balls especially for that purpose. A jDitcher 
 must largely d<.-pend upon his catcher in playing the 
 point of catching a batsman " out of form," for unless 
 the catcher is quick in returning the ball to the 
 
52 
 
 THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 pitcher the chance to play the point i-^ lost. Then, 
 too, the catcher can materially aid the pitcher when 
 the former happens to know the peculiar style of his 
 batting opponent and the latter does not, by signaling 
 to him what kind of ball to send in. 
 
 BASE RUNNER'S DODGES. 
 
 Of course the pitcher will not be allowed to mo- 
 nopolize all the dodges and tricks of the game in 
 playing points upon his adversaries in the diamond 
 field: and among the latter who will avail themselves 
 of artifices to bother and confuse the j^itcher in his 
 work, are the base runners; and the pitcher, when 
 antagonized by wil)' base runners, must learn to 
 school himself to a condition of apparent iiidifFerence 
 to the working of their little "racket." One of the 
 most trying positions a pitcher has to encounter in a 
 contest is that which occurs when a runner has se- 
 cured third base before a single man of the batting 
 side has been put out. This position of things is ag- 
 gravated when, at the same time, there is another 
 runner occupying first base and endeavoring to engage 
 the pitcher's exclusive attention in order to enable his 
 companion runner at third base to get home and 
 score his riui. This is a situation which tries the 
 nerve of a pitcher, and he never displays his skill in 
 pitching more prominently than when he manages 
 to keej) the runner on third until the side is put out, 
 and his base running adversary at third base thereby 
 gets left. In fact, this is a pretty good test of a 
 
THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 53 
 
 pitcher's talent as an able strategist. No mere machine 
 pitcher can accomplish this feat; it requires a man 
 well versed in " headvvork" pitching to do it. 
 
 CONTROL OF TEMPER IN PITCHING. 
 
 There are certain games in which thorough con- 
 trol of temper is as necessary to success as special skill 
 in any department of the game, ajid this is an import- 
 ant essential in base ball. And in no position in the 
 diamond field is it more requisite than in that of the 
 occupant of the pitcher's " box." The pitcher who 
 cannot control his temper is as unfit for his position 
 as is a quick-tempered billiard player to excel as a 
 winner in professional contests. Quick temper is the 
 mortal foe of cool judgment, and it plays the mischief 
 with that nervy condition so necessary in the develop- 
 ment of skillful strategy. The pitcher must of neces- 
 sity be subject to annoyances well calculated to try 
 a man's temper; especially when his best efforts in 
 pitching are rendered useless by the blunders of 
 incompetent fielders, or he finds himself at the mercy 
 of a prejudiced umpire. But under such trying cir- 
 cumstances his triumph is all the greater if he can 
 pluck victory out of the fire of such opposition. 
 
 PITCHING AGAINST THE UMPIRE. 
 
 The experience of pitchers has taught them that, 
 as a general rule, Umpires are but fallible beings, and 
 ti~.at their errors of judgment frequently militate 
 
54 THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 greatly ag-ainst the success of a pitcher who avails 
 himself of his skill as a strategist in the position. It 
 frequently, therefore, becomes a point to play on tlie 
 part of a pitcher to "pitch for the Umpire" in a match 
 as well as against the batsman; and by this nothing 
 is meant in the way of making that im^portant oiBcial 
 the pitcher's adversary, but, on the contrary, to work 
 on him in such a manner as to fjain his sfood will to 
 the extent of inducing him to decide in favor of the 
 pitcher rather than the batsman when there is a doubt 
 in the matter of rendering a decision. 
 
 For instance, when the pitcher sees that the Um- 
 pire is more concerned about avoiding being hit by 
 the ball, rather than about the accuracy of his rulings 
 in calling "balls" and "strikes," he should avoid, as 
 much as possible, sending in balls which are neither 
 directly over the base nor yet so clearly not over 
 as to leave a doubt as to the line of their delivery; 
 because under such circumstances all such doubtful 
 balls are apt to be more frequently called against the 
 pitcher than in his favor. Nervy and plucky Um- 
 l^ires who can coolly use their keenest judgment when 
 facing the hot fire of a swift delivery, are sadly in the 
 minority; and when a pitcher finds himself in the 
 hands of an official who is apt to be disconcerted at 
 times, he must suit his 23itching to the exigencies of 
 the case, and, to a certain extent, jDitch for the Umpire, 
 and not so as to annoy or intimidate him. Moreover, 
 it is the height of folly on the part of a pitcher to 
 work against the Umpire by repeated appeals for 
 
THE ART OF PITCHING. cr 
 
 judgment on strikes, as it is simply a tacit questioning 
 cither of his judgment or his impartiaHty. The pitcher 
 should, by word as well as action, give the Umpire 
 cO understand that he has implicit faith in his impar- 
 tiality, and relies fully on the soundness of his judg- 
 ment, and if he can make just such a tavorable 
 impression on the Umpire as this apparent faith in 
 liis ability leads to, the calling of balls will not be as 
 fiequent as called strikes. A pitcher who, by word 
 or action, incurs the prejudice of an Umpire in a 
 riuitcli, is simply working against his own interests. 
 To play points against the Umpire is simply to out- 
 wit his judgment, and to avoid giving him any cause 
 for irritation or ill will. 
 
 BALKING. 
 
 The fewer motions a pitcher has in delivery the less 
 time the batsman has for judging the character of the 
 ball ; besides which the base runner from first base to 
 second is afforded less opportunity for successfully 
 running his base when the pitcher has but few pre- 
 liminary motions in pitching to the bat. 
 
 Some pitchers have twice the number of motions in 
 delivery when there are no runners on the bases to 
 the number they have when one or more of the bases 
 is occupied. The best plan, however, is to accus- 
 tom yourself to a regular method of delivery involving 
 the fewest motions possible. As a general rule a num- 
 ber of preliminary motions in delivery fail to trouble 
 any but a very poor batsman. In fact, they only serve 
 
56 THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 to make him more on tlie alert in watching the ball 
 than he otherwise would be. 
 
 The new rules governing balks are so worded as to 
 render it difficult for a pitcher to escape making a balk 
 in throwing to bases, unless he makes his throw to the 
 base before preparing to deliver the ball. A pitcher 
 makes a balk under the new rules if he makes any one 
 motion of the series he is accustomed to make in de- 
 livering the ball to the bat. For instance, if he stands 
 with his left leg bent at the knee ready for the pre- 
 liminary step, and then moves to throw to a base he 
 necessarily commits a balk, as he makes one of 
 the niotions of liis feet the same as in delivering 
 the ball to the bat. Therefore, in order to throw 
 to a base he must stand with both feet on the ground 
 just the same as he does when throwing to a base 
 after fielding a ball from the bat. The most effective 
 way of throwing to bases is to stand up straight and 
 ready to throw to first base while looking at the 
 catcher and awaiting the latter's signal 
 
THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 57 
 
 The above cut illustrates this preparatory ])osilion. 
 BATTERY WORK. 
 
 The pitcher and catcher in base ball are technically- 
 called the " battery," and this team of two players 
 are the main reliance of the attacking force in a con- 
 test. An effective pitcher is a tower of strength in 
 himself, and a good catcher is almost equally as valu- 
 able, but unless they work together as a " team " they 
 
58 THE ART OF MTCHIXG. 
 
 divide their strength and weaken their power in 
 proportion. Pitchers and catchers should always work 
 together in pairs. They should he familiar with each 
 other's peculiar methods of playing their respective 
 positions. A suitable catcher for one i^itcher, might 
 be comparatively useless for another as far as helping 
 the pitcher in strategic play is concerned. Each 
 should fully understand the other's signals in a match 
 — the catcher those of the pitcher, so as to be able to 
 be prepared for a sudden change of pace, and the 
 pitcher those of the catcher, so as to know when the 
 latter wants his j^artner to pitch for throwing to 
 bases; for the jiitcher should know that it is impos- 
 sible for a catcher to do his best in throwing to bases, 
 unless the pitcher sends him in balls especially for 
 that purpose. 
 
 An essential point in the formation of an effective 
 "battery," is to pair the two men well together. 
 Two mere "machine" players in the positions — that 
 is, pitchers or catchers "svho never use "headwork" in 
 their play — w^ill never work well together, nor will 
 two strategists together fully develop the full 
 strength of a "battery," as the former pair will only 
 do mere mechanical work, and the latter are too likely 
 to conflict in particular ideas as to which are the most 
 effective points to play. 
 
 PITCHING BY SIGNALS. 
 
 The pitcher and catcher should have a code of 
 signals between them, and thev should practice these 
 
THE ART OF PITCHING. rg 
 
 signs until they can read them as easily as their 
 letters. Thus, when the catcher sees an opportunity 
 for the pitcher to catch a base player napping off his 
 base, a certain signal should be given by which th& 
 pitcher may understand that he is to throw to the 
 base promptly. Again, if the pitcher is familiar with 
 a certain habit of the batsman before him of hitting 
 at a favorite ball, he should give the catcher a sign 
 informing him that he is going to send in a slower or 
 swifter ball or a higher or lower one than ordinarily 
 is pitched. 
 
 Suppose, for instance, that the striker, who has 
 either been put out, or has made his base, was one to 
 whom swift balls had been sent, and that his successor 
 is one whom slow balls bother, the pitcher gives a 
 sign to the catcher — one, of course, that cannot be 
 observed by his opponents — to come up closer to the 
 bat, thereby informing the catcher that he Is going to 
 drop his pace in delivery; the batsman, not being 
 aware of the proposed change, prepares himself to 
 meet the same class of balls which were pitched to 
 the batsman preceding him, and the result is, that 
 the change of pace leads him to strike too quick at 
 the ball. Of course, if this change had been indicated 
 to the batsman by the call of the pitcher to the 
 catcher to stand up close behind for the change of 
 jDace, the batsman would have been placed upon his 
 guard, and thereby would be prepared for the change; 
 but this exposure of the design of the pitcher is 
 prevented by the private signal, and the judicious 
 
6o THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 manner in which the change is carried out. Just so, 
 loo. is it when a change from slow to swift deHvery 
 is made, a private signal intimating to the catcher to 
 get back for swift balls. The catcher, too, should 
 have a similar understanding with the out-fieldcrs 
 who should watch him closely when a new batsman 
 takes his stand at the home base — so that when any 
 change of delivery by the pitcher is made, the catcher 
 by a certain signal can either send the out-fielders 
 further out or closer in, according as the chances of 
 a long high ball or a short one from tho batsman 
 are most probable. This strategical style of play is 
 a great aid to success in all cases, but especially 
 against inexperienced players, who do not perceive 
 the "nice little game" that is being played upon them, 
 
 AN ILLEGAL DELIVERY. 
 
 The penalty of giving the batsman a base for an 
 illegal delivery of the ball to the bat is applicable 
 under the following violations of the balk rules. The 
 pitcher illegally delivers the ball to the bat as follows: 
 Firstly^ when he takes more than one step in deliv- 
 ery. Secondly^ when he fails to take his stand to 
 deliver with his pivot foot on the rear line of his posi- 
 tion. Thirdly^ when he fails to hold the ball in plain 
 sight of the Umpire when taking his stand to deliver 
 it. Fourthly^ when he steps outside the lines of his 
 position, and Fifthly when he fails to make a pause 
 after feigning to throw to a base to put a runner out. 
 All these violations of the balk rule, too, give all base 
 runners a base as well as the batsman. 
 
THE ART OF PITCHING. 6l 
 
 It will be seen that the pitcher now has to be on his 
 guard against making the following costly errors in 
 delivering the ball to the bat. Firsts against giving 
 a base on called balls. Second^ against hitting the 
 batsman with a pitched ball. Third, against giving 
 base runners bases on a balk, and Fourth, against 
 giving the batsman a base on an illegal delivery, 
 
 THE RANGE OF THE BALL IN 
 DELIVERY. 
 
 An advantage the new rules give a pitcher lies in 
 the abrogation of the rule which allowed the bats- 
 man to call for a "high^' or " low " ball at his op- 
 tion. Under the new rule governing the range of a 
 fair ball in delivery, the pitcher fulfills the requirement 
 of the rule if he sends in a ball so that it passes over 
 the home base, anywhere above the line of the bats- 
 man's knee, and not higher than the line of his 
 shoulder. This rule does away with the difficulty 
 the pitcher encountered under the previous rules of 
 sending in waist-high balls, a ^^ high " ball beginning 
 just above the line of the waist, and a "low" ball 
 just below such line. This compensates for the re- 
 duction of the called balls. The legal range in pitch- 
 ing under the new code is shown in the appended cut 
 on page 62. 
 
62 
 
 THE ART OF PITCHING. 
 
 HINTS TO PITCHERS. 
 
 Out of Form. — When a pitcher sees a batsman 
 standing carelessly at the bat and unprei)ared for the 
 ball, a quick delivery will catch him *' out of form," 
 and get a strike called or a poor hit from his failure 
 to be ready to strike properly. 
 
 Out Curve. — A ball which curves out from the 
 batsman's position as it passes the home base. 
 
 Pitcher's Points. — These are the four iron quoits 
 laid down on the four corners of the pitcher's posi- 
 tion. 
 
 Punishing the Pitcher. — The pitcher is '* pun- 
 ished " when the balls he ])itches to the bat are easily 
 hit to the field in such a manner as to prevent them 
 
THE ART OF PITCHING. 63 
 
 from being fielded in time to put either the batsman or 
 base-runners out. No pitcher is " punished " simply 
 because runs are easily scored by his opponents 
 through errors, but only when bases are earned by 
 clean hits off his pitching before three chances for out 
 are offered off the pitching 
 
 Pace. — This is the technical term applied to the 
 degree of speed with which the ball is pitched to the 
 bat. There are three degrees of pace, viz., Swift, 
 medium and slow. 
 
 Rising Ball.— A ball which rises on the line of its 
 delivery to the bat. 
 
 Unfair Ball is a ball delivered by the pitcher 
 that does not pass over any part of the home base, or 
 does not pass over the home base within the legal 
 range. 
 
 Wide Pitch. — This term is applied to a ball which 
 is pitched over the catcher's head out of his reach, 
 or so wide of his position, on one side or the other, 
 as to be just as much out of reach as in the first in- 
 stance. 
 
 Before closing the chapters on pitching we wish to 
 call the special attention of pitchers to Dr. A. H. P. 
 Leuf's valuable treatise on The Hygiene for base ball 
 players, published in Philadelphia, and for sale at 
 Spalding & Brothers. It is a scientific work which dis- 
 cusses the causes and treatment of the disabilities of 
 pitchers in the failure of their pitching curves. The 
 chapter on curve pitching is the most scientific treatise 
 of the kind yet published. 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 THH ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 Sk. Infill fielding is by all odds the most attractive 
 Icatiirc of the national game. It is something all 
 can appreciate and imderstand. While scientific bat- 
 ting is only appreciable by those who fully imder- 
 stand the difficulties attendant upon it, fine play in 
 the field can be enjoyed by every spectator, its beauties 
 being as plainly apparent as is the characteristic blun- 
 dering in the field of a mere novice in the art. In 
 batting, however, while the great majority fully enjoy 
 the dashing, splurgy, long-liit ball which yields a 
 home run, it is only the minority who have sufficient 
 knowledge of the "points" in the game to appreciate 
 the scientific work of "facing for position," "timing 
 the swing of the bat," "observing good form," and 
 other i\ke points in team-work at the bat. But in 
 fieldir.g, everyone in the general crowd of spectators 
 knowy when a fine "pick-up" cf a hot grounder is 
 made; or when a hot "liner" is handsomely caught 
 on tlie fly; or a short high ball is held after a long 
 run in for it from the outer field; or when an appar- 
 ently safe hit to right field is changed into an out at 
 first base by the active fielding and quick accurate 
 throwing in of the ball to the first baseman by the 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 65 
 
 right-fielder. Then, too, the brilliant catching of the 
 sw.!ft curved line balls from the pitcher by the catcher, 
 and the splendid throwing of the latter to the bases; 
 all these teatures of sharp and skillful fielding are 
 evidences of good work which the veriest novice in 
 the crowd can understand and appreciate. Hence it 
 is that fielding is at once the most brilliant and at- 
 tractive feature of base-ball. 
 
 There is no department of the game, however, 
 which requires more attention in the way of training 
 to excel in it, than fielding does. A good fielder must 
 be lithe of limb and with every muscle trained for 
 active work in jumping, running, stooping, throwing, 
 and, in f:ict, in every muscular movement which good 
 practice in a gymnasium develops to advantage. In 
 other words, a first-class fielder in base-ball must be 
 a well-trained athlete. In no other field game of 
 ball is fielding skill so essential to success as in the 
 game of base-ball. In cricket a player may be valu- 
 able both as a bowler and batsman, and yet be but 
 an indifferent fielder. In lacrosse, if the player is a 
 swift sprint-runner his ability in other departments 
 is regarded as of secondary importance; while, in 
 football, daring pluck and wrestling powers are the 
 most important elements in giving him the suprem- 
 acy in the game. But in base ball, if the player fails 
 to excel as a fielder his value as a member of the 
 team depreciates fifty pev cent. In fact, in no posi- 
 tion in the game can a base ball player excel to an 
 extent sufficient to make him useful unless he is fully 
 
66 THE v\RT OF FIELDING. 
 
 up to the required mark in fielding skill. Then, too, 
 it should be borne in mind that it is fielding that 
 is the chief element of success in winning games. 
 Given a first rate "battery" in a team, and half its 
 value is lost unless it be backed up by first-class field- 
 ing support. And the team may be noted for having 
 two-thirds of the nine remarkably effective in hand- 
 ling the ash, ami yet if they are below the mark in 
 fielding skill, nearly all the advantage they derive 
 from their^good batting will be lost. 
 
 There are certain qualities a man must possess before 
 he can go into field-training with any hope of attain- 
 ing proficiency — he must be able to throw well, as 
 regards both distance and accuracy; he requires pluck 
 to face hard-hit balls; the judgment to know what 
 to do with them when he fields them ; the quickness 
 of perception and the nerve to act promptly in criti- 
 cal emergencies; and the endurance to stand the 
 fatigue of the work in the most important of the sev- 
 eral field positions. Now, in batting, the veriest 
 novice can with straight pitching hit a long ball to 
 the outfield; all that is required is plenty of muscle 
 and a keen eye. Of course, practice will make him 
 hit with more accuracy, but nevertheless he can hit 
 the ball without practice; but no novice can go into 
 the field and handle the ball properly. Here practice 
 is needed before anj' degree of proficiency is reached, 
 no matter how physically capable a man may be to 
 excel in the field. As between batting and fielding, 
 too, in which both the batsman and the fielder are 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. 67 
 
 practiced experts, there is far more attraction to the 
 looker-on in seeing a fielder pick up a "hot grounder" 
 handsomely, throw it accurately to the baseman, and 
 to see it well held by the latter in time to put the 
 base-runner out, than is possible from the mere act 
 of hitting the ball to the field. The only attractive 
 feature of batting, in reality, is when the batsman is 
 faced by a strategic pitcher, and the former outwits 
 the latter, and secures an unquestioned base-hit, de- 
 spite the best of pitching and the sharpest of fielding. 
 But as this is rather exceptional work in batting, 
 while sharp fielding is the general rule in the field, 
 the fielding naturally presents the most attractions to 
 those of ihe spectators who are capable of judging of 
 the true merits of the game. 
 
 Fielding has made rapid strides toward perfection 
 within tlie past decade, and especially within a year 
 or two. There is more system about it than there 
 used to be. Last year, for instance, saw more of 
 
 that special element of success in fielding good 
 
 "backing-up" — exhibited, than ever before. There 
 was more "playing for the side" in the fielding of 
 1888 than in any previous season's work; and this 
 important matter, too, is far more frequently seen in 
 fielding than in batting. In batting, the rule is to 
 play for one's individual record, because playing for 
 the side is more self-sacrificing in batting than in 
 fielding. In fielding, you really help your record 
 more by playing for the side than for a special record; 
 hence, "playing for the side" is necessarily more prac 
 ticed in handling the ball than in wielding the bat. 
 
68 THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 CHANGING POSITIONS IN FIELDING. 
 
 One of the greatest mistakes a player can make is 
 to leave a position he has learned to excel in, ni order 
 to attempt to excel in another. It requires years of 
 practice in base-play to become familiar with all the 
 points of any one of the three positions — all three 
 having- their peculiar characteristics, differing mate- 
 rially from each other — and for a man who for years 
 has been playing in one position, and who, in that 
 position, has got everything down to a spot, to go to 
 anolher one and attempt to equal his play in the one 
 he has left, is something one player out of a hundred 
 cannot do. Certain men take to certain positions in 
 the game of base ball naturally, as Creighton took to 
 pitching; and some take to base-play more readily 
 than to outfielding or catching or pitching, and when 
 a man has found his place he is unwise to leave it to 
 seek new laurels in another position. 
 
 There are three special departments of a base ball 
 team, viz. : The "battery" players — the pitcher and 
 catcher; the infielders, viz., the three basemen and 
 the short-stop; and the outfielders, viz., the left, cen- 
 ter and right fielders; and in commenting on the 
 essentials of success required in each, md also on the 
 points of play peculiar to each individual j^osition, we 
 shall begin with the "battery" players; and in refer 
 ring to these players we shall only comment on that 
 part of tlieir duties directly connected with their field- 
 ing skill in their respective positions, those of the 
 pitcher consisting of his ability to field and catch 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING, 69 
 
 balls from the bat, and to throw them accurately to 
 the bases; while those of the catcher are comprised 
 in the success of his efforts, not only to do the same 
 thing, but also in catching and stojiping balls sent in 
 to tlie bat by the pitcher. 
 
 BATTERY FIELDING. 
 
 THE PITCHER AS A FIELDER. 
 
 The first requisite of a pitcher, as regards his abil- 
 ity to excel in fielding in his position, is the possession 
 of courage and pluck in facing hard hit balls from 
 the bat which come direct to hini. No pitcher can 
 fully avail himself of his good judgment in strategic 
 skill in pitching who has any fear in facing " hot " 
 balls from the bat. At the same time he may pos= 
 sess the requisite courage to meet such hard hit balls 
 and yet not be amenable to the charge of being 
 afraid to face a hot fire of such balls, because he 
 deems it wise at times to dodge some exceptionally 
 hot liner, or other. What we refer to is, the courage 
 which does not allow him to flinch from an endeavor 
 to stop or catch the ordinary class of hard hit balls. 
 The assistance a pitcher is credited with when the 
 batsman strikes out has nothing to do with his regu- 
 lar fielding assistance; nor are the errors charged to 
 him on " called " or wild pitched balls anything to 
 do with his direct fielding errors, the latter including 
 only dropped fly balls, muflfed or fumbled balls from 
 the bat, and wide throws to basemen. The fielding 
 points a pitcher is called upon to attend to includes 
 his running to first base to hold the ball when the 
 
70 THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 first baseman deems it necessary to field the ball him- 
 self and to throw it to the pitcher on the base. Also 
 in the case of a "foul strike," a "foul" hit ball not 
 caught on the fly a "dead" balK or a base runner 
 put out for allowing a fair hit ball to strike him, and 
 also in the case of a "block " ball, the pitcher must 
 hold the ball while standing zvitkin the lines of his 
 position^ before the ball is regarded as in play ; and 
 therefore in all such cases he must, after fielding the 
 ball, or after it has been thrown in to him, run to his 
 position and hold the ball while in the box before at- 
 tempting to put an opponent out. Under the Na- 
 tional code of rules the pitcher must avoid sending the 
 ball in so close to the line of the batsman's position as 
 to run the risk of hitting him, as his doing so leads to 
 the batsman's taking his base on such ball striking 
 his person whether it hits him solidly or not, pro- 
 vided the batsman makes due effort to avoid being 
 hit without being obliged to leave his position. 
 Under the rules of iSS6 the League code did not 
 give a base unless the hitting of the batsman was 
 intentional. This made the law a dead letter. The 
 pitcher must therefore see to it that in pitching 
 wide of the base, either as a point of play or from in- 
 accuracy of delivery, that he takes care to avoid 
 pitching the ball over the line of the batsman's posi- 
 tion, for this he has no right to do, and if done, and 
 the batsman be hit in consequence, the Umpire must 
 regard it as an intentional act. In running in to take 
 high fly balls, whether balls which are likely to fall 
 in front of the foul lines or directly behind them to 
 the right or left of the catcher, the ^Ditcher should be 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. 'Jl 
 
 sure of catching such halls or he should give way to 
 the catcher or the nearest in fielder. Moreover, he 
 should very seldom back far from his position toward 
 second base in trying to catch a high fly ball as the 
 chance of his making such a catch in comparison 
 with that of some other one of the infielders is not 
 good. Another point to play by the pitcher in field- 
 ing is always to bear in mind the existing situation of 
 affairs in the in-field every time he pitches a ball, so 
 as to be as prompt as possible in fielding the batted 
 
 ball whether picked up off the ground, taken on the 
 
 bound, or caught on the fly — so as to throw it at once 
 to the right position. Suppose, for instance, a runner 
 is on second and but one man out, and the batsman 
 sends the pitcher a hot bounder, and the latter turns 
 round to catch the runner from second napping, the 
 point to play in this instance is, to drive back the 
 runner — not forced off — to second by feints of throw- 
 ing there, and yet be in time to throw the striking 
 runner out. Should there be runners on first as well 
 as second base when such a ball is hit, however, the 
 pitcher then should not hesitate a moment, but 
 promptly throw the ball to the third baseman so as 
 to insure the " force oflf." The correct thing in doing 
 this is to be ready to do it the moment the ball is hit. 
 Such readiness is the result of being fully aware be- 
 forehand as to what the exact situation is ; if you do 
 not realize the position when the hit is made, the 
 chances are that when you turn to look where to 
 throw to, you will besitate in your choice until too 
 
72 THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 late to throw either one runner or the other out. 
 The excellence of the point of play lies solely in the 
 readiness of the pitcher to comprehend the exact sit- 
 uation of things when the hit is made. 
 
 Though it is the duty of the short-stop to act as a 
 sort of tender to the pitcher, the latter should never 
 depend entirely upon such assistance, but attend to 
 the ball himself when there is any possible chance of 
 hastening a play by it. It is far too rare a thing to 
 see a pitcher doing double duty, as it were, by his 
 quick movements in fielding infield balls himself 
 which are not generallv regarded as balls to be fielded 
 by the pitcher. It is " pretty work " in a pitcher 
 when he is unusually active in backing up the first 
 and third base positions when ground balls are hit 
 near either of the boundaries of those bases. And it 
 is quite the reverse to see a pitcher stand within the 
 lines of his position almost indiflferent in his eflforts to 
 field balls which do not come direct to him. .It is 
 this which shows the diflference — as far as fielding 
 can show it — between the pitcher who goes in for 
 team work and to " play for the side," and the pitcher 
 who is merely playing for a record of assistance on 
 strikes. 
 
 THE CATCHER AS A FIELDER, 
 
 Catching behind the bat has come to be almost as 
 important a position as that of the pitcher himself. 
 There is a wonderful contrast in the play of the 
 catchers of the present day and the comparatively 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 73 
 
 THE CATCHER 
 
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 jf|\W, 
 
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 A 
 
 
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 ^7 ~ 1 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^^, i 
 
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 r L^^rr 
 
 
 
 
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 tf^ " ' %~ '^^ 1 
 
 ^ ^~^ 
 
 l^^^sl 
 
 ^^^ShS^^^c^ 
 
 ^^^ — ^- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 AND HIS ACCOUTREMENTS. 
 
74 THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 simple work the catchers of the old times had to 
 attend to in their positions. When one thinks of Char- 
 ley De Bost's easy task in facing Stevens' pitching in 
 the old Knickerbocker Club days of 1857; *^^' ^^ ^^'^^ 
 catching of Gelston of the old Eagles from Bixby's 
 pitching; or that of Ed. Brown of the Eckfords from 
 Frank Pidgeon's delivery; or of the graceful Masten 
 of the old Putnams, in catching for Tom Dakin; or 
 of Boeriim in attending to Mat. O'Brien's pitching; 
 all these lights of the old fraternity ^^ pale their inef- 
 fectual fires" before the splendid work of the leading 
 catchers of the National League and the American 
 Association of the present period. To stand 
 up close behind the bat and face the hot fire 
 of a swift curve pitcher, even when the balls 
 come within comparatively easy reach, is no small 
 task ; but to do this, and also be keen-sighted 
 and active enough to catch the stray wide balls 
 which come almost between the legs of the batsman, 
 as it were, requires the most skillful play known to 
 the position. When it is considered what the duties 
 of a first-class catcher are under the present high 
 standard of play, it is not to be wondered at that 
 really "A No. i" catchers are at a premium. Some 
 are noted for their pluck, nerve and skill in playing 
 up close to the bat, and in taking those dangerous 
 looking fly-tips; others for their agility and judgment 
 in securing difficult foul balls; others, again, for their 
 swift and accurate thi'owing to the bases; and still 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. 75 
 
 Others for their plucky endurance of punishment in 
 supporting a wild delivery. But where is the catcher 
 who combines in himself all these essentials of first- 
 class i^lay behind the bat? Echo answers: "Where?" 
 In our book on " The Art of Pitching" we pointed 
 out the absolute necessity of possessing control of 
 temper in order to excel in the position. This essen- 
 tial is equally requisite in a catcher as in a pitcher. 
 It is, we know, pretty trying for a catcher, while he 
 is striving his best behind the bat, to find a pitcher 
 venting his ill-humor on him because the pitching is 
 being punished, or a chance for a difficult fly-tip hap- 
 pens to be missed; but to get vexed at this kind of 
 thing only results in a catcher's weakening his play. 
 Anger clouds the judgment, unstrings the nerves, and 
 mars the sight; and, the moment a player loses con- 
 trol of his temper, away goes with it that presence of 
 mind so necessary in playing base ball up to its high- 
 est standard. 
 
 Of the noted catchers of ten years ago the fine 
 work done by White — Spalding's catcher in 1875 — 
 presented noteworthy features worthy of copying. 
 His forte was his remarkable reticence and wonder- 
 ful activit^^. He presented quite a model for catchers 
 in his style of handling the ball — that is, in his method 
 of making his hands a sort of spring-box, by which 
 he lessens half the force of the blow in holding it 
 from a swift delivery. His agility, too, was especially 
 noteworthy. But what we admired about his play 
 was his quiet, effective way of doing his work. 
 
y6 THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 "Kicking" is something unknown to him. And just 
 here in parenthesis let us say that there is one thing 
 in which White stands pre-eminent, and that is that, 
 in integrity of character, he is a model player. Not 
 even the whisper of suspicion has ever been heard 
 against "Jim White." Herein lies as much of his 
 value in a team as in his great skill as a player. This 
 is a fact that club-managers thoroughly appreciate, 
 as can be judged from the excellent selections made 
 by the club-managers for 1889 It certainly inspires 
 confidence to be able to insert in their circulars to the 
 public a few remarks proving that " reputation is dear 
 to players," etc., but it is no more so than it should 
 be; dollars, no matter how obtained, are of less value 
 to players than reputation, and when this is apparent 
 to the public they will accept the fact that all the 
 skill a player possesses is put forth in every game. 
 
 A feature of first-class catching is a prompt and 
 accurate return of the ball to tiie pitcher. This is as 
 important for effective play as is a rapid delivery by 
 the pitcher; we don't mean as regards pace, but in 
 sending in balls in rapid succession, by which the 
 batsman is obliged to be on the alert all the time, 
 v^ith but little opportunity afforded for leisurely judg- 
 ing the balls. Some catchers hold the ball, after re- 
 ceiving it from the pitcher, for some time, with a 
 view of throwing it to a base, or being ready for that 
 play. But the best plan is to promptly return it to 
 the pitcher, unless a base runner has started to run on 
 the actual delivery of the ball. We have seen many 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. 77 
 
 a base stolen while the catcher has thus held the ball, 
 apparently In readiness for a throw. A prompt re- 
 turn bothers a base runner, especially if the return 
 throw is swift and accurate to the pitcher. But the 
 main value of it is that it enables the pitcher to play 
 his strons: point of catching the batsman napping by 
 a rapid return of straight balls when the batsman is 
 not ready to strike. Spalding was the first to intro- 
 duce this style of catching, in aid of his pitching, and 
 he got many a strike out of it through White's quick 
 returns. 
 
 There Is one thing a catcher should not be held 
 responsible for, and that is the costly consequences of 
 a reckless delivery of the ball by a pitcher who lacks 
 judicious control of temper. There is something 
 outside the line of duty a catcher is called upon to 
 perform. He may be required to support wild pitch- 
 ing, while he is removed from the responsibility of 
 the errors immediately resulting from it; but he can- 
 not be bound to support the reckless delivery of a 
 bad-tempered pitcher. It is very easy to say that a 
 catcher ought to be able to do this, that and the 
 other, in his play behind the bat; but there is a limit 
 to the work a first-class catcher- should be held re- 
 sponsible for, and that limit does not include the 
 errors plainly traceable to a reckless delivery. 
 
 The habit some catchers have of showing off their 
 skill as swift throwers to bases is a bad one. All that 
 is necessary to be done in the way of this throwing 
 to bases when men are close to their base, is that of 
 
yg . THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 showing the runners that you have good throwing 
 at command, and that it will he necessary for them to 
 take no risks. There is but one base a catcher can 
 throw to with any degree of accuracy, and that is 
 second base. There may be an exception to this 
 rule, but it is rarely seen. Throwing to first base is 
 the least advantageous throw made by a catcher, and 
 throwing to third is next. Throwing to short-stop 
 requires swift and accurate work and a quick return 
 of the ball home, to be successful; and the short 
 throws to second, to catch a player running home 
 from third, is risky work, not one throw in four of 
 this kind succeeding. As a general rule the catcher 
 who confines his throwing to one position, viz., that 
 of second base, will do far more work in catching 
 base runners napping, than one who throws to all 
 bases with the same frequency. 
 
 A vile habit which some catchers are prone to m- 
 dulge in is that of growling at umpires and disputing 
 their decisions, or ill-naturedly questioning their judg- 
 ment. This is something a first-class catcher is never 
 guilty of, his silent acquiescence in the decisions of 
 umpires being a creditable feature of his jolay. Aside 
 from the fact that it is illegal and unfair, it is the 
 worst habit a catcher can indulge in, for growling 
 only increases the prejudice of the umpire and con- 
 fuses his judgment, and his errors are sure to tell 
 against the grumbling catcher's side. 
 
' THE ART OF FIELDING. 79 
 
 BASE PLAY. 
 
 The three positions occupied by the first, second 
 and third basemen require Jifferent quaUfications to 
 excel in them, though all need certain abilities alike 
 In all three positions opportunities are offered fordis- 
 tinct and local points of play. The duty of the first 
 baseman is mainly to securely hold balls thrown to 
 him while he has one foot touching the base; while 
 that of the second baseman is chiefly to touch players 
 as they run from first to second; the third baseman 
 finding his principal work to consist of stopping hotly 
 batted balls, catching high foul balls with a great 
 twist given them by the bat, and in keeping players 
 from running home, while trying at the same time to. 
 put strikers out running to first base. 
 
 But these things are but the foundation work of 
 the occupants of the three positions. Base players 
 are the defenders of the citadel of the field, and each 
 and all of them require to be first-class men in re- 
 gard to their activity and alertness of movement; 
 their courage in facing and stopping hard-hit balls, 
 and their ability to throw swiftly and accurately for 
 the distances required infield work. 
 
 The first base can be best occupied by a left-hand- 
 ed player, as the hand most at command with such 
 players faces the balls going close to the line of the 
 base; while a left-handed player is decidedly out of 
 place at' either of the other infield positions. Oi late 
 seasons it has been the custom to cover the open gap 
 between first and second bases by making the second 
 
8o THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 baseman play at "right short;" but this has left a safe 
 spot for sharp grounders close to second base, while 
 it has also drawn round the short stop to second, and 
 the third baseman to short-field to such an extent as 
 to make hitting of ground balls near the line of third 
 base a sure style of batting for earned bases. 
 
 FIRST BASE PLAY. 
 
 All basemen should be good ball catchers, but the 
 occupant of the first base should specially excel in 
 holding the swiftest thrown balls. He should, also, 
 be fearless in facing hot balls from the bat, and expert 
 in taking balls from the field, while holding one foot 
 on the base. When a ball is hastily thrown to first 
 base, his care should be to hold it, but at any rate to 
 stop it. A good first base player ought to be able to 
 hold a ball from the field, if it comes in anywhere 
 within a radius of six feet from the base, and in case 
 of high thrown balls he ought to take them at least 
 eight feet high from the base. He must remember 
 that the ball must be held by him — with some part 
 of his person touching the base at the same time — 
 before the striker reaches it, or the latter is not out; 
 if the ball is held at the same time, the base runner 
 is not out. Some first base players have a habit of 
 taking their feet off the base the moment the ball 
 has been held, and this frequently leads them to do 
 so before holding the ball, or so quickly as to look so 
 to the umpire, and the result is, that the striker is 
 declared not out. In receiving a ball from the field, 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. 8l 
 
 the first baseman should stand on the base in such a 
 manner as not to prevent the runner from reaching 
 his base, as the umpire is justified in regarding any 
 obstruction of the kind by the base player as inten- 
 tional, if it could readily have been avoided, though 
 the baseman may not have intended to obstruct bis 
 opponent, or prevent him from making his base ex- 
 cept by legitimate means. In taking his position in 
 the field, he should stand about twenty or thirty feftt 
 from the base toward the right field, and between 
 the first and second bases, until the ball has been hit, 
 when he should at once take his position with one 
 foot on the first base, ready to receive the ball from 
 the field. In taking his position for fielding, he will, 
 of course, be guided by the style of batting opposed 
 to him, standing further out in the field or closer to 
 the base, according to the balls the batsman is in the 
 habit of hitting. He should keep his eyes open for 
 chances in points of play, especially when players are 
 forced to vacate bases. Thus, for instance, suppose 
 there is a player on the first base when a ball is struck 
 to the pitcher and it is held by him on the bound, 
 should the pitcher forget to pass the ball to second 
 base and send it to first base instead — the runner 
 standing on the base in the interim instead of run- 
 ning to the second base — the point of play for the 
 baseman would be to take the ball from the pitcher 
 while off the first base, and first touching the player 
 standing on the base, put his foot on the base with 
 ball in hand, thereby making a double phiy; for 
 
82 THF, ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 though the base runner was on the base when 
 touched, he had no legal right to be there, inasmuch 
 as the batsman, not being put out, forced the base^ 
 runner to leave the base, and he — the base runner — 
 had no title to the first base until the batsman was 
 put out. Had the baseman, in the above instance, 
 touched the base first, with ball in hand, and then 
 touched the player on it, the latter would not ha-ve 
 been out, as, the moment the striker was put out the 
 base runner ceased to be forced to leave the base. 
 Similar points to this can frequently be made when a 
 player is on the first base and the batsman hits a high 
 ball, as the former, in case the ball is caught, has to 
 return to first base, and in case it is missed is forced 
 to leave for the second base, and is, therefore, very 
 likely to be put out there. When an overthrown ball 
 to first base is stopped by the crowd in any way — ac- 
 cidentally or intentionally — he must first throw it to 
 the pitcher's position before he can use it to put a 
 player out; and he should also remember that no ball 
 hit by the batsman on which a balk has been called, 
 can put the striker out no matter if held on the base 
 in time, or caught on the fly. 
 
 The first baseman requires to be well posted as to 
 how far it will be safe for him to leave his base to 
 field a slow rolling ball, which does not go within the 
 fair reach of either the pitcher or second baseman. 
 In regard to this point, it is known that there is a 
 certain kind of ball just hit quietly along the ground 
 to the center of a triangle formed by the positions of 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. 83 
 
 the pitcher, first baseman and second baseman at 
 right short field, which ahnost invariably giv(i>; first 
 base to an active runner, simply because it is a ball 
 which tempts the first base player to try and field it 
 himself, and all but old hands get trapped by it. Last 
 season we saw several first base players try to field 
 such short balls, and in nearl}^ every case they failed. 
 First-class basemen judge tliese balls admirably, and 
 such leave them to the pitcher or second baseman to 
 field to them unless they happen to come within a 
 certain distance which the baseman knows he can 
 get to and back before the batsman can travel from 
 home to first. It is worthy of remark that these 
 short hit balls are entitled to an earned base, no mat 
 ter how poor the hit may look. No hit, be it re^ 
 membered, is a "poor one" which allows the batsman 
 a fair chance to earn his first base, while no matter 
 how showy a hit may be, if it aflTords a chance for a 
 catch, at the hands of a sharp and active fielder, it is 
 a "poor hit." 
 
 THE SECOND BASEMAN's POSITION. 
 
 We now come to the second baseman's position, 
 and as far as base playing is concerned, it is one of 
 the most important positions in tl-we game. In tact, 
 there is no position in the infield which requires 
 more judgment in its occupant than does that of the 
 second base. The first baseman is, in a measure, 
 limited in his sphere of operations, and so is the third 
 baseman to a less extent. But the second baseman 
 
§4 THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 has the whole of the middle infield to cover, and by 
 alack of judgment he can readily give base after 
 base to his opponents. The fact is, it requires a man 
 of more tact and skill to fill this position than it does 
 that of almost any other on the field, excepting, of 
 course, the pitcher. Out-fielders have only to attend 
 to their duties in catching and throwing, and the 
 other basemen in special duties like that of the first 
 baseman in holding balls thrown simply to him, and 
 that of the third baseman in looking out for high 
 foul balls. But the second baseman has to be equally 
 expert in holding swiftly-thrown balls, and in look- 
 ing out for high fly-balls, while he has, in addition, 
 to be very quick in putting a ball on a baseman, and 
 as active in backing up as the short-stop is required to 
 be; and he has especially to be sharp in judging of a 
 batsman's peculiar style of hitting, so as to be on the 
 lookout to stop hot grounders passing near his base, 
 or to catch high balls over the heads of the in-fielders 
 intended to be safe hits. He is required, also, to 
 cover second base and to play " right short stop," but 
 his position in the field must be governed entirely by 
 the character of the batting he is called upon to face. 
 If a hard hitter comes to the bat, and swift balls are 
 being sent in, he should play well out in the field, 
 between right field and second base, and be on the 
 qui vivc for long bound balls or high fly balls, which 
 drop between the out-field and the second base hue. 
 When the batsman makes his first base the second 
 baseman comes up and gets near his base in readiness 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. ^5 
 
 to receive the ball from the catcher. He should 
 remember that in a majority of cases his duty is to 
 touch the base runner, and this it would be well to 
 do in all cases when the latter is found off his base. 
 The habit of touching base runners is a good one to 
 get into, as there is then no likelihood of its being 
 forgotten when it becomes necessary for a player to 
 be touched. When the first baseman runs after the 
 ball hit by the striker, the second baseman should at 
 once make for the first base, as he is generally nearer 
 to it than either the short stop or pitcher when balls 
 are being hit between first and second bases. In 
 timino- for a throw to first base he should be sure of 
 his aim, or, if in doubt, he should let the base be 
 made, or otherwise the chances are that an overthrow 
 will give his opponent his third instead of his first 
 base. Hasty throwing is poor policy except the base- 
 men are pretty sure in sending in a swift line ball, 
 and there is a good man at first base to hold it. 
 When a player is on the first base, and another on 
 the third, the second baseman should be on the 
 watch, so as to make a prompt return of the ball 
 when the. catcher throws to the second, and the man 
 on the third attempts to run home on the throw. 
 In fact, the second baseman r^^quires to use his judg- 
 ment all the time to play his position properly. 
 
 There is a point in second base playing which needs 
 to be well looked after, and that is when a short hit 
 ball is sent rolling to right short sufficiently near to 
 the first baseman to tempt to field it; in such case the 
 
86 THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 second baseman should run to first base so as to be 
 ready to take the ball from the first baseman fielding 
 it. Then, too, in the case of a ball hit to right short 
 and to right field when a runner is on first base, and 
 when the batsman is trying to send the runner round, 
 the second baseman — unless two men are already out 
 — should devote his efforts to getting the runner out 
 forced from first base. In all cases when only one man 
 out if there is any possible chance as to which base 
 runner to put out, always select the runner nearest to 
 home base. When the second baseman attempts to field 
 a difficult ball, and is in doubt whether to throw or not, 
 better let the runner make his base rather than run the 
 risk of throwing wild at the cost of an additional base. 
 
 THIRD BASE PLAY. 
 
 The most difficult of the positions on the bases to 
 play well is that of third base, and of late years it 
 has become more than ordinarily important from the 
 introduction of the scientific style of batting, which 
 aims only to secure first base easily— a phase of this 
 batting being sharp ground hits along the foul line 
 which the third baseman has especially t» attend to. 
 In fact, what with the high twisting balls sent foul 
 from the bat toward third base, and the hot ground- 
 ers, which are so difficult to pick up and throw 
 quickly and accurately enough to first base, the third 
 baseman requires to be a fielder of more than ordi- 
 nary ability, and one possessing considerable judg- 
 ment. It won't do for a third baseman to take up a 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. b~ 
 
 regular position every time he goes to the field, for 
 the batting now in vogue requires him to change his 
 place more frequently even than at second base. In 
 one and the same inning he will be required to play 
 between third and home bases and ten feet inside of 
 the foul ball line to cover short ground balls, while 
 another batsman may oblige him to act almost as 
 short stop, and another force him well back into the 
 field for high fouls. Then, too, he has to watch his 
 base very closely when j^layers are running their 
 bases, as he has to take throws from the catcher and 
 pitcher, as well as from the other in-field players. 
 To stop a long hot grounder sent close to third base 
 and to throw over in time to first base requires the 
 most skillful of fielding, a combination of the brilliant 
 "pick-ups" of Denny or Williamson, and the speed 
 and accuracy of Sutton's throwing. The third base- 
 man, too, has considerable work to do in running 
 after high foul balls out of reach of the catcher. 
 
 When Ferguson filled the third baseman's position 
 in the Atlantic nine about a dozen years ago he did 
 some model fielding there. The style in which he 
 picked up hot ground balls excelled anything ever 
 before seen on a ball-field, no one approaching him 
 in this respect. His quick throwing, too, was note- 
 worthy ; also his sure catching of fly balls. His 
 excellence in picking up diflficult grounders had been 
 attained by practice in hand-ball playing; and club 
 managers will find that practice in the hand-ball 
 courts will be more effective in training their players 
 
88 THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 than any gymnasium work can b.e; for it trains to the 
 endurance of fatigue, makes a man specially active, 
 toughens the hands, and trains a ball player to field 
 the most difficult of ground balls, besides educating 
 his sight in fielding balls better than any thing else 
 can do. 
 
 The importance of the third base position lies in 
 the fact that on the play of the third-baseman, and 
 on his sharp fielding of difficult balls, will frequently 
 depend the loss of runs to his opponents, when the 
 failures on the other bases are only made at the cost 
 of a single base. In the case of a miss-play at third 
 base, however, one or more runs scored is generally 
 the result, that is, in cases where players are running 
 their bases. When no men are on the bases the third 
 baseman will have to be active in fielding the ball, 
 and quick and accurate in throwing it, in order to 
 prevent the striker from making his base. The third 
 baseman takes a jDosition closer to his base than either 
 of the other basemen. Sometimes, however, he takes 
 the i^lace of the short stop when the latter covers the 
 second base in cases where the second baseman plays 
 at right short for a right-field hitter. In throwing 
 from base to base hastily, take care that you throw 
 low, rather than high, as a low ball can be stopped 
 if not handled, whereas a ball overhead gives a run 
 in nearl}^ every instance. In fact, as a general thing, 
 it is safer to allow a jDlayer to make one base than to 
 run the risk of helping him to two or three bases by 
 an overthrow. Accurate throwing IVom base to base 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. 89 
 
 is a pretty feature of the game, and with straight 
 throwers and sure catchers can be safely indulged in 
 at all times, for though a player may not be put out 
 by a throw, when he sees the ball thrown straight 
 and handed prettily, it makes him hug his bases 
 closer. 
 
 Your earnest, reliable base player when he goes 
 into a match, or even a practice game, plays ball 
 from the word " Go " until the contest is ended. He 
 plays to win, but only to win fairly and manfully, and 
 not like a tricky knave. He never plays to show off, 
 never puts on airs, or plays one time earnestly and 
 another time lazil3' or indifferently, as too many do, 
 hut he works like a beaver at all times, and that is 
 the way to play ball. 
 
 THE SHORT STOP's POSITION. 
 
 Of late years the position of short stop has almost 
 become the key to the iniield. The time was when 
 the short fielder was regarded simply in the light of 
 a waiter on the pitcher. In the old Hoboken days 
 short stops were at one time thought to be rather in 
 the wa}^ in the infield than otherwise; but when 
 Johnny Grum, Dicky Pearce, Charley Thomas and 
 other noteworthy occupants of that position, some 
 twenty odd years ago, began to develop the resources 
 of the short stop, and to practically illustrate the 
 points of the position, there was quite a change of 
 opinion on the subject. Since then short fielding has 
 become the strongest force of the attacking power in 
 
90 THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 the infield outside of the pitcher's position. The rea- 
 son is that the short fielder occupies the position of a 
 sort of rover. Unlike the base players, though he 
 has a fixed position in one respect — standing as he 
 does in the field midway between third baseman and 
 second baseman — his duty is to occupy the position 
 of all three of the basemen when occasion requires. 
 Moreover, he is the general backer-up of all the in- 
 fielders. No short stop who does. not excel in this 
 special feature of his position is fit to occupy it. In 
 addition, it is necessary that the short fielder should 
 be a man of quick perception, prompt to judge of a 
 situation, to take in all the points of the position at a 
 glance, and to be able to act quickly and with de- 
 cision. A peculiarity of short field play is that too 
 often the reputation of a short stop is made or marred 
 by the character of the play of the first baseman. 
 We know of several short stops in years gone by 
 whose success in playing their position was largely 
 due to the effective support given them by their first 
 baseman. The short fielder has many a ball come 
 to him which is hard to stop and pick up so as 
 to throw it in time to a base, so that, unless the base- 
 man happens to be a player who can pick up a 
 sharply thrown boumling ball, or reach out and se- 
 curely hold a wide side thrown ball, or jump up and 
 capture a high thrown ball, the play of the short 
 fielder is sure to suffer. On such occasions, when 
 hard hit balls are well stopped by the short fielder, 
 and he scarcely has time to get them in hand to 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 91 
 
 throw accurately, unless he is sure of his baseman, 
 the hit yields an earned base. Hence the importance 
 of having first basemen in position who can not only 
 do what ordinary first basemen are called upon to do, 
 viz., stop hard thrown and straight balls, but who are 
 able to shine in their position by stopping — if they 
 cannot always field them — wide-thrown balls. The 
 majority of the crowd of spectators cannot see how 
 wide or bad a throw is made to first or second bases 
 from short field, but they can see whether it be held 
 or not; and when the ball is held the most of the 
 credit of the out is given to the short stop for his 
 assistance, when, in fact, but for the fine playing of 
 the baseman in holding the wide or low thrown bidls, 
 the runner would have secured his base. The beauty 
 of George Wright's throwing to first base was his 
 accuracy of aim; knowing his own power of swift 
 throwing, he would wait until sure of his aim, and 
 then let the ball go like a rifle-shot. He has had 
 many imitators in swift throwing to the bases, but 
 very few in the accuracy of his aim, and it was in 
 that particular that he so greatly excelled. A swift 
 thrower from short field, even when supported by a 
 first-class first baseman, is a costly player as a gen- 
 eral thing. He likes to show oflf his speed too much, 
 and forgets too often the cost of the exhibition. The 
 short fielder requires to be in full accord with the 
 pitcher in regard to being familiar with the latter's 
 special points of strategic play, so that he may duly 
 prepare either to stand m closer or out further than 
 
92 THE ART UF FItLDING. 
 
 usual. He should also be able to understand signals 
 from the catcher, in order that the latter player, in 
 throwing to second base, should be posted as to 
 which man to throw to — second baseman or short 
 stop. Thus, for instance, if a player be on first base, 
 ready to run to second, and he should see the second 
 baseman ready to receive a ball, he will hesitate to 
 run; but should he see the baseman standing at "right 
 short," leaving the second base apparently unprotect 
 ed, he will run the risk of attempting to make the 
 base. In this case the short-field should be able to 
 signal the catcher that he is ready for the point, and 
 at the same time that the catcher prepares to throw 
 the ball to the base the short stop should be there to 
 receive it, the latter starting to run from short to sec- 
 ond just as the base runner starts to run from first to 
 second. We merely refer to this point in order to 
 illustrate the character of fielding an effective short 
 stop is called upon constantly to attend to. lie should 
 always be in motion while the ball is in play in the 
 field, first in watching balls that are sent to his own 
 position, secondly In backing up the third base, and 
 lastly in playing the second baseman's position, or in 
 supporting the pitchier, to which player he should be 
 a sort of special attendant, in order to save him as. 
 much work as he c?-n. Moreover, the short slop re- 
 quires to be an exceedingly swift and accurate 
 thrower, as of all positions wild throwing from short 
 field is the most costly, fie should also be a very 
 sure catch, especially in judging of those difficult high 
 
THE AkT OF FIELDING. 93 
 
 balls which almost belong to the outfielder's position 
 to take. The short field is especially adapted for an 
 active fielder of short stature, as they can more readily 
 attend to those short, sharp grounders which form 
 the majority of balls to the short stop's position, and 
 which are generally so difficult for a tall or heavily- 
 built man to attend to. 
 
 The short stop should be constantly on the alert; 
 quick in his movements, active of foot, a quick and 
 straight thrower at short distances, and especially a 
 man of good judgrr ent, so as to know when to throw 
 and when not to tb ow after fielding a ball. There 
 was some very poor play shown by short stops last 
 season, in the way of ill-judged throws. Some would 
 throw hastily and swiftly, after failing to pick up a 
 ball neatly, and thereby would add a wild throw to 
 their fielding error. Others, again, would pick up a 
 
 ball prettily and then be so deliberate in throwing 
 
 depending too much upon their speed — that when 
 the ball did go to the first base it was too "hot" or 
 too " wide " to be held. A short slop should be 
 ready to run up and field a short hit between 
 pitcher and third, or to run out and take a high fly 
 short of the left field. The short stop has the best 
 and the most chances given him for double plays on 
 dropped fly balls, but it is not an easy thing to do. It 
 will no longer do to catch the ball and then drop it, 
 the point of play now being to let it go to the ground 
 and then field it at once, covering the ball as it drops. 
 The best-played "point" in this respect we ever saw 
 
94 THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 at the hands of a short sto)) was that phiycd by 
 George Wright on McDonald and Pearce in the first 
 Atlantic and Red Stocking match of 1870, It oc- 
 cuired in the tentii inning of the game, after the At- 
 lantics had retired the Reds for a bhmk score, and, 
 with the fignres at 5 to 5, had two men on the bases, 
 with but one hand out, and just one run to get to 
 win. McDonald was at second base and Pearce at 
 first, with Smith at the bat. One good hit would 
 have sent AlcDonald home and have won the game. 
 First came a foul ball out of reach, and then Charley 
 poppetl up a high ball, which ?reorge Wright pre- 
 pared himself to take, and Pearce, seeing the almost 
 certainty of the catch, held his base, as did McDon- 
 ald, George Wright being careful to avoid any move- 
 ment likely to indicate the point he intended to play. 
 Suddenly, however, as the ball fell, George dropped 
 into a stooping position, placed his hands flat to re- 
 ceive the ball near the ground, and the result was the 
 ball bounded out of his hands on to the ground. It 
 was picked up sharply, sent like a rifle nhot to third 
 base, where Waterman stood ready to hold it — 
 thereby putting out McDonald, forced off from sec- 
 ond; and by Waterman the ball was promptly sent 
 to Sweasy, putting out Pearce, forced off from first. 
 The result of this well played point was the retire- 
 ment of the Atlantic's for a blank score. The plan 
 of holding out the palms of the hands flat so as to 
 allow the ball to bound dead out of the hands, and 
 with the twist taken out of it before reaching the 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. 95 
 
 ground, is the best way of playing this point. An- 
 other way is to let the ball bound and smother it as it 
 rises. It won't do to catch the ball and then drop it, 
 as that amounts to a " momentarily" holding of the 
 ball and consequently a catch. 
 
 A great many errors in fielding — or rather in fail- 
 ing to field — sharply hit ground balls, were charged 
 to short stops last season for which they were not 
 responsible. It is not generally understood that when 
 the ball has a strong bias or twist imparted to it by 
 the pitcher, and when it is sharply hit to the grounvi, 
 it will diverge from the direct line of progress the 
 moment it strikes the ground, and in such a way as 
 entirely to deceive the fielder, who is jDrepared for 
 the regular rebound only, and not to find the ball re- 
 bounding to the right or left and with unusual speed. 
 These fiiilures to stop ground balls are not errors, as 
 they cannot be provided for by the most expert 
 fielding. 
 
 Cool judgment in critical points of a game should 
 be a feature of first-class short fielding. This was a 
 merit of Dick Pearce's j^lay in the old days, as was 
 his sound judgment in all the strategical points. In 
 emergencies and critical positions of a contest no 
 other man was so cool and collected as Pearce. It was 
 this very thing which really won the game for the 
 old Atlantic nine in their second contest in i860 with 
 the Excelsiors, when the players on both sides, as 
 well as the umpire, became befogged about a point 
 of play in running the bases — a point which Pearce 
 
96 THE ART OF FIELDING, 
 
 alone saw and explained — the result being two men 
 and side out for the Excelsiors, and their demoraliza- 
 tion when they had the game in their hands. In 
 this respect Dick excelled all the other short stops of 
 his day. 
 
 SHORT FIELDING. 
 
 More opportunities are afforded the short fielder 
 for Inlaying strategic points in putting out base run- 
 ners than are presented to any other occupant of the 
 infield. Ho has greater supervision over the infitJii 
 than any other player, and he combines in his posi- 
 tion the double office of short stop and base player, 
 being called upon to play both second and third bases, 
 in emergencies, quite frequently. He is also the gen- 
 eral backer-up of the infield. For this reason the 
 sliort stop requires to be a plaNcr very quicic to judge 
 of points in strategic play, and to be perfectly famil- 
 iar with every rule of the game, besides being cool 
 and nervy in exciting periods of a contest. To 
 illustrate: Suppose all three of tlie bases are occu- 
 pied in the last inning of a game, with but one man 
 out, but one run to get, and a hard hit ball is sent direct 
 to the short stop; though a good fielder might be 
 able to stop the ball well enough, such a player, lack- 
 ing nerve and presence of mind for prompt action, or 
 the judgment to decide quickly what was best to be 
 done, would commit some error or other in throwing 
 the ball which would allow the winning run to be 
 
THE ART 01 FIELDING. 97 
 
 scored, and yet neither muff the ball In fielding it, or 
 throw it to the base wildly. 
 
 A word about the recording of short stop's errors: 
 As a rule scorers were too hard on short stops' last 
 season in the way of charging them with errors. 
 We saw some scorers charge short stops with errors 
 when they failed to stop a hard hit ground ball 
 well enough to pick it up and throw it in time to the 
 base. To stop a hard hit grounder, even if the 
 ball be not sent to the base in time, is a good play, 
 and no error. If it is sent to the base in time, it is a 
 splendid piece of fielding. Frequently hard hit balls 
 from curved line pitching, when they strike the in- 
 field in front of the short stop, diverge on the rebound 
 at a tangent, and thus escape capture. This, too, was 
 frequently charged as an error when a base hit 
 should, have been credited. There is altogether too 
 great a tendency to cliarge errors to ticklers — to short 
 stops in particular — in cases where hard hit ground 
 balls are not stopped in time. It is difficult to do it 
 even on a smooth, velvety turf like that of the infield 
 of the old Union Grounds of years ago, and almost 
 impossible on a rough or uneven infield, like that of 
 the majority of ball fields. 
 
 The play in a game when the bases are occupied 
 by runners is frequently marred by the failure 
 of the short stop to back up basemen to whom 
 the' catcher or pitcher throws. There should 
 always be an understanding between the short stop 
 and both pitcher and catcher in regard to the 
 
98 THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 special conditions which will occasion either to 
 make throws to the basemen, so that the short 
 stop might always be on the qui vive to back 
 up well. There was a tendency shown by some 
 short stops last season to indulge in showy, swift 
 throwing, as also in somewhat careless, slow throw- 
 ing. A ball would be batted hard to the short stop, 
 but still so as to enable him to pick it up in time, and 
 when he had done this well he would take his time in 
 throwing, and then send it in hot to the baseman, 
 when a slower throw would have answered the pur- 
 pose better had he thrown it as soon as he had fielded 
 it. This was often done to " show off" in fast throw- 
 ing, and of course, at the risk of the ball not being 
 held in time. When a ball is hit to short stop so as 
 to make it difficult to stop and field in time for the 
 throw, then a swift throw is justifiable. But this 
 throwing fast when the fielder has time for a moder- 
 ate and more accurate throw, is not " good form " in 
 short field work. Neither is the slow toss of the ball 
 to the baseman, when the ball from the bat is one 
 which gives the short stop ample time to throw it 
 to the baseman. The habit of play in throwing 
 should be straight-line throwing, with moderate but 
 timely speed, leaving very swift throwing to special 
 emergencies, when the critical period of a contest may 
 excuse some extra risk being incurred. There was 
 considerable throwing done from short field last sea- 
 son which may be classed as bad throwing, from the 
 fact that it was not a point to throw the ball at all. 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 99 
 
 It is in this respect that the record of errors comes in 
 with objectionable effect. Tliere are numerous times 
 in the course of a match when it is better play to hold 
 a ground ball from the bat instead of throwing it to 
 the base. These instances occur when there is no 
 runner on a base, or only one on first base, and the ball 
 hit to the short stop is a difficult one to pick up. 
 Too frequently in such cases the fielder will try to 
 escape the result of a "juggle" or "fumble" of the 
 ball by a hasty throw, and generally at the cost of a 
 double error In the form of either a wild throw or a 
 failure to hold the ball by the base player. Better to 
 abide by the one error and escape the double one by 
 holding the ball and keeping the runners from getting 
 extra bases. As regards the short stop acting a<s tem- 
 porary second baseman, except when a ball is hit to 
 right short and a runner is on first and is forced, it de- 
 pends upon the peculiar style of batting of the man 
 at the bat as to whether short stop plays as second 
 baseman or not. Ordinarily, with a right hand bats- 
 man at the bat, the short stop will play in his own 
 position. But when he sees the batsman "facing," 
 for a right field hit, he should move down to cover 
 second base, leaving the second baseman to go to 
 right short. The same course should be pursued, too, 
 when left-handed men come to the bat. Under the 
 circumstances of the marked increase in right field 
 batting of late years, and of the introduction of bat- 
 ting quartets of left-handed hard hitters the necessity 
 for the short stop being able to be a good second base 
 
lOO THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 player, becomes very apparent. A point played last 
 season with gaod effect at times was that of the 
 catcher throwing to short stop when a runner was on 
 third, and another ran down from first to second to 
 cfet the man on third home. This was not done in 
 the old style of throwing to short stop's position, but 
 in throwing a little to the left of second base, the 
 short stop jumping forward and taking the ball and 
 promptly returning it to the catcher in time. When 
 the ball is swiftly thrown and accurately returned, the 
 play invariably yields an out; but it must be under- 
 stood by signal to be done effectually. There was 
 one thing in short lield play which was not always 
 attended to properly last season, and that was the 
 want of habits of play in throwing to each base 
 according to regular rule. Unless a short stop plays 
 by regular rule, habitually making the proper throw 
 at the proper time, he is apt to get confused when left 
 to judge a throw in a second of time. When two men 
 are out, the short stop should disregard all temptation 
 to throw a fielded ground ball an3^where but to the first 
 baseman. When a runner is on first, too, such a 
 fielded ball should be sent to second base habitually, 
 except in the case of two men being out. Pla3^s of 
 this kind should be done by rule, and so habitually 
 that the play becomes natural to the fielder, and he 
 does it by instinct, as it were. In such cases, balls 
 which come to him hard to field in time will reach the 
 baseman sooner than they would if he were not 
 habituated to certain rules of j^lay. We have seen 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. jOJ 
 
 some splendid short fielding- in our day, but tnere is 
 still roo-m for more i^oints and even better play than 
 any yet exhibited. 
 
 THE OUT FIELD POSITIONS. 
 
 Quite a change has taken place within the past few 
 years in reference to the importance of each j^osltion 
 in the outfield. Twenty years ago the left field posi- 
 tion was regarded as the position. That was in the 
 days of the ten-inch-round, twoand-a-half ounce rub- 
 ber ball, and when the so-called " splendid hits"' to left 
 field were regarded as the feature of the game, and 
 fielding skill was considered of secondary import- 
 ance. Now the most difficult work is done in the 
 right field, and the old-time features of outfielding, 
 the catching of long fly balls, has been superseded 
 by brilliant instances of assistance In putting out play- 
 ers on bases by quick and accurate throwing in of 
 balls, from the outfield positions. To one accus- 
 tomed to see the headwork play of skillful outfielders 
 of the present day, the old-time method would appear 
 laughable. The old outfielder — even after the days 
 of the bound-catch of fair balls — seldom deemed it 
 wortli his wdiile to leave his position to go after a 
 ball flying to any other position in the outfield. 
 Playing for the side was then unknown, except in 
 the instance of the old Atlantic nine, and also the 
 Excelsior nine in i860. In those days— raid some 
 players practice the same thing now — an outfielder 
 thought he did his work well if he caught the fly- 
 
JQ2 THE ART OF FIKLDING. 
 
 bali that came to him, without troubUng himself to 
 run far to get it. Anything hke an assistance in 
 putting out players on bases from balls thrown in 
 from the outfield was comparatively rare play, ex- 
 cept that now and then an effort was made to put 
 out players trying to make home runs. All this has 
 been changed. During 1888 some of the prettiest 
 outfield work that was done was in making brilliant 
 plays in doubling up base runners from quick returns 
 of base-hit balls to the outfield, and from double 
 plays from well-taken fly balls, not to mention the 
 many instances of sharp fielding in assistance ren- 
 dered from right field in putting out strikers before 
 they reached first base. Of course there are instances 
 in which much of the importance of an outfield posi- 
 tion is derived from the peculiar character of the 
 ground. As a general thing, however, the three 
 positions are pretty equal in their call for service from 
 players, though, if anything, the right field has the 
 preference, as being the place to put the best out- 
 fielder of the three. 
 
 An important effect of sharp outfield play in the 
 quick return In of fielded balls, is that of bothering 
 base runners. Any experienced base runner knows 
 very well that in four cases out of five he can tell 
 whether a long-hit ball from the bat is going to be 
 held or not by this or that outfielder; and in this 
 knowledge he makes his estimate of how many bases 
 he can make on his hit. If the hit is a high one, 
 falling a little short of the outfielder's position, so as 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. I03 
 
 to oblige him to run in for the ball, and he knows his 
 fielder well, he goes for the second or third on the 
 hit, sure. But in the case of outfielders like Hor- 
 nung, Hines or Evans it is difficult to tell when a 
 ball is safe or not, if hit high in the air, and hence 
 fewer bases are risked in running when such skillful 
 outfielders are seen going after a ball than is done in 
 the case of ordinary outfielders, not so remarkably 
 long-reached nor active. It is in this special point of 
 play that great activity, backed up by headwork, 
 comes in with such telling eflfect in outfield positions. 
 The substitution of a comparatively dead ball in 
 the game, compared to the old lively rubber filled 
 ball of years past, has had the effect of materially 
 changing the character of outfield play, and of giv- 
 ing more importance to the playing of the outfield 
 positions. When the old rubber ball was in use and 
 heavy hitting to the outfield was the rule, all the 
 outfielders had to do was to stand out as far as they 
 could, catch the ball and throw it in promptly; no 
 opportunities were afforded them then for judging of 
 a batsman's play, as it was all chance hitting, each 
 going in to hit the ball as hard as he could, and with 
 no idea as to which part of the field the ball would 
 be likely to go. Since the new ball has been in use, 
 however, outfielders have been allowed opportunities 
 for " headwork" in judging of the style of batting 
 by their opponents, and of playing their positions 
 accordingly. For this reason in choosing outfielders 
 for first-class professional nines, something more than 
 
lO^ THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 the mere ability of the fielder to catch the ball and 
 throw it in a long distance must be considered, and 
 that somethin<^ is the judgment of the fielder in 
 being able to play the strategical points of his posi- 
 tion, and to do something more than to merely stand 
 out in the field and catch a ball that comes to him, or 
 to run after one and throw it in a hundred yards. 
 We have seen outfielders not only watch carefully 
 every private signal of the pitcher, but also judge 
 for themselves in the matter of the style of the bats- 
 man's play, and to get in closer, stand out further, 
 get nearer to the foul ball lines, or to move more to 
 the left or right as the style of hitting appears to 
 require, thereby showing their ability to play the 
 strategical points of their positions. In the case of 
 using an elastic ball, any man who is a safe catcher 
 and a long distance thrower will do to play in the 
 outfield against lively ball batting; but in the case of 
 the use of a dead ball, with its accompaniment of 
 scientific batting, outfielders must be men who can 
 use their heads as well as their hands, or the posi- 
 tions will not be efiiciently played. 
 
 Outfielders should never stand still or occupy one 
 position all the time, but be ever on the move, ready 
 for a quick run, or to back up each other. They 
 should never hold a ball a minute, but promptly re- 
 turn it to the infield as soon as handled. In thus 
 returning the ball they should invariably send it in to 
 the second baseman, unless some other fielder is 
 designated on call by the captain. But in the case of 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 105 
 
 a fly catch in the outer field, when bases are being 
 run, the outfielder should, of course, throw to the 
 base player the base runner is returning to. The 
 outfield is the place for the change pitcher of the nine 
 to occupy. All three of the outfielders should watch 
 the movements of the pitcher and batsman closely, 
 so as to be ready to judge the bail likely to be hit 
 to them. When a good batsman is at the home base 
 they can get in closer than when a home-run hitter 
 handles the ash. When the outfielders see that foul 
 balls are being hit frequently, they should get up 
 near the foul ball line. It is easier to run in for a 
 short ball than to back out for a high one, and there- 
 fore they should not stand in too close, though going 
 out too far is worse still. No outfielder should stand 
 still simply because the ball does not happen to come 
 in his direction. Activity and judgment in being 
 prompt in support is characteristic of first-class play 
 in the out as well as in the infield. With the com- 
 paratively dead ball now in use outfielders will do 
 well to stand in closer than hitherto. It is better to 
 let a long ball go over your head now and then than 
 to miss the chance of taking short high balls on the 
 fly, which are sent just over the heads of the infield- 
 ers. Where one long ball is hit five short ones are 
 sent to the outer field. 
 
 In regard to running in for a catch, it is always 
 better to stop and be sure of fielding the ball than to 
 continue to run in in the hope of catching it in brill- 
 iant style, only to find yourself overrunning the ball, 
 
jo6 THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 and theieby letting your adversary secure an extra 
 base or an unearned run. Such a thing as a double 
 play from an outfield catch used to be very rare; and 
 putting out a player at first base from a throw in from 
 right field, was a feat almost unknown. Now an 
 outfielder does not play up to his mark unless he fre- 
 quently makes such plays during a season's campaign. 
 No one would suppose that after twenty years of 
 regular professional playing, and of even a longer ex- 
 perience than that in the training of professional 
 nines, any outfielder would be found playing his po- 
 sition as if he were a mere ornamental figure in the 
 team, and only played in one particular position to 
 attend to particular balls which happened to come 
 directly to wherr he was standing. But yet several 
 such players were seen in the outfield teams of a few 
 professional nines last season. That is, they played 
 their position as if they had only a limited portion of 
 ground to cover, and therefore had no occasion to get 
 out of their special locality to field balls sent to the 
 positions of other out-fielders. " What d' yer blame 
 me for? It wan't my ball; it was the center-field- 
 er's ball." This was the tenor of many of the expla- 
 nations made by this class of outfielders last season, 
 when they were called upon to answer the charge of 
 making an error in not properly attending to their 
 duties. The great point in outfielding is to send 
 each man into the posiiion to play as if he were the 
 only outfielder present to cover the whole outfield. 
 The idea that a left fielder has only to attend to left 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 107 
 
 field balls and a right fielder to those sent to 
 right field, is an exploded rule of the old amateur 
 days. What the short fielder is to the basemen in 
 the infield in giving them support by judicious back- 
 ing-up, so should each of the three outfielders be to 
 one another. The moment a long high ball, or a 
 hard-hit liner, or a hopping ball is hit to the outfield, 
 that moment every one of the three outfielders should 
 be on the alert to catch it, stop it, or to field it when 
 it happens to be missed or fumbled by the fielder to 
 whose particular position the ball is sent. Of course 
 it should be plainly understood beforehand as to 
 who is to attend to the high fly ball when it 
 comes, so as to avoid a dangerous collision, and the 
 dropping of the ball between two hesitating fielders. 
 In all other instances, too, no proper outfielding is 
 done unless it is seen that all three fielders are in mo- 
 tion after the ball, hit to any part of the outfield. 
 Here is an instance of how this thing works: In a 
 match last season a long high ball was hit to the left 
 fielder's position. The moment the ball was seen 
 flying to the outfield all three of the fielders were 
 on the move after it. The left fielder backed down 
 on running to catch it; the center fielder ran down 
 near him, to be ready to field it in case of a drop, and 
 the right fielder ran up toward the infield to be 
 ready to forward the ball in on a sharp, quick throw 
 toward infield. A splendid catch was made by the 
 left fielder, and he had time for a long throw in to 
 third base; but the point we wish show is that of 
 
Io8 THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 the prompt assistance alTorded by the other two out 
 fielders working together as a team, which the three 
 outfielders should be taught to do in all first-class 
 nines. But this particular branch of the system of 
 '•playing for the side" is never seen where your out- 
 fielders are composed of men j^laying for a record, 
 Your record man seldom troubles himself about balls 
 out of his district; and if, being a left fielder, he sees 
 a ball sent flying to right field, he just folds his arms 
 and becomes a mere looker-on, even if he docs not 
 inwardly hope to see a rival fielder make a mufif, by 
 means of which his own record will be benefited ; 
 whether that be done at the cost of the team at large, 
 and perhaps that of the game itself, does not aflfect 
 him — his sole consideration being his record; and if 
 this is kept all right by his leading his two compan- 
 ions at center and right fields, everything else is of 
 little consequence. Nowadays catching high fly 
 balls, hit by mufling batsmen to the outfield in their 
 silly efforts for home run applause, is one of the least 
 things an outfielder has to do. And, moreover, it is 
 possible that an outfielder who has made an average 
 of but one catch to a match, may have done more 
 real service to his side, by splendid fielding support 
 in backing up and assisting the two other fielders, 
 than he whose record in the average figures is at the 
 top. Harry Wright, when at center field in the early 
 days of the Boston nine, used to show the outfield 
 business, done upon the principle of playing for the 
 side, in fine style. He always led in assistance from 
 
THE ART OF PrELDING. lOn 
 
 his i^ositlon, and in backing up. Harry got at balls 
 at center field that few outfielders ever trouble them- 
 selves to go for; he knew where to lay for most hit- 
 ters — a great point in outfielding. Some splendid 
 work in making difficult catches was done in the out- 
 field last season, and also in throwing balls in accu- 
 rately and in time. And, by the way, this throwing- 
 in business is something which offers a field for 
 improvement. Your long-throwers are just as fond 
 of throwing balls in from the outfield for the sake of 
 the throw, as fast throwers in the infield are in throw- 
 ing fast to first base. Throwing home to the catcher 
 from the outfield is a very nice thing to do, and it is 
 important that it be done well if attempted at all, as 
 overthrows from this quarter are damaging, in that 
 they invariably yield runs instead of merely bases. 
 It is no easy matter for an outfielder, after concentrat- 
 ing his mind on the effort to catch a dfficult fiy-ball- 
 to turn suddenly and grasp the idea of the position in 
 the infield quickly enough to know to what point to 
 throw. In such cases a throw home is generally re- 
 sorted to, and in three cases oiit of five an overthrow 
 IS the resuU. Let it be borne in mind that a well- 
 trained professional nine contains three distinct teams, 
 which work together as a whole — that is, the "battery,^' 
 or team of pitcher and catcher, the basemen's team, 
 and the outfield team. When nines are composed of 
 men selected on the basis of this team principle, and 
 not for their individual records, then we shall see bet- 
 ter work done. 
 
no THE ART OF FIELDING. 
 
 GENERAL HINTS ON FIELDING. 
 
 There is no habit fielders have that is more char- 
 acteristic of ochool boys, or which leads to more un- 
 pleasantness and ill-feeling in a match, than that of 
 finding fault with those who commit errors of play 
 in the field. Every man in the field tries to do his best 
 for his own credit's sake, and if he fails, censure but 
 adds to his chagrin without in the least improving his 
 play; on the contrary, fault-finding is only calculated 
 to make him play worse. In no game are the 
 amenities of social life more necessary to a full enjoy- 
 ment of the pastime than in base ball. Particularly 
 acceptable are words of commendation for good play, 
 and remarks calculated to remove the annoyance aris- 
 ing from errors in the field, to young ball players, and 
 these form some of the strongest incentives to extra 
 exertion on their part, besides promoting kindly feel- 
 ings on the field and during the game. We must 
 enter our protest against the fault-finding, grumbling 
 and snarling disposition which continually censures 
 every failure to succeed, and barely tolerates any 
 creditable effort that does not emanate from them- 
 selves, or in which they do not participate. Such 
 men as these constitutional grumblers are the nuis- 
 ances of a ball field, and destroy all the pleasure 
 which would otherwise result from the game. Every 
 manly player vs^ill keep silent w^hen he sees an error 
 committed, or if he makes any remark at all, will 
 apologize for it in some way. Those who find fault 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. Ill 
 
 and growl at errors of play are of the class who pre- 
 fer to gratify their malice and ill-temper at the ex- 
 pense of the unlucky fielder who happens to " muff" 
 a ball or two in a game. 
 
 Fielders should remember that the captam of the 
 nine is alone the spokesman of the party and the com- 
 mander of the field. 
 
 No outfielder should hold a ball a moment longer 
 than it is necessary for him to handle it in throwing. 
 In the infield, however, a ball can be sometimes held 
 by the fielder with safety and advantage. 
 
 Never stand still in your position simply because 
 the ball happens to go in another direction than the 
 position you occupy, but always be on the move to 
 iid the other fielders, or to back them up. Activity 
 in the field and judgment in being prompt in support 
 is the characteristic of a first-class fielder. 
 
 Play earnestly at all times, whether in an ordinary 
 practice game or in a match. Get into the habit of 
 doing your best on all occasions. It is invariably the 
 mark of a vain and conceited ball player to walk on 
 the field and play in a game as if he was confernng 
 a favor by participating in the game; and players 
 who plav with an air of indifference as to the result 
 of the game, or who become despondent when the 
 odds are against them, are no players for a first-class 
 
 nine. 
 
 Next to seemg a man field well, the most attractive 
 thino- is to see a player take things easy and good- 
 natm-edly. If you miss a fly ball, allow an import- 
 
112 THE ART OF FIELDING- 
 
 ant ball to pass you, or fail to haiulle a ball in time 
 on a base, nothing is more boyish than to vent your 
 ill-temper on some one who may have balked you in 
 catching it, or thrown it to you badly. Control your- 
 self and take it smilingly, or if you lack the moral 
 courage to do that, keep your mouth shut at least. 
 Your good-natured fellows who play their best all 
 the time, and yet take everything bad or good with a 
 good-natured smile, are as desirable as companions on 
 a ball field as your growlers are to be detested. 
 
 When an error of play is committed do your best 
 at once to remedy the evil by using your best efforts 
 to get at the ball, either after missing it, letting it pass 
 you, or failing to hold it. Some 2:)layers -after 
 "muffing" a ball will walk after it like an ill-tem- 
 pered, sulky ten-year-old. 
 
 TEAM WORK IN FIELDING. 
 
 We have before called attention to the marked 
 difference between the field work of what we call a 
 mere picked nine, viz., a nine composed of good 
 players in their respective positions, but who are en- 
 tirely new to each other's style of play — or, if not, 
 are equally disqualified from doing team work by 
 the uncongeniality of their dispositions, or from like 
 causes — and a nine who work together as a whole 
 with machine-like unity and effect, and who are a 
 regular team in their trained method of playing into 
 one another's hands for the benefit of the side. It is 
 very evident that the importance of this difference is 
 
THE ART OF FIELDING. II3 
 
 being realized more and more each season, and the 
 result is that nines are being organized more on the 
 sound basis of their doing team work than in accord- 
 ance with the old plan of selecting mere picked nines. 
 One special feature of the best team work in fielding 
 during the season of 1888 was the effective play shown 
 in "backing up'' one another. This involved, of course, 
 some extra field work, but the advantages accruing 
 from it more than compensated for the additional 
 labor. It worked in this way : The ball was pitched 
 to the bat ; it was hit to the infield in such a way as 
 to necessitate sharp handlinj^^ in j^icking up the ball 
 in time to get it to the base. Promptly on the hit 
 being made, the pitcher and catcher ran behind the 
 first base to stop the ball in case of a w^ide throw. 
 Perhaps five times out of six this backing up was not 
 actually needed; but it was there the important sixth 
 time, with the result of two or three bases saved, if 
 not a base runner put out. This system, carried out 
 in all the positions, not only inspires confidence in 
 fielders obliged to throw quickly, but it deters base 
 runnino^, and keeps runners from taking risks to 
 reach bases they would otherwise attempt. Besides 
 which, it gives confidence to the field by making 
 their work more that of a trained team than of a 
 mere picked nine. 
 
114 THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 A noteworthy feature of the improvement which 
 has taken place in the general playing of the game of 
 base ball, has been the marked difference in the ad- 
 vance made in the fielding department compared to 
 that of the batting. In the progress of education in 
 the knowledge of what may be termed the " science 
 of the game," the art of batting has greatly lagged 
 behind that of fielding ; and one reason for this has 
 been the fact that but little attention has been paid to 
 the study of the theory of skillful batting, while 
 improvement in fielding has been forced on the pro- 
 fessional class by the fact that the great mass of the 
 patrons of the game, while knowing little or nothing 
 about scientific batting, can fully appreciate the beauty 
 of skillful exhibitions in the field ; and hence an im- 
 petus has been given to a spirit of rivalry in fielding 
 excellence, while in regard to batting the incorrect 
 data on which the annual statistics of average play at 
 the bat are made up, and the premium which is 
 offered to "record playing" at the bat by the injudi- 
 cious method of scoring the game, and the promi- 
 nence given to batsmen in the line of heavy hitting, 
 has had the effect of retarding the progress of the true 
 art of skillfully handling the ash. 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. I15 
 
 Up to within the past year or two a great deal of 
 the batting done in the professional arena was but 
 little, if any, in advance of that which characterized 
 the prominent clubs of over a dozen years ago. One 
 cause of this failure to improve batting as rapidly as 
 fielding has been, has been the reluctance shown by 
 the professionals to studying up the subject of how to 
 handle the bat properly. For years past the majority 
 of players have gone to the bat possessed either of 
 bad habits in their manner of holding and swinging 
 the bat, or lacking in knowledge of how to use their 
 bats with the best effect, even if they did stand in a 
 correct position and hold their bats properly. As a 
 general thing, thev have taken their stand at the bat 
 with no fixed rule of action, but simply on the princi- 
 ple of going in for general results, as it were, trusting 
 to what is called "luck." One player's idea is to hit 
 as hard as he can at the first ball that comes within 
 his reach. Another's is to wait for a particular kind 
 of ball, a pet of his, and then hit it as if his sole object 
 was " to knock the stuffing out of it." This kind of 
 batting is especially characteristic of " hard hitters" 
 or home-run-hitters — men who think that the end 
 and aim of a batsman is to make home-runs. This 
 class of batsmen average a home-run hit to about 
 every twenty outs from poorly-hit balls. Of 
 course, keen sight and muscular strength are essentials 
 in batting skill, but judgment and its practical exem- 
 plification in strategic play are even more important. 
 The batsman who can be most relied upon for a 
 
Tl6 THE ART OF RATTING. 
 
 sinc^le-base bit is worth two of your home-run class of 
 hitters. The former is the man to win in the long 
 run, thou2:h the latter may excel in cutting a dash or 
 making a showy splurge in odd games. 
 
 In the science of batting there are certain rules, the 
 neglect of which must prove damaging to the bats- 
 man's general play. First comes the rule which 
 requires that he should "stand at ease" when he 
 takes his position at the bat ; that is, to stand so as to 
 be able to swing his bat to meet the ball with the 
 easiest movement at command. Then there coines the 
 rule governing the proper method o^ swinging the 
 bat forward to meet the ball; in this latter the man- 
 ner in which he stands has an important bearing. 
 The proper poising of the bat preliminary to making 
 the forward swing in striking, too, is an important 
 matter. But the one thing in the science of batting 
 which has, up to within a year or two past, been but 
 little understood, or, if understood, has been- sadly 
 neglected, is the rule governing what is technically 
 called '-^facing for position''^ — that is, taking your 
 stand at the bat in such a manner as to lead to the 
 control of the regular swuig of the bat, causing it to 
 meet the ball so as to send it in the direction of either 
 one or the other of the three outfield positions of the 
 field, viz.. The right, center, or left field. More atten. 
 tion has been paid to this by the more intelligent class 
 of professionals of late than ever before, and the result 
 has been, to that extent, improvement in batting* 
 But, as a general thing, chance hitting has been too 
 
THE ART OP BATTING. H? 
 
 much in vogue for any marked progress in scientific 
 batting. This, and the paying of too much attention 
 to the playing for a record— the recoid in question 
 being one which gives no criterion of skillful play at 
 the bat whatever — have been the principal drawbacks 
 to a relative advance in the practical knowledge of 
 the true art of batting, in comparison to that which 
 has characterized the fielding in the game. 
 
 A great inducement held out to the class of heavy 
 hitters is the prominence given by base ball writers 
 of the sporting papers, and in the columns of the 
 dailies which give space to reports of the doings of 
 the fraternity in the field, to total base hits. Some of 
 these papers not only enlarge the scores with details 
 of two and three base hits and home runs, but they 
 give special prominence in their introductions to the 
 scores, to the batsmen who excel in making " tw^o 
 baggers," and « three baggers," while they add a spec- 
 ial point of praise to the batsman who scores a home- 
 run, no matter whether the player who makes it has 
 to tire himself out with a 126 yards "spurt," at his 
 utmost speed, to gain a single run, or to bring in one 
 or two base running companions. The practical effect 
 of all this is to destroy a batsman's ambition to excel as 
 a "team player" in batting, and to drive him into play- 
 ing solely for a high average record of total bases. 
 We hope to show in the following chapters that 
 scientific batting is the basis of successful team work 
 in handling the ash, and that the batsman who can 
 the most easilv earn a single base, and who is willing 
 
Il8 THE ART OF BATTING, 
 
 to sacrifice his record of total bases and a high aver- 
 age in faulty statistics in order to bring in a needed 
 run, does work in batting in "playing for the side" 
 worth all that the most brilliant heavy hitting bats- 
 men ever accomplished. 
 
 THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 In no department of the game are more facilities 
 offered for strategic play than in batting ; but it re- 
 quires an intelligent player to engage in it success- 
 fully. The batsman who would be invariably success- 
 ful must resort to strategy, for if he depends solely 
 upon a quick eye and a strong arm he will fail. These 
 are very excellent as aids, but a comparatively poor 
 dependence to place your trust in altogether. The 
 batsman, when he takes his bat in hand, finds opposed 
 to him nine men, and though to the casual observer it 
 may seem a very easy undertaking to bat a ball out 
 of the reach of only nine men, covering as large a 
 space as a four or five acre field; yet when you come 
 to fiice nine experienced and active fielders, you will 
 soon be taught to realize the fact that "headwork" is 
 as important an element of success in batting as it is 
 in pitching; and you will then see that to earn bases 
 on hits, and thereby to score runs, you will have to 
 play "points" pretty successfully. 
 
 From the moment the batsman takes his stand at 
 the bat, to the time he strikes a fair ball, he should 
 stand in proper form for hitting at every ball, or he 
 will be sure to be caught napping by a skillful 
 
THE ART OP^ BATTING. II9 
 
 pitcher, and find himself retiring from a tip, a poorly 
 hit ball, or from called strikes, instead of taking a 
 well earned base. This proper form for a hit is im- 
 portant. It is fatiguing, of course, to stand still and 
 keep prepared for hitting, while ball after ball is sent 
 in out of reach; but it must be done in order to secure 
 chances for hitting the ball you want when it does 
 come. A skillful pitcher is always on the alert to 
 find the batsman "out of form," and not prepared to 
 hit, and the moment he sees him thus standing "on 
 the loose," he is sure to send him a good ball, and 
 the batsman either strikes at it hastily or lets it go by 
 him, only to see the ball fielded easily, or a strike 
 called on him. The batsman is only in proper form 
 for a good hit when he stands squarely on his feet, 
 with the bat grasped firmly about six or eight inches 
 from the end of the handle, and with the point of the 
 bat partly resting over the shoulder. He should 
 never hold it horizontally, and especially should he 
 avoid pointing it toward the pitcher. In fact, the 
 only way in which he can swing it so as to meet 
 the ball at the proper angle is to bring it down from 
 the shoulder; he then brings the weight of the bat as 
 well as the power of his arms and wrists, to bear 
 upon the stroke. In standing ready, prepared to 
 meet the ball, his right foot should be firmly placed 
 on the ground as a pivot foot, leaving his left foot 
 loosely touching the ground ready for a springy for- 
 ward step to give direction to the hit, and an addi- 
 tional impetus to the stroke. 
 
J20 THE ART OF BATTING, 
 
 THE FORWARD SWING OF THE BAT. 
 
 The batsman who would excel in scientific hitting 
 must study up well the theory of the art. It is one 
 thing to take up the bat and "slug" away with all 
 the force at your command at the ball, with the 
 single idea of hitting the ball as far out in the field as 
 you can; but it is quite another thing to take your 
 stand, bat in hand, well posted in all the points in 
 batting, and ready to match strategic skill in hand- 
 ling the ash against strategic pitching, point for 
 poi'iit, and with a special object in view in making 
 every hit. There are many points to learn before a 
 batsman can arrive at any marked degree of skill in 
 hitting. First, he should learn the bearings of the 
 natural swing of the bat in meeting the ball, and the 
 dilTerent effect of a swift and a slow stroke in form- 
 ing these bearings. Measuring the semi-circular line 
 of the swing of the bat from its position as it is 
 held over the shoulder, to the point of its meeting 
 the ball, it will be seen that the swiftness of the 
 stroke has a great deal to do with giving direction 
 to the ball. A slow stroke will meet the ball back 
 of the base; a medium stroke will meet it on the 
 line of the base, and a quick stroke in front of it. 
 The lines of these strokes are shown in the follow- 
 ing diagram. 
 
 The slow stroke would send the ball toward the 
 rio-ht field; the medium stroke toward the center, 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 21 
 
 and the quick stroke to the left. So much for the 
 lines of the forward swing of the bat against the ordi- 
 nary speed of the delivery of the ball to the bat. 
 In addition, however, the varying speed of the pitched 
 ball has to be taken into consideration, inasmuch as a 
 slow pitched ball would meet the slow stroke on the 
 line of the base instead of back of it; while a very 
 swiftly pitched ball would meet the swift stroke in 
 the same place, instead of in front of the base. The 
 pace of the ball, therefore, has to be taken into the 
 calculation in estimating the force of the forward 
 swing of the bat in giving the ball any special direc- 
 tion. 
 
 FACING FOR POSITION. 
 
 One thing in the science of batting which has only 
 of late years been understood, is the rule governing 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 wliat is technically called "facing for position" — that 
 is, taking your stand at the bat in such a manner as 
 to lead to the control of the regular swing of the bat, 
 causing it to meet the ball so as to send it in the direc- 
 tion of either one or the other of the three out-field 
 positions of the field, viz: The right, center, or left 
 field. This "facing for position" is a subject calling 
 for some study of the rules which govern it. Just as 
 a man stands at the bat, just so will the regular or 
 forward swing of the bat meet the ball, all things, of 
 course, being equal, viz., the rapidity of the forward 
 swing being in proportion to the speed of the deliv- 
 ered ball. But the general direction of the ball, from 
 a regular and proportioned swing of the bat, is gov- 
 erned by the manner in which the batsman stands 
 when prepared to strike at the ball — that is, in pro- 
 portion as he "faces" for the right, the center or the 
 left. As a general rule, in order to send a ball to the 
 right he should face almost as if the first baseman 
 was going to pitch the ball to him, and not the pitcher. 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. ^^ 
 
 The three in-fielders, therefore, to face any one of 
 whom the batsman should stand when about to strike 
 at the ball, are the first-baseman, the pitcher and the 
 third-baseman, just as he desires to send the ball in the 
 direction of the right, the center, or the left field. 
 We have frequently seen important batting points 
 lost in a match, owing to the failure of the batsman to 
 properly face for position. Take, for instance, the 
 position of a game when a runner is on third base, 
 with but one man out, and the batsman goes to the 
 bat. Without regarding anything but his making a 
 long hit to the outer field, he takes his position so 
 that the regular forward swing of the bat will cause 
 it to meet the ball either at the line of the home base 
 or in front of it, and the result is that the ball is hit 
 either to pitcher, second baseman or short-stop, there- 
 by preventing the runner from going home from 
 third, even if the striker be not put out. Now, had 
 the batting point in this case been properly played, 
 the batsman would have taken up his position so as to 
 have faced for right field, thereby almost insuring the 
 ball's being hit in that direction, in which case the 
 runner would have been enabled to score his run, 
 even if the batsman had sacrificed himself by his hit. 
 This is but one phase of the rule governing facing for 
 position in batting, but it suffices to show the impor- 
 tance of the subject. 
 
 When a hit to left field is desired the batsman takes 
 his stand as If the short-stop in his regular position 
 was about to pitch the ball to him, and this brings the 
 
124 
 
 THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 regular forward swing of the bat so as to meet the 
 ball in front of the home base, the diagram showing 
 the lines of the forward swing of the bat, and also 
 that of the direction g^iven the ball as follows: 
 
 FACING FOR LEFT FIELD. 
 
 The batsman when about to hit to center field, or 
 to the pitcher, should stand in the ordinary position, 
 the lines of which are shown in the appended dia- 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 125 
 
 FACING FOR CENTER FIELD. 
 
 For right field hitting the batsman should face the 
 first baseman, in which case the swing of the bat 
 would meet the ball and send it in the direction shown 
 in the appended diagram. 
 
 If the batsman is a quick hitter he should invariably 
 face for right field hitting if the pitching is fast, but if 
 
I 26 
 
 THE ART OF BATTIN'^ 
 
 FACING FOR RIGHT FIELD. 
 
 medium jDacea he would do better to face the pitcher 
 or short-stop. 
 
 The dotted lines show not only the position of the 
 bat when the swing is made, but also the direction of 
 the forward swing, and of the ball as it leaves the 
 bat. 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 127 
 
 High balls are the best to hit at when facing for 
 right field when the pitching is swift; a slight stroke 
 from the bat will frequently send it safe out of reach 
 of the in-fielders, and yet not far enough out for the 
 right fielder to catch. 
 
 A close study of the various forces governing the 
 swing of the bat in meeting the ball, and of the rules 
 applicable to "facing for position," will fully prepare 
 the batsman for taking his stand at the bat ready for 
 active service. 
 
 A BAD FORM IN BATTING. 
 
128 THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 THE POSITION IN BATTING. 
 
 The position taken by the batsman when he takes 
 his stand at the bat, has a great deal to do with liis 
 success or faihn-e in hitting. When once a batsman 
 gets into a bad habit, either in his manner of hokling 
 the bat, or in the way he stands, it is difficult to get 
 out of it, and it always interferes with his success as 
 an effective batsman. Many players are accustomed 
 to hold their bats directly in front of them, and pointed 
 toward the pitcher. Tliis necessitates the witlidrawal 
 of the bat previous to swinging it forward to meet the 
 ball, thereby making two movements of the bat 
 instead of one, and, of course, marring the aim in 
 striking. This bad position is illustrated in the cut 
 on the preceding page. 
 
 The appended cut shows a correct position in stand- 
 ing ready for an effective hit. It is that of the late 
 Gen. Thos. S. Dakin, the old pitcher of the Putnam 
 Club of Brooklyn of i860. 
 
 Confidence is everything in batting, and you can 
 never feel confidence in your ability to bat well iwiless 
 you are accustomed to a regular position both in 
 standing ready to strike, and in properly holding your 
 bat so as to use it with the best effect. It is hardly 
 possible for a batsman who is accustomed to strike 
 in what may be called bad form, to hit the ball so as 
 to "place it" where he wants to, because to do this 
 the bat must be swung forward with an accuracy of 
 aim which a bad method of holding it renders scarcely 
 
THE ART OF BATTING, 
 
 29 
 
 STANDING IN GOOD FORM. 
 
 possible. The correct position for a batsman is to 
 stand well on his right foot, having his left foottonch- 
 ing the ground lightly, thereby making his right the 
 pivot foot. By this means he will gain a body swing 
 to give additional force to the swing of his arms in 
 batting. In holding the bat he should keep it poised 
 
r^o 
 
 THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 SO as to have it ready for the regular forward swin< 
 as shown in the appended cut. 
 
 Georo-e Wrio-ht holds the bat a little further back 
 Dver the shoulder than the General did. The impor- 
 tant point is to get the best balance of the bat so that 
 ts weight should not trouble the wrists too much. 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 I3T 
 
 From the moment the batsman takes his stand iv. 
 the bat, to the time he hits a fair ball, he should 
 stand in proper form for hitting every single ball 
 pitched to him. Unless he makes this a habit, he 
 will surely be found a ready victim, to a more or less 
 extent, for a skilful, strategic jDitcher. The rule, with 
 a good batsman, is always to be in form all the while 
 he is at the bat. This is specially necessary to meet 
 the uncertainties of a curved line delivery. How 
 often do we see batsmen go to the bat, one after the 
 other, and as they take their stand, get into fair form 
 for the first two or three balls, and then, on finding 
 that the pitcher's delivery is rather wild, stand at ease, 
 as it were, quite unprepared to hit in proper form, 
 only to see the ball come in over the base, and at the 
 height indicated, while they either fail to strike at it 
 or miss the ball if they do, simply because they did 
 not stand prepared to meet it, or, in other words, 
 were not in form for batting. The momenta shrewd, 
 strategic pitcher sees a batsman standing at the bat in 
 bad form, he feels sure of capturing him. On the 
 other hand, it bothers the best pitchers to see the 
 batsman untiring in his efforts to stand in good form 
 in his position, and fully prepared to meet every ball 
 pitched to him. This "proper form" for hitting 
 every ball is, of course, fatiguing to the batsman, 
 when the pitching is at all wild, but it must be kept 
 up in order to secure chances for hitting the ball 
 when it comes within fair reach of the bat. 
 
 A point to play on the pitcher in connection with 
 
132 THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 vhis standing in good form, is to pretend to stand at 
 the bat as if tired of waiting for a good ball, and 
 yet to be on the alert to me(^t a quickly pitched ball 
 sent in to catch you napping while you are apparently 
 out of form for good hitting. Another good point to 
 play on the pitcher is to deceive him in regard to 
 your facing for position. Suppose, for instance, that 
 when you take your position at the bat you ''face" 
 for a hit to first base? The pitcher or catcher, seeing 
 this, will signal the first baseman to play up closer to 
 his base; to the second baseman to go to right short, 
 and to the right fielder to " come in a little." Now, 
 suppose again, that while " facing" for the hit in 
 question you so time the swing of tjiie bat as to meet 
 the ball considerably forward of the base, instead of 
 hitting it to the part of the field your opponents had 
 been led to expect you would by the manner in which 
 you "faced for the hit," the result will be a safe hit 
 to an unguarded quarter, and a pretty display of skilful 
 batting. But this strategic play is anything but easy 
 of accomplishment; a thorough command of the bat, 
 considerable experience, and a quick eye being neces- 
 sary, 
 
 FIRST BASE HITS. 
 
 Base hits are the chief criterion of efl^ective batting, 
 and earned I'uns oflf the pitching are the reward of 
 such hitting. Just here comes the pertinent queries 
 of what constitutes a " base hit," and what is an earned 
 run ? With all due regard for the capabilities of the 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. I^. 
 
 many intelligent and competent scorers who have 
 had to decide upon the questions of base-hits scored 
 and runs earned during the base-ball campaign of 
 1888 it is a fact well known that the majority are so 
 involuntarily biased by their connection with the 
 clubs for which they score, that scarcely any two can 
 be found who are in full accord in their views on the 
 subject of base-hits and earned runs. When "doctors 
 disagree," an outside individual, who is removed from 
 party bias, must step in and decide the disputed point 
 — as we propose to do in this article on base-hits and 
 earned runs. In rendering a decision likely to govern 
 the matter, we shall be guided, as hitherto, solely by 
 our efforts to promote the best Interests of the game in 
 bringing it up to the highest standpoint of a scientific 
 field-sport, and we hope again to merit that attention 
 to our views which has hitherto been accorded them. 
 The first question to be answered is: What is a base 
 hit? and the reply to the query is that it is a hit 
 which secures to the batsman his first base without 
 the aid of even a doubtful error by any one fielder. 
 In order to give a clear definition of the term, how- 
 ever, we enumerate below the special instances in 
 which base-hits are made: 
 
 Firstly. — When a ball is hit fairly along the 
 ground to any j^art of the field out of j^osslble reach 
 of any of the fielders. 
 
 Secondly. — When a ball is hit f^iirly over the heads 
 of any of the in-fielders, and so as to fall short of 
 allowing any of the out-fielders a fair chance to catch it. 
 
T34 THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 Thirdly. — When a high fiy-ball is hit fairly over 
 the heads and out of fair reacli of the out-fielders. 
 
 Fouj'tJily. — When a ground ball is hit with such 
 force from the bat as to render it almost a physical 
 impossibility to stop it, or, if partially stopped, to 
 grasp it in time to throw it accurately to a base- 
 player. 
 
 Fifthly.— y\^\-\i^\\ a line fly ball is hit with such 
 force from the bat as to make it diflicult even to 
 partially stop it, and still more so to hold it on the 
 
 Hy. 
 
 No one will question tlie fact, we think, that all of 
 the above hits are base hits which clearly earn first 
 base for the batsman. There is still another hit 
 which earns a base at least three times out of five 
 that the hit is made, and that is when a ball is hit 
 fairly, but in such a manner as to roll slowly to the 
 center of the triangle formed by the pitcher, striker, 
 and first baseman's positions. In regard to this 
 last character of hit, we have to state that out of some 
 thirty odd instances during a special period of pla}^ 
 in which a ball has been hit in the manner described, 
 we have seen but four successful efforts made to put 
 the striker out, and then it was chiefly the result of 
 slow running to the first base. The difficulty atten- 
 dant upon fielding such a ball is that the pitcher 
 cannot well get it and throw it accurately to first base 
 before the striker can reach his base, while neither 
 can the first baseman run and field it and return to 
 his base in time, nor can the pitcher run across to 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. I35 
 
 first base and take such ball in time if fielded by the 
 first baseman, even if the two players should agree 
 upon so fielding the ball, which they rarely do. It 
 is rather an accidental hit, it is true — the result of 
 hitting the ball by the bat near to the handle, thereby 
 giving a weak blow to the right. Nevertheless, as 
 it is a hit which effectually — in a large majority of 
 instances — prevents the fielder from getting the ball 
 in time to throw the striker out, it cannot be recorded 
 otherwise than as a base-hit. In regard to the drop- 
 ping of a hard hit line ball on the fly, or the failure 
 to field a hard hit ground ball, there will doubtless 
 be some objection urged to the crediting a base hit 
 for such apparently missed chance. But if any man 
 will realize by practical experience the danger and 
 difficulty of stopping a hot ground-ball that has had 
 a rifle-like twist imparted to it by the blow of the 
 bat, or of securely holding a similarly batted fly-ball 
 he will not hesitate in awarding the batsman the 
 credit of a base-hit for any such ball, which the fielder 
 finds it impossible to stop or to grasp in time to put 
 the striker out. Of course, there arc hot ground-balls 
 that should be stopped and picked up in time, and 
 which, if not so fielded, do not yield base-hits, as, 
 also, hot-line balls, which, if not caught, give bases on 
 errors. But the hits we refer to are exceptional ones; 
 and when they are made, the batsmen who make 
 them are entitled to the credit of base-hits. There 
 are certain bounds to the ability of fielders to stop 
 and catch balls, and these bounds are exceeded in 
 the special cases we refer to. 
 
T36 THE ART OP CATTING. 
 
 WHAT ARE NOT BASE HITS. 
 
 We now come to the next important query con- 
 nected with hitting for bases, and that is: "What is 
 not a base hit?" and the reply is conveyed in the 
 following described instances of failures to accept 
 chances for outs. 
 
 Fii'stly. — No ball which is hit so as to admit of 
 its being fairly caught on the fl}-- can earn a base. 
 
 Secondly. — No ball hit to any of the in-fielders in 
 such a way as to admit of their picking it up and 
 throwing it to any baseman in time to put an op- 
 ponent out, can earn a base. 
 
 Thirdly.-— ^o ball similarly hit to any in-fielder, 
 and which is picked up neatly, but thrown too high 
 or too low or wide to any baseman, can earn a l)ase. 
 
 Foiu'thly. — No ball similarly hit, well picked up, 
 and accurately thrown to a baseman, but which is 
 mulTed by the basemen, can earn a base. 
 
 Fifthly.— No ball hit so as to give an easy op- 
 portunity to any fielder for a catch can earn a base, 
 if the fielder, through the failure of the captain to 
 call him or through any gross carelessness in fielding, 
 fiils to avail himself of the plain 0])portunity for 
 making the catch. 
 
 Now, there is no questioning the fact that not one 
 of the above hits is such as to be claimed as a base- 
 hit, or a hit that earns a base. The rule which 
 prevents a base being earned by any hit that is 
 marked by a fielding error has its exception, and that 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. , ^7 
 
 exception is when the bah is sent so swiftly and ! 
 
 sharply from the bat as to render it ahnost impossible | 
 
 for the pluckiest«of fielders to stop or hold it. But . 
 
 all ordinary errors, such as dropped fly-balls, bad ,; 
 
 mufl?s, wild throws, and failures on the part of base- \ 
 
 players to hold good balls thrown to them — all count ! 
 
 in preventing base-hits being made. A '< hot" ball | 
 which is well stopped, but which, in the effort to 
 grasp it, is fumbled, is in a majority of instances an 
 
 error by the fielder, and prevents a base-hit; while : 
 
 high or line-balls to the out field, which fielders run | 
 
 in for and fail to hold in their efforts to catch them • 
 while stooping low near the ground, cannot justly be 
 
 regarded as errors, and in a majority of instances such : 
 
 hits earn bases. Unfortunately this degree of latitude | 
 
 in judging of base hits in doubtful cases, like the ex- 1 
 
 ceptions above noted, open the door to quite a dif- ' 
 ference in the records of official scores in match 
 
 games, and hence the inaccuracy of so much of the 1 
 data on which the season's averages are made out. 
 
 EARNED RUNS. 
 
 In regard to taking an account of runs scored by 
 
 skilful batsmen two calculations have to be made ' 
 
 one of runs earned from opportunities offered by the 1 
 pitcher for base-hits, and the other of runs earned 
 from chances given by the fielders for successful base- 
 running. Of course, no runs can be earned off the 
 pitching unless by base-hits; and no runs can be 
 earned by chances given for successful base-running 
 
138 THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 through suck direct fielding errors as "dropped fly- 
 balls/' " wild throws" a'ld "inufTed" or "iumbled" 
 balls; or from such "bat-tery" errors as wild pitches, 
 called balls, or passed bails. The definitions of the 
 term used to designate direct fielding errors are, a 
 missed catcJi ; a inuffed ball; a fumbled ball ; or a 
 wide throw ; while those used for direct battery errors 
 viz: errors on which bases are run or runs scored but 
 not on "lives" given, are wild pitches^ \\\q. fourth called 
 ball^ and passed balls^ a wild throw to a base by the 
 catcher being as much of a direct fielding error as is 
 a wild throw to a base by the pitcher. 
 
 Any ball dropped by the fielder, fnir or foul, which 
 he had a chance to catch, must be recorded as a 
 "missed catch." The fact of his merely touching a 
 fly -ball does not necessit^'.te the record of a miss; he 
 must have had a faircbar.ce ofTered him to catch the 
 ball. On the other hand, the failure to touch the 
 ball does not absolve him from being charged with a 
 missed catch ; for, if a high ball is hit which affords 
 an easy chance for a catch, and the fielder, by lack of 
 activity, or by a palpable error of judgment, fails to 
 properly make an effort for the catch, he should be 
 charged with the error. In the case of a chance for 
 a catch, purposely missed in order to secure a chance 
 for a double play from a "force off," no error should 
 be charged unless the missed chance for the catch is 
 followed by a bad throw to the base player, in which 
 case the bad throw must be charged as the error. 
 
 A fielder makes a "oJufF' when in his efforts to 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. 139 
 
 field a ball he otily partially stops it, or foils to pick 
 it up so as to throw it in time. This does not apply 
 however, to cases of failures to stop or hold very 
 swiftly-batted or thrown balls; but only to palpable 
 errors in failing to field ordinary balls from the bat. 
 A base-player failing to hold a ball not thrown wide 
 to him, makes a muflf. But if the ball is thrown to 
 iiim on the bound, no error is justly chargeable to him 
 if he fails to hold it ; while if he does hold it, all the 
 more credit Is due him. 
 
 A fielder is said to <tfumble" or "juggle" a ball 
 when, after stopping it, he has to try two or three 
 times to pick it up to throw it. It is a variation of 
 the "mufif," more fi-equently accidental than the re- 
 sult of unskillful play. 
 
 Wide or "wild" throws are made in two ways — 
 first, by inaccuracy of aim ar,d unskilful throwing; 
 and secondly, by tlie difficulty of stopping and pick- 
 ing up a hot ball so as to throw it with comparative 
 leisure. Hard hit balls to third base generally il- 
 lustrate the difficulties attendant upon a good 
 thrower's efforts to throw to the other bases ac- 
 curately. A ball thrown over the head of a base- 
 player or fielder, or to either side of him out of reach, 
 or on a low bound, is a "wide throw." 
 
 All these errors come under the head of "direct field- 
 ino-" errors in contra-distinction to "battery errors," 
 which include only passed balls, wild pitches and 
 bases on called balls. Of course no errors follow a 
 wild pitch or a passed ball unless a base is run on it. 
 
146 
 
 THE ART OF tJATTtNG. 
 
 "WiU^ pitches" arc balls sent in out of the legitimate 
 reach of the catcher, and on which a base is run. 
 Passed balls are balls "muffed" or "fumbled" by the 
 catcher after having been pitched to him within his 
 legitimate reach, and on which a base is run. In the 
 case of a very swiftly-pitched ball which the catcher 
 holds on the fly but which he cannot gather himself 
 in time to throw to a base to cut off a player, an 
 error ought not to be charged — except, perhaps, on 
 the part of the pitcher in delivering so swiftly when 
 players are running bases. 
 
 In regard to called balls, of course, only a technical 
 error can be charged to the pitcher on the fourth called 
 ball which gives the base. It is very questionable wheth- 
 er bases given on called balls should be included in the 
 estimate of runs earned off the pitching. In the first 
 place, the giving of a base on called balls depends too 
 much upon the umpire's leniency or strictness in in- 
 terpreting the rules, and it is difficult to judge fairly 
 whether a base on called balls is due to the umpire's 
 strictness, the pitcher's wild delivery, or his playing 
 a point to get rid of a dangerous hitter; and, as some- 
 times neither is at fault, the best way is to ignore 
 called balls altogether, as something not to be used 
 in estimating an earned run. While it is no discredit 
 to a batsman to take a base on called balls, it certainly 
 Is not an act to be very j^roud of; and it may there- 
 fore be set down as neltherfor nor asfalnst the earning" 
 of a run, and consequently we leave it out altogether. 
 
 Runs earned from the pitcher include the following: 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. 141 
 
 ^/ri//r>— When four base-hits, each giving only 
 one base, are made in succession. 
 
 Secondly. -^"^"^^^-^ the striker makes a clean hotne. 
 
 run. , , r . 
 
 Thirdly.— \'^\'^'=-^-^ the first striker makes a hiSL- 
 base hit, and the second makes a three-base hit, or 
 
 vice versa. 
 
 Fourthly. -^\-^^^^ the first striker makes a fiist- 
 base hit, tlie second a hit which, though hmiting the 
 striker to first-base, enables the base-runner to get 
 to third, and the third striker a simple first-base hit. 
 Ordinarily three first-base hits place only three men 
 
 on bases without scoring a run. 
 
 Fifthly —When the first striker makes a first-base 
 hit, and the second striker is put out by a hit to the 
 field which only admits of the striker being put out, 
 and prevents the plaver, forced off, being put out by 
 the ball being held at second,or by his being touched 
 while running to second. In such case, should the 
 third striker be similarly put out, thus allowing the 
 base-runner to reach third, a base-hit by the fourth 
 striker would yield an earned run, though only two 
 first-base hits were made; and it would be earned off 
 the pitching, as it is presumed to be a point of play 
 on the part of the pitcher in cases when the first 
 striker makes his firstbase,to deliver the ball so as to 
 force the batsman to hit the ball to an in-fielder, in 
 order that the fielder may capture the base-runner 
 "forced off; "and if he fails to do this he is to be 
 
142 THE ART OF RATTING. 
 
 charged with the style of punishment which an 
 earned run gives. 
 
 Runs earned from the field differ from those earned 
 off the pitching, to the extent that sharp hasc-running 
 comes into play as a hasis of earned runs off the 
 fielding, while successful base-running does not enter 
 into the calculation of runs earned off the pitching 
 alone. 
 
 PLACING THE BALL. 
 
 The highest degree of skill in scientific batting is 
 reached when the batsman can "place a ball" — sent in 
 by swift curved-line pitching — in any part of the field 
 he chooses. It is, however, the most diflicult of all 
 batting feats wliich a batsman can attempt. There 
 are so many points to be learned so as to become 
 thoroughly familiar with them, before tliis jDlacing of 
 a ball can be accomplished, that it is rarely that one 
 sees this finishing touch in the art of batting exhibited. 
 But when it is at command, what an immense ad- 
 vantasre it sfives the batsman in outwitting: his ficld- 
 ing opponents, and what an aid it is in sending 
 runners round from first-base to home-base. Then 
 it is that the necessity for making the j^bncing of a 
 ball a feature of a batsman's work becomes plainly 
 apparent. When the professional fraternity have 
 gone through the " slugging" era, and the ambition 
 to excel in the home-run style of batting has been 
 superseded by more scientific work in handling the 
 ash, the coming batsmen of the future will look back 
 with surprise to think that they should, fnr so many 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. 143 
 
 years, have neglected so valuable nii adjunct of leally 
 effective and successful batting. To hear the general 
 class of batsmen comment on the efforts made to 
 place a ball in a match, one would be apt to think 
 that it was something next to impossible. The fact 
 is, however, the majority of batsmen are too loth to 
 take the necessary pains to learn how to place a ball. 
 When do you ever see a team practicing scientific 
 batting, or trying to learn to place a ball? When a 
 nine takes the field for preliminary practice before 
 the beginning of a match, some of them take their ac- 
 customed positions in the field while two of them bat 
 "fungo" balls — balls that are tossed up in the air and 
 hit as they fall — to the fielders, and that is about all 
 the practice they get as batsmen. In April, 1S84, we 
 saw something better than this attempted on the 
 Philadelphia Club field under Harry Wright's tuition, 
 when the batsmen were allo\ved to bat at a dozen 
 balls, each pitched to them for hitting purposes. As 
 a general rule all the practice batting is for the pur- 
 pose of giving chances for catches to the fielders. 
 This is of great benefit in fielding improvement, and 
 it is one of the reasons why the fielding leads the bat- 
 ting in its progress tov/ard perfect play. 
 
 What batsmen require for j^ractice in learning to 
 place balls is to practice against swift curve-line 
 j^itching. First, to bat against the "out curves," 
 then against the "in curves;" then to try the 
 various " shoots." But above all, should the batsman 
 practice wrist play in handling the bat against swift 
 
144 THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 pitching. Tho most effective placing of the ball is 
 clone when runners are on bases and basemen neces- 
 sarily hug their bases closer. With a runner on first 
 base, and especially with one on second, a wrist-play 
 hit of a swiftly pitched ball — almost a tap of the ball, 
 as it were — will place the ball safely to right field and 
 short of the outfielders' position. When a runner, 
 too, is at second, and the second baseman and short- 
 stop's attention is taken up by him, a similarly short 
 hit high ball over the second baseman's head will 
 earn a base, while a quick, sharp hit of the kind made 
 while " facing for tlie pitcher," will frequently clear 
 the third baseman's reach and send home the runner 
 from second. Club managers or the captains of 
 teams — whichever of the two have the daily training 
 of the team in hr.nd — should insist upon batting prac- 
 tice in placing the ball, for until this is done very lit- 
 tle improvement in batting can be expected. 
 
 SACRIFICE HITTING. 
 
 An essential part of good team work in batting is 
 " sacrifice hitting." This is done whenever a bats- 
 man, in his efF*rts to place a ball properly when 
 runners are on bases, hits the ball to the field in such 
 a way as to oblige the fielders to put the runner out 
 at first base, thereby enabling the runner at first base 
 when the hit is made, to reach his second base safely. 
 This sacrifice hitting is nearly equivalent to a base 
 hit; in fact, it is fully as effective when it is done at 
 the time a runner is at third base and only one man 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 145 
 
 out, for then it insures a run, and it is then really 
 more valuable t1ian a base hit made when no runners 
 are on the bases. But sacrifice hits can only follow 
 efforts to place a ball at right field, for otherwise they 
 are merely chance hits. One advantage of a sacrifice 
 hit is, that it relieves the batsman of the onus of being- 
 charged with a poor hit, the latter being, of course, a 
 hit to the field which alTords a plain chance for an 
 out, either in the form of an easy catch or a chance to 
 throw a ruunei- out, whether that runner is the striker 
 or a runner forced ofT. Of course no sacrifice hit can 
 be made when two men are out, nor when there 
 are no runners on bases. Every sacrifice hit which 
 sends a runner home ought to be regarded as a base 
 hit. Indeed, it is questionable whether all sacrifice 
 hits made before more than one man is out should 
 not be so credited, as they yield a base each time. No 
 batsman can make a sacrifice hit if he goes to the bat 
 simply with the idea of "slugging" at the ball, aS 
 then his being put out by a hit which sends the run- 
 ner round to the next base, is entirely an accidental 
 hit. It is only when he makes an effort to place the 
 ball, and in that effort hits it so as to make it a sacri- 
 fice, that he is worthy of the credit of it. 
 
 Under the new Code of Rules of 1889 sacrifice 
 hitting is given recognition in Schedule 4 of Rule 68, 
 as follows : 
 
 " Sec. 4. In the fourth column shall be placed Sacri- 
 fice Hits, which shall be credited to the batsman, who 
 when but one man is out advances a runner a base on 
 
146 THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 a fly to the outfield or a ground liit, 'which results in 
 ])utting out the batsman, or would so result if handled 
 without error." 
 
 FUNGOES. 
 There is no worse habit for batsmen to indulge in, 
 than that of batting " fungo " balls; that is, tossing the 
 ball in the air and hitting it to the tiekl. It trains the 
 eye to meet the ball in batting it in a manner which 
 never occurs in actual play. It ought to be prohibited 
 on every w^ell regulated ball field. If it be necessary 
 to practice the fielder in making catches, or in stop- 
 ping and fielding ground balls, let some outsider or 
 other employe than the team player do the batting. 
 And yet no match takes place on a professional 
 ground that some two or more of the players of the 
 team, in their preliminary practice, do not engage in 
 fungo baiting; in fact, they have no other practice at 
 the bat than this child's play styk of hitting. When 
 facing the regular pitching in a match, they have to 
 bat against swiftly delivered balls, indeed, some are 
 almost a direct line to the bat — and in order to meet 
 such balls with effect, they need all the practice they 
 can have in learning to sigfht such line balls. It can 
 easily be seen, therefore, what a bad effect practice in 
 hitting at balls which fall to the ground at right angles 
 to the line of the pitcher's regular delivery has. 
 
 HOME RUN HITTING. 
 
 All batsmen who go in for a record strive their ut- 
 most to make home runs. They are well aware of 
 the fact, that the majority of spectators at a match — 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. I47 
 
 especially in country towns — know little or nothing 
 of what constitutes real skill in batting; the prevail- 
 ing idea with the crowd being, that the best batsman 
 is the "slugger," who manages to scratch a home run 
 once out of every thirty times at the bat. 
 
 The eclat attendant upon a dashing hit of the kind is 
 too tempting to resist, and hence they throw team 
 work in batting to the dogs, and go in for a style of 
 batting which pleases the crowd, though it proves 
 costly in the long run to the success of a team in 
 taking the lead in a championship race. A brief 
 glance at the cost of a home lun in wear and tear of 
 a batsman's physical strength, will show what a draw- 
 back the slugging style of batting is progressing 
 toward scientific hitting and thorough team work at 
 the bat. Suppose nine men of one side in a match, 
 go to the bat, and the first eight make single base hits 
 in succession; the result will be that, when the ninth 
 man goes to the bat, five runs will have been scored 
 and earned, and three men will be occupants of 
 bases; and all this will have been done at the least 
 possible expenditure of physical strength in running 
 bases. Suppose, on the other hand, that the first five 
 men of the other side had made clean home runs, and 
 that the other three were on bases, ready to be batted 
 home by the ninth man, as in the case of the nine 
 men first at the bat in the game. What would then 
 have been accomplished? Simply the same number 
 of runs as by the single base hitters, but at what com- 
 parative cost would the runs have been obtained? 
 The answer is, that while, in the first case, the bats- 
 
I4S THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 men who had scored and earned their runs by single 
 hits, would be free from fatii^ue in running bases, 
 and ready for active field work at once; the home 
 run hitters would be partially exhausted with their 
 hundred and twenty yards spurts at their utmost 
 speed, and unfit for their field duties without, some 
 rest. This is but one view of the subject of the 
 costly character of the home run style of hitting, 
 when compared to first-class team work in batting, 
 in going in for single base hits, and good sacrifice hits 
 after trying to place balls. Home runs are, of course, 
 usefid, but they should only be made the chief effort 
 of a batsman's play in team work when the bases are 
 occupied, and it will pay to run the chance of failure. 
 Even then we prefer to see a good placer of a ball 
 come to the bat, rather than a slugger. Another 
 objection to home run hitters, lies in the fact, that, as 
 a class, they become the easiest victims to strategic 
 pitching. Besides the desire for the eclat attached 
 to home run hitting elicited by the applause from the- 
 ignorant crowd, which acts as an inducement, there arc 
 the scoring rules of the game, and the mistaken sys 
 tem of press reporting in vogue. The former give • 
 official prominence to the records of total base-hir 1 
 and ignores sacrifice-hits. The reporters, as a get 
 eral rule, see nothing worthy of special praise aside 
 from "two-baggers,'' "three-baggers,'' and "home- 
 runs." The custom of singling out for publication 
 the names of batsmen who make these hits and runs 
 is responsible for their striving more for this sort of 
 glory than for the best interests of the club they 
 
THE ART OF liAiriNG. I49 
 
 1-epresent. Alike in the field and at tlie bat, a man 
 may do the most cfFectivc work in that branch of 
 base ball technically called "sacrifice-play,'' and yet 
 not receive a word of credit for it at the hands oi 
 many of the reporters. Only let him get in a home- 
 run, even though it be off the weakest kind of pitch- 
 ing, and down will go his name in the score, and 
 laudatory press reports will follow. All this is a hin- 
 drance to the policy of "playing for the side," which 
 is the great essential of success, and the only way 
 for players to render a club the most effective service. 
 Were the recording of two and three base-hits and 
 home-runs abandoned as a feature of scoring, and the 
 recording of sacrifice-hits and other points of play 
 incidental to earnest and honest co-operative work 
 substituted, there would be much less of "playing for 
 a record," regardless of the club interests, than there 
 now is. 
 
 WAITING FOR GOOD BAT.I.S. 
 
 The waiting for good balls is a strong point to 
 play on a pitcher if it be properly done; but it will 
 not do to wait for balls as too many batsmen do, that 
 is to wait until they get a certain particular ball which 
 is a pet ball with them. One thing essential in 
 waiting for good balls is to be always ready to take 
 prompt advantage of them when they do come, 
 and not to be caught napping while out of good 
 form for hitting. It is no discredit to a batsman to 
 be sent to his base on called balls; on the contrary 
 if he has the keen sight and good judgment to stand 
 
150 THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 at the bat ready every time the ball is pitched to meet 
 it and Iiit it to advantage— something requiring nervy 
 play m the face of a battery of sv^ift curved balls — 
 and he can thus drive the pitcher into giving him his 
 base on balls, the batsman is playing a good point. 
 Asa rule, the batsman who can judiciously wait for 
 good balls is a player who very frequently proves 
 troublesome to quick-tempered pitchers. These latter 
 dislike being foiled in their efforts to get batsmen out 
 of form, and when they find a man waiting patiently 
 ball after ball until one comes within reach, and also 
 showing himself to be on the alert to meet tJie 
 first good ball that comes within his reach, they are 
 very npl to begin to put on extra speed and thereby 
 lose command of the ball to an extent sufiicient to 
 have balls called on them, and the result is that the 
 batsman is rewarded for his skilful policy by having 
 his base given him on called balls. Wait for good 
 balls, but do it while being fully on the alert to meet 
 them when they do come in. 
 
 BATTING FOR THE SIDE. 
 
 Up to the season of 1888 there was not one out of 
 twenty professional batsmen who ever troubled them- 
 selves about playing for the side at the bat. Fielders 
 might do it sometimes, because a failure to do so is 
 more apparent to outsiders than it is in batting. But to 
 sacrifice the prevailing ambition to play for a batting 
 record at the shiine of playing for the side is 
 seldom thought of by the majority of the professional 
 class of batsmen. Batting for the side is only shown 
 when the efforts of the batsman are exerted solely 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. ^5^ 
 
 in the interests of enabling his side to score runs. 
 For instance, suppose the first striker has made a base 
 hit and earned and secured first base. The point for 
 the succeeding batsman to play before all others is to 
 get that runner forwarded to second base or further 
 round if he can. The batsman who goes in for a 
 record only, never troubles himself about the runner 
 who is on the base waiting for a chance to steal to 
 the next base, or to be batted round. He only thinks 
 of the "big hit" he wants to make on his own special 
 account. If in striving for this special hit, he either 
 forces the runner out and thereby gets a base himself 
 or is put out by a running catch in the out-field he 
 considers himself in "hard luck" when such a result 
 is entirely due to his willful and studied neglect of 
 scientific batting. On the other hand if he is a team 
 player — that is a player who in his biitting as well as 
 fielding makes his own special record of secondary 
 importance to the interests of the team as a whole in 
 winning the game, his whole attention when he goes 
 to the bat will be devoted to the point of doing his 
 best to forward the runner round, if on first base, or 
 in getting the runner home if the latter is on third. 
 In other words, he does his best to play for the side. 
 In doing this he is just as ready to make a sacrifice 
 hit as in any other way to give advantage to the 
 team he is in. 
 
 PLAYING FOR A RECORD. 
 
 Though, under the existing method of making out 
 
152 THE ART OP BATTING. 
 
 the 3'early averages of a ©limteaiii, It apparently pays 
 A batsman better to play for a record than to bat for 
 the side In his team work, the hitter poHcy In the 
 long run will Inure more to his ultimate benefit than 
 any mere record playing. The latter shows In the 
 list of averages and that Is all It does. Take the 
 nine men who lead In the average at the bat In the 
 records of a season's play and place them In a team 
 against nine men who are known to excel in good 
 team work In batting for the side, and the former 
 would prove to be no match for the latter In winning 
 the series of matches for the championship. 
 
 In the first place it is not such batting as 
 Is now In vogue that wins matches, but superior field- 
 ing and base running, the latter especially. When 
 batsmen learn the art of skilful batting then that de 
 jDartment of the game will be more of an essential oi 
 success In winning matches than It now Is. In the 
 meantime sharp base running and good field support 
 of effective pitching has far more to do with victory 
 than has the style of batting hitherto In vogue, which 
 is largely that of batting for a record. 
 
 It would surprise some of the managers of base 
 ball clubs could they get at the Inside of the profes- 
 sional player's work and see how many batsmen 
 sacrifice the interests of their club by efforts to play 
 for an Individual record. The publishing of weekly 
 and monthly averages at the bat also tends strongly 
 to Induce the batsmen to go for Individual records; 
 and It is pertinent to remark just here that the 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. l53 
 
 season's averages as far as published exhil)it very 
 plainly the utter useless^aess of attempting to estimate 
 a player's value to his team by the figures of his 
 batting averages. 
 
 CONFIDENCE IN HITTING. 
 
 Confidence in one's ability to hit the ball with 
 effect is half the battle in batting. To go up to the 
 bat with a feeling of expectancy of failure and only a 
 hope of success, is simply to court defeat. Confidence 
 in hitting is born of a plucky and nervy determina- 
 tion to deserve success by skillful eff'orts to secure it. 
 It won't do to face the p tcher with any feeling of 
 doubt as to your ability to punish his pitching; nor 
 can you attain any degree of confidence in batting if 
 you have any fear of the .speed of the delivery. You 
 must face the hot fire courageously, depending upon 
 keen sight to watch the direction of the ball closely ; 
 and also stand in such form, when ready to meet the 
 ball from a swift delivery, as to insure your being 
 able to step aside safely to avoid the impending blow 
 from a badly pitched ball. There is an innate feeling 
 of confidence in one's ability to hit the ball, which is 
 the result of a practical knowledge of all the jooints 
 of play in batting, whirh leads a batsman skilled in 
 scientific hitting to punisK pitching when the slugging 
 style of batsman invariably fails. Such a batsman 
 goes up to the bat without a doubt as to his being 
 able to " hit the pitching," and this confident feeling 
 is the ver}^ power which enables him to succeed. 
 
1.54 THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 Without it, practice in batting fails of its primary 
 purpose, which is to give the batsman confidence in 
 hitting. The difference between being confident in 
 hitting and kicking confidence, is often strikingly 
 illustrated when batsmen fiice a noted strategist for 
 the first time. If, when they go to the bat, they are 
 told that they are about to face the most effective 
 pitcher in the country, they will at once imagine 
 that every ball he sends in is fraught with some dan- 
 ger or other to the hope of a successful hit, which 
 at once deprives them of what little confidence they 
 otherwise might have had. On the other hand, if 
 the pitcher is one they only know of as an untried 
 man in the position — no matter what his real ability 
 may be — they go up to the bat with a degree of con- 
 fidence which almost insures success at the outset. 
 Frank Pidgeon's remark to the Eckfords when they 
 went to the bat to face the Atlantics in the olden 
 days, illustrates the depressing effect prestige of skill 
 has in depriving batsmen of confidence in hitting. 
 Frank said to his men one ckiy, on the old Manor 
 House grounds, when the Eckfords were losing 
 ground in their game with the Atlantics, " Go up to 
 the bat, men, and forget all about these fellows being 
 the Atlantics, and think they are only an ordinary 
 nine you're playing against." It is just such a feeling 
 as Frank referred to in this case that loses half the 
 games played. Indeed, some teams, when they face 
 noted rival?, are beaten before they strike a single 
 blow. 
 
THE ART OF BATTINC. 155 
 
 Sometimes a sudden degree of confidence is in. 
 spired in a certain class of batsmen, when they reach 
 a particular innings in a match, one, for instance, in 
 which tliey have been generally lucky enough to score 
 runs; and it frequently happens that they will then 
 and there "get onto a streak of batting " which will 
 enable tbeni to c^raiic ddcat. it w.-^s a jieruliarity of tho 
 old Atlantic batsmen that they never felt discouraged 
 or lost hope of ultinoate success in a match until the 
 last man was out in the last innings, and the feeling 
 of confidence in batting which was thus inspired, en- 
 abled them to pull many an apparently lost game out 
 of the fire. Let a man go up to the bat to face the 
 pitcher with the idea that he is too difficult a pitcher 
 to punish, and the very lack of confidence in his own 
 power will make him an easy victim. Let, however, 
 the batsman face the pitching confident that he can, 
 by his quick sight, command of the bat, and ability to 
 prevent the fielder from outwitting him, make good 
 hits, and as sure as the ball comes within his legiti- 
 mate reach he will hit it safely five times out of six. 
 To retain this confidence, therefore, is the essential 
 point in batting; to destroy it, the great point in 
 pitching. 
 
 THE ORDER OF STRIKING. 
 
 The placing of batsmen in their order of striking, 
 is an important part of a captain's duties. Hitherto 
 very little judgment, as a rule, has been exhibited in 
 this work. In watching the team's play at the bat 
 :n practice games early in the spring, note particularly 
 
15^ THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 their style of hitting, and according to the pecidiari- 
 ties of their melhod of batting, place them in their 
 order at the bat. 
 
 In arranging your order of striking, see that strong 
 hitters follow poor batsmen, and that the good base 
 runners precede them. For instance, suppose your 
 best out fielder, or your pitcher or catcher, is not as 
 skillful at the bat as the others, in placing him on the 
 books as a striker put a good base runner's name 
 down before him, and a good hitter after him; by 
 this means the chances for the first base being vacated 
 by the time he is ready to make it, will be increased, 
 as likewise those for two runs being obtained after he 
 has made his base. Never put three first-class men 
 together, but let them face the pitcher alternately. 
 Neither put three poor hitters together, but support 
 each, if possible, as above recommended. Let your 
 first striker always be the coolest hand of the nine. 
 
 A NINE AT THE BAT. 
 
 In managing your nine at the bat, see that the 
 striker is not teased by others of the nine into hit- 
 ting at a ball that does not suit him. Nothing is 
 more annoying to a batsman than to have two or 
 three calling out to him to wait for this ball, or 
 to hit at that, or not to hit at another, and so on. 
 Every man knows what ball he wants, and should be 
 allowed to use his own judgment. If the position of 
 the game requires that the striker should either be 
 
THE ART OF BATTING. 1^7 
 
 more particular than usual in selecting a ball, or 
 less so, let him be quietly posted on the subject 
 before he takes his stand, or otherwise you ex- 
 pose your hand to your opponent. Nothing bothers 
 a field more than for batsmen to follow up a good 
 hit by striking quickly in succession, and running 
 the bases rapidly. In such cases extra risks may 
 be taken, especially when two bases are occupied, 
 for the result of two or three sharp hits in succes- 
 sion is to discourage the pitcher, get him excited, 
 and the field confused. Consider that you have 
 always gained a point, and a good one too, when 
 you have got your opponents growling at each 
 other in the field, for nothing tends to demoralize a 
 nine more than fault-finding at just such periods of 
 a game as this. Many a brilliant rally — the result 
 of following up a lucky hit with quick play at the 
 bat — has led nines to victory where defeat would cer- 
 tainly have ensued had the opposing nine in the field 
 preserved their coolness and judgment instead of los- 
 ing their tempers, and their presence of mind. 
 Watch the movements of the fielders and warn your 
 batsmen accordingly. When a change of pitching- 
 is made from fast to slow, put your batsmen on their 
 guard so that they may make a change in timing the 
 ball. 
 
■58 
 
 THE ART OF BATTING. 
 
 FOUL AND FAIR BALLS. 
 
 The important difference between balls hit high 
 from the bat and those hit almost directly to the 
 <;round, as applicable to the rule defining fair and foul 
 hit balls, is frequently lost sight of, alike by players 
 and spectators. If a ball be hit up in the air it becomes 
 ''fair" or "foul" according to its falling on "fiiir" or 
 "foul" ground. But if it be Jiit direct to the ground^ 
 it becomes "fair" or "foul" according to its JiJial stop- 
 page on "fair" or "foul" ground before passing cither 
 first or third base. The appended diagram illustrates 
 the difference above referred to. 
 
 ^<>c^:.,v.^^-=- 
 
 Under the new rules a ball batted to the ground 
 which touches or rolls over first or third bases is a 
 Fair ball. To be I^oid it must pass to foul ground 
 before touching or passing over or by either first oi 
 third bases. 
 
Tim ART OF BASE RUNNING. 1 59 
 
 THE ART OF BASE RUNNING. 
 
 Each season's experience only shows more and 
 more the fact that good base running is one of the 
 most important essentials of success in winning games. 
 Effective pitching is a great aid to success, so is skill- 
 ful batting; but it is equally as necessary to a suc- 
 cessful issue of a contest after a base has been ob- 
 tained by a good hit, that other bases should be 
 secured by skillful running of bases. It is a difficult 
 task to get to first base safely in the fice of the effect- 
 ual fire from a first-class club " battery," backed up 
 by good support in the field; but it is still more diffi- 
 cult when the base is. safely reached, to secure the 
 other three bases. The fact is, a greater degree of 
 intelligence is required in the player who would excel 
 in base running than is needed either in fielding or in 
 batting. Any soft-brained heavy weight can occa. 
 sionally hit a ball for a home run, but it requires a 
 shrewd, intelligent player, with his wits about him, 
 to make a successful base runner. Indeed, base run- 
 ning is the most difficult work a player has to do in 
 the game. To cover infield positions properly, a de- 
 gree of intelligence in the players is required which 
 the majority do not as a general rule possess; but to 
 excel in base running such mental qualifications are 
 required as only a small minority are found to jDossess. 
 Presence of mind, prompt action on the spur of the 
 moment; quickness of perception, and coolness and 
 nerve are among the requisites of a successful base 
 nsnner. Players habitually accustomed to hesitate to 
 
r^)0 TliR ART OF BASE RUNNING. 
 
 do this, that or the other, in attending to the varied 
 points of a game, can never be^zome good base run- 
 ners. There is so httle time allowed to judge of the 
 situation that prompt action becomes a necessity with 
 the base runner. He must "hurry up" nil the time. 
 Then, too, he must be daring in taking risks, while at 
 the same time avoiding recklessness in his running. 
 Though fast running is an important aid in base run- 
 ning, a fast lunner who lacks judgment, coolne*, and, 
 in fact, "hcadwork*' in his running, will not equal a 
 poor runner who possesses the nerve and intelligence 
 required for the work. The great point in the art of 
 base running is to know Avheni to start, and to start 
 promptly when the favorable opportunity is offered. 
 One difficulty a base runner, trying to steal to second, 
 invariably ewcounters, is his having to watch either 
 the pitcher or catcher closely. He cannot watch 
 both carefully, and thercjforc he must make his selec- 
 tion as to which player he will look after. If the 
 catcher is an accurate and swift thrower to the bases, 
 he is the man to be attended to. But if the pitcher is 
 one who has a method of delivery which includes a 
 number of s-pecial movements which occupy rnore 
 than the ordinary time in delivering the ball, then he 
 is the man to watch, for he will surely afford the run- 
 ner the required opportunity to steal a base or to 
 secure a balk, if the runner only plays his part prop- 
 erly. A sharp base runner can bother a pitcher ex- 
 ceedingly by skillful dodging. It requires no small 
 amount of nerve and coolness for a pitcher to watch 
 a runner closely, and yet to play the strategical points 
 of his pitching with full effect. 
 
THE ART OF BASE IIUNXING. l6l 
 
 For many years past, season after season, have we 
 endeavored to impress upon the professional fraternity 
 the importance of skiUfiil base running in winning 
 matches, as well as to show them the many fine 
 points that were capable of being developed in first 
 class base running. Judging from the fact that the 
 finest base running ever witnessed in the professional 
 arena was exhibited during the season of 1888, the 
 indications are that the lessons that have been taught 
 have at last yielded fruit. With all the skill shown last 
 season in this special department of the game, there 
 are yet some things to be learned. Experience is fre- 
 quently a good teacher, but her lessons are costly at 
 times. There are players, however, who will not 
 derive their knowledge of how to play the points of the 
 game well from any other source, and hence it is that 
 years have been required to develop a degree of skill 
 in base play and base running which miglit otherwise 
 have been attained in a single season or two. 
 
 POINTS OF PLAY IN BASE RUNNING. 
 
 The moment a batsman hits a ball he should run 
 for first base with all his speed. lie has no business 
 to stop and see if the ball will be caught and fielded; 
 he should act at all times as if a chance was offered to 
 reach first, and go for that base as fast as he can. 
 Many a base has been lost by the refusal of the bats- 
 man to run because he thought the hit ball would 
 surely be caught, or be easily fielded to first base in 
 time. He should never take either event as some- 
 
l62 THE ART OF BASE RUNNING. 
 
 thing granted, but expect errors to aid him and act 
 accordingly. 
 
 In running down to second, when a runner is on 
 third base, he should run in such a way as to invite 
 a throw to second to cut him off, and then try to get 
 the attention of the infielders fixed on his own move- 
 ments so as to give the runner on third base a chance 
 to get home. Of course in playing this point it must 
 be done only when there is but one man out, unless 
 the situation is such as to make a single run decisive 
 in ending the contest, in which case his play will be 
 to delay the putting out of himself between first and 
 second until the runner on third crosses the home 
 plate, or otherwise the run will not count. 
 
 In running to first base the runner should be care- 
 ful to avoid running in front of the base line, because 
 that alone puts him out. It is always safe, too, to 
 turn to the right after overrunning first base, unless 
 the hit is very sure for more than one base, as he can- 
 not profit by the rule of exemption from being put out 
 after overrunning the base if he turns to the left. 
 
 In running bases on fly balls caught in the outfield, 
 the moment such high ball is hit, and there is an}^ 
 chance of its being caught, he should hold the base 
 he occupies, and in such a way as to be ready to start 
 quickly for the next base the moment the ball is 
 caught, and not run half way down first, only to have 
 to return and touch the base he left after the ball is 
 caught, before he can run to the next base. 
 
 When two men are out, and a runner is on third, 
 
THE ART OF BASE RUNNING. 163 
 
 and the batted ball is being fielded to cut off a runner 
 between second and third — not forced off — the runner 
 on third should make the best time possible in running 
 home, so as to cross the plate before the other runner 
 is put out, otherwise his run will not count. 
 
 One question a base runner has to consider in taking 
 risks, is, what are the chief obstacles to my success ? 
 These are chiefly swift and accurate throwing by the 
 catchers to the basemen ; surety in holding the ball, 
 and activity of movement in touching a runner on the 
 part of the baseman. Now, all of these essentials are 
 materially affected by the degree of confidence a 
 catcher or baseman has in his ability to catch a runner 
 napping Given a quick runner, who lacks judgment 
 as to the time to start for a base, and who is apt to 
 hesitate ; and a good thrower from home to second, 
 with a good man at second to take the ball, and the 
 latter will catch the former napping four times out of 
 six. But let these same two fielders have a sharp, 
 shrewd and daring base runner, like Ward, of New- 
 York, Kelly, of Chicago, Latham, of St. Louis, and a 
 few others who could be named, to bother them, and, in 
 four cases out of six, they will lose confidence in their 
 work, and the result will be the safety of the reckless 
 base runner. Runners like the above named players, 
 " rattle " the swiftest of throwers from home to second, 
 and also the surest holders of balls at bases. Better to 
 run a great risk than to take no risk at all in your run- 
 ning. 
 
164 THE ART OF BASE RUNNING. 
 
 WATCHING THE PITCHER. 
 
 Runners to bases from first to second should watch 
 the delivery of the pitcher closely, for from the 
 peculiarity of his style of delivery will they get their 
 cue for a good start. Some pitchers have a totally 
 different manner of delivering the ball when a run- 
 ner on a base to that which he has when the bases 
 are clear. The difference should be watched closely 
 and taken advantage of. In doing this, too, watch 
 the pace of the delivery, for there is a point for the 
 runner in this, inasmuch as some catchers find it im- 
 possible to gather well for an accurate throw, unless 
 the ball is sent in with less speed than ordinary. 
 Watch also the position of the catcher, as to his 
 standing right behind the center of the home plate 
 or to the right of it; for if the latter, he is then pre- 
 pared to throw it to a base; if not, the pitcher will 
 then mostly be sending the ball in hot for strikes, 
 in which case the runner will have a show to take a 
 base. 
 
 FAILING TO RUN QUICK. 
 
 A base runner ought to be fined by his manager 
 every time he fails to run at his best the moment he 
 drops his bat at the home plate, or starts from any 
 other base, either on a hit or on a force. It simply 
 shows stupidity or indifference, to run slow, or to stop 
 running, simply because an apparently sure catch or 
 an out is before you. Nothing is sure in base ball, 
 and, therefore, the plan is to play for uncertain results 
 in the fielding all the time ; that is, play to expect a 
 
THE ART OF BASE RUNNING. 165 
 
 ball to be muffed, or dropped, or badly thrown. This 
 is the secret in the success of daring base running. 
 
 OVER-RUNNING BASES. 
 
 The rule allowing the first base to he over-run was 
 adopted in 1870, and it has become a permanent law 
 of the game. The proposition now is to apply the 
 same rule to the other bases, and there is everything 
 to favor it. In the first place, there is no doubt that 
 allowing all the bases to be over-run will save many a 
 sprained ankle and injured limb, while in no respect 
 does it take from the interest of the game or lessen 
 the skill required in base play. There is not the least 
 merit in putting out a player who has over- run second 
 or third base, the skill of the baseman alone being 
 shown in putting him out before he touches the base. 
 In applying the rule to all the bases, it will be best to 
 require the player over-running second and third, if 
 not the first, to return and retouch the over-run base 
 If the rule be not the same for all bases, the umpire 
 will find it difficult to decide points on second and 
 third bases, which would not be the case if the base 
 runner were required to return and retouch the base. 
 
 LEAVING A BASE TOO QUICKLY. 
 
 It should be a rule governing every man at the bat 
 that whenever his play makes him a base runner 
 temporarily or otherwise— he should drop his bat at 
 once and make every effort to reach first base without 
 regard to the hit he makes or the nature of the play 
 which makes him a runner. Time and again have 
 we seen runners from home base put out entirely 
 
l66 THE ART OF CASE RUNNING. 
 
 from their neglect to do their best to reach first base, 
 simply because they thought the ball was hit so as to 
 make a catch certain on its being fielded to first in 
 time an easy task. No chance for a catch or for field- 
 ding a ball in time is certain in base ball. To s op 
 running after starting for first on the basis of such a 
 certainty is folly, and any player who indulges in it 
 should be fined for committing a willful error. 
 
 Never leave a held base until it is absolutely sure 
 that you are out, or obliged to return from a base. 
 Many a runner has been put out when he was safe 
 from not being sure before he left his base to return 
 from the diamond that he was actually out, or that 
 the inning was ended. 
 
 OVER-RUNNING FIRST BASE. 
 
 In over-running first base, runners will have to bear 
 in mind the fact that under the new rules every run 
 ner over-running first base, must turn to the right as 
 he passes the base, or otherwise he forfeits exemption 
 from being put out in returning to touch the base. 
 He should also remember that after over-running first 
 base he is not obliged to return and touch the base 
 before running to second, unless in over-running it he 
 failed to touch it in passing it. The runner, therefore, 
 should always touch the base in passing it, and then 
 it becomes optional with him to return to the base 
 and touch it, or continue on to second base. In other 
 words, he is not obliged to retouch first base after 
 over-running and touching it once. 
 
 It should be borne in mind that in turning to the 
 
THE ART OF BASE RUNNING. 167 
 
 right or left, after over-running first base, it all de- 
 pends as to whether you are on foul ground or not, as 
 the new rules admit of the runner turning to the right 
 or left on foul ground. But it is best always to turn 
 to the right. 
 
 The sliding in business will be easier this season than 
 ever before, on account of the runners being saved 
 from bruised hips by the use of the new sliding pad. 
 A new reading of an old proverb comes in apropos 
 here, and that is : " A slide in time saves an out."*' 
 Practice makes perfect in doing the slide effectively. 
 Be prompt in getting up sharply after a slide in, as the, 
 ball may be muffed in the collision. 
 
 Under the new code of 1889 base runners are not 
 required to return and retouch bases in returning to 
 the bases they left when a foul ball is hit. For in- 
 stance, if a runner reaches third on a foul ball hit before 
 he becomes aware that the ball was foul, he can return 
 direct to home base instead of going round the diamond 
 as was required in 1888. 
 
 In the case, too, of a fair hit being made when a 
 runner is on first base, and the hit ball touches the per- 
 son or the clothing of the umpire while he is on fair 
 ground, the base runner is entitled to the base he ran 
 to when the hit was made. 
 
 When a runner is on first base and is trying to steal 
 to second, and the catcher, in throwing the ball to 
 second to cut the runner off, hits th"e person or 
 clothing of the umpire when he is standing on fair 
 ground, the runner is obliged to return to the base he 
 left when the throw was made. 
 
i68 
 
 POINTS IN THE GAME, 
 
 CHANGING THE BATTERY. 
 
 A very important point for a captain of a nine to 
 consider is that of changing his battery, when tlie 
 batting side is beginning to become confident in their 
 hitting. Too little of this change of pitching in a 
 game, as a strategic point to play, was done last sea- 
 son, and more than should have been on an errone- 
 ous estimate of the pitcher's alleged punishment by 
 the batting side. 
 
 A strong point for a captain to play in the matter 
 of changing pitchers in a game, is to keep a sharp 
 lookout for the time when his batting opponents be- 
 gin to get confidence in hitting ; for, the moment they 
 do then is the time to change your pitcher, even if 
 he is not being punished to any serious extent. Con- 
 fidence is a great thing in a ball match, whether in 
 regard to fielding or batting, but in batting it is 
 everything. The spurts in hitting, which so fre- 
 quently puzzle the calculations of a pitcher, are en- 
 tirely the result of a sudden accession of confidence 
 in the batsmen, who follow the lead of a successful 
 base-hitter with hit after hit, where previous innings' 
 play had seen them retire from easy chances given the 
 field. The moment, therefore, the captain sees this 
 confidence attained, he should change his pitcher at 
 once, no matter whether he is being punished or not, 
 it being very important to nip this kind of thing in 
 the bud. Of course, it is alway proper for a cap- 
 
POINTS IN THE GAME. 169 
 
 tain to change his pitcher when he finds that he is 
 being badly punished ; but he should be sure, before 
 this is done, that he has been punished. And the 
 captain should bear in mind the important fact that 
 no pitcher can be punished by his batting opponents 
 unless his pitching be hit for earned runs. A pitcher 
 is never punished by batsmen so long as no runs are 
 being earned by base-hits. If he gives chances for 
 outs off his pitching which his field support fails to 
 accept, the fault is with the fielders, and not in the 
 pitching. This changing of pitchers on the basis of 
 base hits scored from the delivery, without regard to 
 the runs scored being earned or not, is a blunder, as 
 well as an injustice to the pitcher. There is another 
 cause for a pitcher's being punished by the batsmen 
 which was last season too seldom taken into account, 
 and that is the fact that a pitcher is frequently ob- 
 liged to *^ let up " on his catcher, when the latter has 
 either been disabled by some injury to his hands, or 
 in some other way been prevented from playing up to 
 his customary high mark behind the bat. In such a 
 case a change of pitchers is comparatively useless. 
 In thus reducing his speed, and thereby the effective- 
 ness of his curve, the pitcher necessarily lays himself 
 oi)en to punishment at the hands of his batting op- 
 ponents. In such a case, if there is no strong change 
 catcher at command, it becomes a question as to 
 which is the more costly — the passed balls and 
 missed fly tips consequent upon the inability of the 
 catcher to support the regular speed of his pitcher, or 
 the chances offered for base hits off the reduced pace. 
 
lyo POINTS IN THE GAME. 
 
 and the lessened effect of the curve necessitated by 
 the pitcher's being obliged to " let up " on his catcher. 
 
 CHANGING POSITIONS. 
 
 One of the now obsolete customs of a match game 
 of ball used to be the change of positions in the field 
 nearly every inning. As a general thing, this is the 
 merest child's play. In the early part of the season, 
 when engaged in an unimportant match with a 
 weaker nine, a change or two may be allowable by 
 way of experience; but under no circumstances, ex- 
 cept those of illness or injury, should a position in the 
 nine— except that of the pitcher — be changed during 
 playing of a nutch, or, in fact, during the entire sea- 
 son, unless you can substitute a palpably superior 
 player, or in case experience proves the inability of 
 any one man to properly play his position in a nine. 
 The folly of taking a base player off because he fails to 
 hold a ball or two badly thrown or swiftly batted to 
 him, or of putting a base player in the field because the 
 fielder happens to drop a difficult ball to hold, or even 
 to miss any easy catch, is so apparent to any ordinary 
 observer, that we are surprised to see it adopted by any 
 but captains of weak judgment. What reasons have 
 you to suppose that the player committing an error in 
 one position, and that, -too, one he is familiar with, is 
 going to do better in one he is not at home in ; and 
 if he does not, whence the advantage of the change? 
 For, as the game is now played, every position in the 
 fields requires to be equally well played, to insure suc- 
 cess in a match game. 
 
POINTS IN THE GAME. 17^ 
 
 BRINGING IN THE TENTH MAN. 
 
 The new rule which went into operation for the first 
 
 time in 1889, and which admits of the captain of the 
 
 team substituting a new pitcher or catcher or occupant 
 
 of c^ny other position in the game, in the place of a 
 
 player already in the nine, whom he deems it good 
 
 policy to retire, was adopted mainly to do away with 
 
 the disputes which had frequently arisen on questions 
 
 of doubt as to a player being sufficiently disabled or 
 
 sick as to admit of his retiring from the field and 
 
 being replaced by a new man. Moreover, there was 
 
 a desire expressed to test the question, by practical 
 
 experiment, as to whether it would not add to the 
 
 attractions of the game to open the door to a new 
 
 strategical point of play in allowing a new man to be 
 
 introduced in the game to relieve a pitcher or catcher 
 
 who, though not disabled to the extent requirmg the 
 
 substituting of another player under the rule of illness 
 
 or injury or disablement, was nevertheless not able 
 
 to play his position up to the required standard. 
 
 Then, too, there was another point developed which 
 
 the new rule admitted of being played to advantage, 
 
 and that was the placing of a young pitcher in the 
 
 team at a period of a contest when the score had 
 
 virtually given the game to the side having the 
 
 effective veteran pitcher in position, whom it was 
 
 desirous to save from unnecessary labor in the box. 
 
 It remains for the experience of the season of 1889 to 
 
 see how this new rule will work 
 
172 POINTS IN THE GAME. 
 
 BATTERY TEAMS. 
 
 More and more each season is the fact becoming 
 evident that pitchers and catchers must learn to play 
 in pairs if it be desired to develop the full strength of 
 the attacking force. It was by their perfect work- 
 ing together as a pair that White and Spalding did 
 such valuable service as the champion players in their 
 position for five successive years, four years in the 
 Boston champion team and one year in the Chicago 
 nine. We were glad to see that pitchers played v/ith 
 more care last season in throwing to bases to catch 
 base runners napping, than ever before. This custom 
 is more to be honored in the breach than in the ob- 
 servance. More bases are given through errors re- 
 sulting from this throwing to bases by pitchers in one 
 game than there are players put out by it in a dozen 
 matches. The improvement in batting- each season 
 requires a more rapid delivery from a pitcher than 
 hitherto. We do not mean in regard to his pace in 
 delivery, but his being quick in his movements in 
 delivering the ball. The object of this and prompt 
 return of the ball from the catcher is to keep the 
 batsman so closely confined to his work as to make 
 him nervous about striking. A slow style of move- 
 ment in sending in the ball gives the batsman time to 
 collect his wits about him and to judge the ball ; a 
 quicker delivery has the reverse effect. Many a bats- 
 man, of the heavy hitting order especially, has been 
 sent to grief in being called out on strikes, owing to 
 the way the pitcher has bothered him by his quick 
 and accurate delivery of the ball over the base. 
 
NATIONAL PLAYING RULES 
 
 — OF— 
 
 Professional Base Ball Clubs 
 
 AS ADOPTED JOINTLY BY THE NATIONAL LEAGUE AND 
 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, AND GOVERNING ALL CLUBS 
 PARTIES TO THE NATIONAL AGREEMENT. 
 
 1889. 
 THE BALL GROUND. 
 
 Rule i. The Ground must be an enclosed field, sufficient in 
 size to enable each player to play in his position as required by 
 these Rules. 
 
 Rule 2. The Inlield must be a space of ground thirty yards 
 square. 
 
 THE BASES. 
 
 Rule 3. The Bases must be 
 
 Sec. I. Four in number, and designated as First Bas«4, Second 
 Base, Third Base and Home Base. 
 
 Sec, 2. The Home Base must be of whitened rubber twelve 
 inches square, so fixed in the ground as to be even with the sur- 
 face, and so placed in the corner of the infield that two of its sides 
 will form part of the boundaries of said infield. 
 
 Sec. 3. The First, Second and Third Bases must be canvas 
 bags, fifteen inches square, painted white, and filled with some soft 
 material, and so placed that the center of the second base shall be 
 upon its corner of the infield, and the center o the first and 
 third bases shall be on the lines running to and from second base 
 and seven and one-half inches from the foul lines, providing that 
 each base shall be entirely within the foul lines. 
 
 Sec. 4. All the bases must be securely fastened in their posi- 
 tions, and so placed as to be distinctly seen by the Umpire. 
 
 the foul lines. 
 
 Rule 4. The Foul Lines must be drawn in straight lines 
 from the outer corner of the Home Base, along the outer edge of 
 the First and Third Bases, to the boundaries of the Ground. 
 
 173 
 
1 74 PLAYING RULES. 
 
 THE roSITION LINES. 
 
 Rule 5. The Pitcher's Lines must be straight lines form- 
 ing the boundaries of a space of ground, in the infield, five 
 and one-half feet long by four feet wide, distant fifty feet from 
 the center of the Home Base, and so placed that the five and 
 one-half feet lines would each be two feet distant from and par- 
 allel with a straight line passing through the center of the Home 
 and Second Bases. Each corner of this space must be marked 
 by a flat iron plate or stone six inches square, fixed in the ground 
 even with the surface. 
 
 Rule 6. The Catcher's Lines must be drawn from the outer 
 corner of the Home Base, in continuation of the Foul Lines, 
 straight to the limits of the Ground back of Home Base. 
 
 Rule 7. The Captain's or Coacher's Lines must be a line 
 fifteen feet from and parallel with tlie Foul Lines, said lines com- 
 mencing at a line parallel with and seventy-five feet distant from 
 the catcher's lines, and running thence to the limits of the 
 grounds. 
 
 Rule 8. The Players' Lines must be drawn from the Catcher's 
 Lines to the limits of the Ground, fifty feet distant from and 
 parallel with, the foul lines. 
 
 Rule 9. The Batsman's Lines must be straight lines forming 
 the boundaries of a space on the right, and of a similar space on 
 the left of the Home Base, six feet long by four feet wide, extend- 
 ing three feet in front of and three feet behind the center of the 
 Home Base, and with its nearest line distant six inches from the 
 Home Base. 
 
 Rule 10. The Three Feet Lines must be drawn as follows : 
 From a point on the Foul Line from Home Base to First Base, 
 and equally distant from such bases, shall be drawn a line on Foul 
 Ground, at a right angle to said Foul Line, and to a point three 
 feet distant from it ; thence running parallel with said Foul Line, 
 to a point three feet distant from the First Base ; thence in a 
 straight line to the Foul Line, and thence upon the Foul Line to 
 point of beginning. 
 
 Rule II. The fines designated in Rules 4, 5, 6. 7, 8, 9, and 10 
 must be marked with chalk or other suitable material, so as to be 
 distinctly seen by the Umpire. They must all be so marked their 
 entire length, except the Captain's and Player's Lines, which must 
 be so marked for a distance of at least thirty-five yards from the 
 Catcher's Lines. 
 
 the ball. 
 
 Rule 12. The Ball. 
 
 Sec. I. Must not weigh less than nve or more than five 
 and one-quarter ounces avoirdupois, and measure not less than 
 
PLAYING RULES. 175 
 
 nine nor more than nine and one-quarter inches in circumference. 
 The Spalding- League Ball, or the Reach American Association 
 Ball must be used in all games played under these rules. 
 
 Sec. 2. For each championship game two balls shall be fur- 
 nished by the Home Club to the Umpire for use. When the ball 
 in play is batted over the fence or stands, on to foul ground out of 
 sight of the players, the other ball shall be immediately put into 
 play by the Umpire. As often as one of the two in use shall be 
 lost, a new one must be substituted, so that the Umpire may at all 
 times, after the game begins, have two for use. The moment the 
 Umpire delivers the alternate ball to the catcher or pitcher it comes 
 into play, and shall not be exchanged until it, in turn, passes out 
 of sight on to foul ground. 
 
 Sec. 3. In all games the ball or balls played with shall 
 be furnished by the Home Club, and the last ball in play becomes 
 the property of the winning club. Each ball to be used in cham- 
 pionship games shall be examined, measured and weighed by the 
 Secretary of the Association, inclosed in a paper box and sealed 
 with the seal of the Secretary which seal shall not be broken ex- 
 cept by the Umpire in the presence of the captains of the two 
 contesting nines after play has been called. 
 
 Sec. 4. Should the ball become out of shape, or cut or ripped 
 so as to expose the yarn, or in any way so injured as to be — in the 
 opinion of the Umpire — unlit for fair use, the Umpire, on being 
 appealed toby either captain, shall at once put the alternate ball 
 into play and. call for a new one. 
 
 THE BAT. 
 
 Rule 13. The Bat. 
 
 Sec. I. Must be made wholly of wood, except that the handle 
 may be wound with twine or a granulated substance applied, not 
 to exceed eighteen inches from the end. 
 
 Sec. 2. It must be round, except that a portion of the surface 
 may be flat on one side, but it must not exceed two and one-half 
 inches in diameter in the thickest part, and must not exceed forty- 
 two inches in length. 
 
 the players and their positions. 
 
 Rule 14. The players of each club in a game shall be nine 
 in number, one of whom shall act as Captain, and in no case shall 
 less than nine men be allowed to play on e.-ich side. 
 
 Rule 15. The players' positions shall be such as may be as- 
 signed them by their Captain, except that the Pitcher must take 
 his position within the Pitcher's Lines, as defined in Rule 5. 
 When in position on the field, all players will be designated 
 " Fielders" in these rules. 
 
176 PLAYING RULES. 
 
 Rule i6. Players in uniform shall not be permitted to seat 
 themselves among the spectators. 
 
 Rule 17. Every Club shall be required to adopt uniforms for 
 its players, and each player shall be required to present himself 
 upon the field duiing said game in a neat and cleanly condition, 
 but no player shall attach anything to the sole or heel of his shoes 
 other than the ordinary base ball shoe plate. 
 
 THE pitcher's POSITION. 
 
 Rule iS. The pitcher shall take his position facing the bats- 
 man with both feet square on the ground, one foot on the rear 
 line of the " box." He shall not raise either foot, unless in the 
 act of delivering the ball, nor make more than one step in such 
 delivery. He shall hold the ball, before the delivery, fairly in 
 front of his body, and in sight of the Umpire. When the pitcher 
 feigns to throw the ball to a base he must resume the above posi- 
 tion and pause momentarily before delivering the ball to the bat. 
 
 THE BATSMLN's POSITION — ORDER OF BATTING. 
 
 Rule 19. The batsmen must take their positions within the 
 Batsmen's Lines, as defined in Rule 9, in the order in which they 
 are named on the score, which must contain the batting order of 
 both nines, and be submitted by the Captains of the opposing 
 teams to the Umpire before the game, and when approved by 
 him THIS SCORE must be followed except in the case of a substi- 
 tute player, in which case the substitute must take the place of 
 the original player in the baiting order. After the first inning 
 the first striker in each inning shall be the batsman whose name 
 follows that of the last man who has completed his turn — time at 
 bat — in the preceding inning. 
 
 Rule 20. Sec. i. When their side goes to the bat the players 
 must immediately return to and seat themselves upon the players' 
 bench and remain there until the side is put out, except when bats- 
 man or base runner. All bats not in use must be kept in the bat 
 racks, and the two players next succeeding the batsman, in the order 
 in which they are named on the score, must be ready with bat in 
 hand to promptly take position as batsman ; provided, that the 
 Captain and one assistant only may occupy the space between the 
 players' Hues and the Captain's lines to coach base runners. 
 
 Sec. 2. No player of the side at bat, except when Batsman, 
 shall occupy any portion of the space within the Catcher's Lines, 
 as defined in Rule 6. The triangular space behind the Home 
 Base is reserved for the exclusive use of the Umpire, Catcher and 
 Batsman, and the Umpire must prohibit any player of the side "at 
 bat " from crossing the same at any time while the ball is in the 
 
PLAYING RULES. 
 
 177 
 
 hands of, or passing between, the Pitcher and Catcher, while 
 standing in their positions. 
 
 Sec. 3. The players of the side "at bat" must occupy the 
 portion of the field allotted them, but must speedily vacate any 
 portion thereof that may be in the way of the ball, or of any 
 Fielder attempting to catch or field it. 
 
 players' benches. 
 Rule 21. The Players' Benches must be furnished by the 
 home club, and placed upon a portion of the ground outside the 
 Players' lines. They must be twelve feet in length, and must be 
 immovably fastened to the ground. At the end of each bench 
 must be immovably fixed a bat rack, with fixtures for holding 
 twenty bats ; one such rack must be designated for the exclusive 
 use of the Visiting Club, and the other for the exclusive use of 
 the Home Club. 
 
 THE GAME. 
 
 Rule 22 Sec. i. Every Championship Game must be com- 
 menced not later than two hours before sunset. 
 
 Sec. 2. A Game shall consist of nine innings to each con- 
 testing nine, except that, 
 
 (a) If the side first at bat scores less runs in nine innings than 
 the other side has scored in eight innings, the game shall then 
 terminate. 
 
 (b) If the side last at bat in the ninth inning scores the win- 
 ning run before the third man is out, the game shall terminate, 
 upon the return of the ball to the pitcher. 
 
 A tie game. 
 Rule 23. If the score be a tie at the end of nine innings to 
 each side, play shall only be continued until the side first at bat 
 shall have scored one or more runs than the other side, in an 
 equal number of innings, or until the other side shall score one 
 or more runs than the side first at bat. 
 
 A DRAWN GAME. 
 
 Rule 24. A Drawn Game shall be declared by the Umpire 
 when he terminates a game on account of darkness or rain, after 
 five equal innings have been played, if the score at the time is 
 equal on the last even innings played ; but if the side that went 
 second to bat is then at the bat, and has scored the same number 
 of runs as the other side, the Umpire shall declare the game 
 drawn, without regard to the score of the last equal innings. 
 
 A called GAME. 
 
 Rule 25 If the Umpire calls "Game "on account of dark- 
 ness or rain at any time after five innings have been completed 
 
1 78 PLAYING RULES. 
 
 by both sides, the score sliall be that of the last equal innings 
 played, unless the side second at bat shall have scored one or 
 more runs than the side first at bat, in which case the score of the 
 game shall be the total number of runs made. 
 
 A FORFEITED GAME. 
 
 Rule 26. A Forfeited Game shall be declared by the Umpire 
 in favor of the club not in fault, at the request of such club, in 
 the following cases : 
 
 Sec. I. If the nine of a club fail to appear upon the field, or 
 being upon the field, fail to begin the game within five m.inutes 
 after the Umpire has called ' Play," at the hour appointed for 
 the beginning of the game, unless such delay in appearing or in 
 commencing the game be unavoidable. 
 
 Sec. 2. If, after the game has begun, one side refuses or fails to 
 continue playing, unless such game has been suspended or termi- 
 nated by the Umpire 
 
 Sec. 3. If, after play has been suspended by 'the Umpire, one 
 side fails to resume playing within five minutes after the Umpire 
 has called " Play." 
 
 Sec. 4. If, in the opinion of the Umpire, any one of these rules 
 is willfully violated. 
 
 Sec. 5. If, after ordering the removal of a player, as authorized 
 by Rule 57, Sec. 5, said order is not obeyed within five minutes. 
 
 Sec. 6. In case the Umpire declares a game forfeited, he shall 
 transmit a written notice thereof to the President of the Associa- 
 tion within twenty four hours thereafter. 
 
 NO GAME. 
 
 Rule 27. " No Game " shall be declared by tne Umpire if 
 he shall terminate play on account of rain or darkness, before five 
 innings on each side are completed. 
 
 substitutes. 
 
 Rule 28. Sec. i. In every championship game each team 
 shall be required to have present on the field, in uniform, at least 
 one or more substitute players. 
 
 Sec. 2. One player, whose name shall be printed on the 
 score card as an extra player, may be substituted at the end of 
 any completed innings by either club, but the player retired shall 
 not thereafter participate in the game. In addition thereto a sub- 
 stitute may be allowed at any time in place of a player disabled 
 in the game then being played, by reason of illness or injury, of 
 the nature and extent of which the Umpire shall be the sole 
 judge. 
 
 Sec. 3. The Base Runner shall not have a substitute run for 
 him, except by consent of the Captains of the contesting teams. 
 
PLAYING RULES. 179 
 
 CHOICE OF INNINGS— CONDITION OF GROUND. * 
 
 Rule 29. The choice of innings shall be given to the Captain 
 of the Home Club, who shall also be the sole judge of the fit- 
 ness of the ground for beginning a game after rain. 
 
 THE DELIVERY OF THE BALL — FAIR AND UNFAIR BALLS, 
 
 Rule 30. A Fair Ball is a ball delivered by the Pitcher while 
 standing wholly within the lines of his position, and facing the 
 batsman, the ball, so delivered to pass over the home base, not 
 lower than the batsman's knee, nor higher than his shoulder. 
 
 Rule 31. An Unfair Ball is a ball delivered by the Pitcher, 
 as in Rule 30, except that the ball does not pass over the Home 
 Base, or does pass over the Home Base above the batsman's 
 shoulder, or below the knee. 
 
 BALKING. 
 
 Rule 32. A Balk is 
 
 Sec. I. Any motion made by the Pitcher to deliver the ball 
 to the bat without delivering it, and shall be held to include any 
 and every accustomed motion with the hands, arms or feet, or po- 
 sition of the body assumed by the Pitcher in his delivery of the 
 ball, and any motion calculated to deceive a base runner, except 
 the ball be accidentally dropped. 
 
 Sec. 2. The holding of the ball by the Pitcher so long as to 
 delay the game unnecessarily ; or 
 
 Sec. 3. Any motion to deliver the ball, or the delivering the 
 ball to the bat by the Pitcher when any part of his person is upon 
 ground outside of the lines of his position, including all prelim- 
 inary motions with the hands, arms and feet. 
 
 DEAD BALLS. 
 
 Rule 33. A Dead Ball is a ball delivered to the bat by the 
 Pitcher that touches the Batsman's bat without being struck at, or 
 any part of the Batsman's person or clothing while standing in 
 his position without being struck at ; or any part of the Umpire's 
 person or clothing, while on foul ground, without first passing the 
 Catcher. 
 
 Rule 34. In case of a Foul Strike, Foul Hit ball not legally 
 caught out, Dead Ball, or Base Runner put out for being struck 
 by a fair hit ball, the ball shall not be considered in play until it 
 is held by the Pitcher standing in his position. 
 
 BLOCK BALLS. 
 
 Rule 35. Sec. i. A Block is a batted or thrown ball that is 
 stopped or handled by any person not engaged in the game. 
 
i8o PLAYING RULES. 
 
 Sic. 2. Whenever a Block occurs the Umpire shall declare 
 it, and Base Runners may run the bases, without being put out, 
 until the ball has been returned to and held by the Pitcher 
 standing in his position. 
 
 Sec. 3. In the case of a Block, if the person not engaged 
 in the game should retain possession of the ball, or throw or kick 
 it beyond the reach of the Fielders, the Umpire should call 
 " Time," and require each base runner to stop at the last base 
 touched by him until the ball be returned to the Pitcher standing 
 in his position. 
 
 THE SCORING OF RUNS. 
 
 Rule 36. One Run shall be scored every time a Base Runner, 
 after having legally touched the first three bases, shall touch the 
 Home Base before three men are put out. If the third man is 
 forced out, or is put out before reaching First Base, a run shall not 
 be scored. 
 
 THE BATTING RULES. 
 
 Rule 37. A Fair Hit is a ball batted by the batsman, standing 
 in his position, that first touches the ground, the First Base, the 
 Third Base, any part of the person of a player. Umpire, or any 
 other object that is in front of or on either of the Foul Lines, or 
 batted directly to the ground by the Batsman, standing in his 
 position, that (whether it first touches Foul or Fair Ground) 
 bounds or rolls within the Foul Lines, between Home and First, 
 or Home and Third Bases, without interference by a player. 
 
 Rule 38. A Foul Hit is a ball batted by the Batsman, stand- 
 ing in his position, that first touches the ground, any part of the 
 person of a player, or any other object that is behind either of the 
 Foul Lines, or that strikes the person of such Batsman, while 
 standing in his position, or batted directly to the ground by the 
 Batsman, standing in his position, that (whether it first touches 
 Foul or Fair Ground) bounds or rolls outside the Foul Lines, 
 between Home and First or Home and Third Bases, without 
 interference by a player. Provided, that a Foul Hit not rising 
 above the Batsman's head and caught by the Catcher playing 
 within ten feet of the Home Base, shall be termed a Foul Tip. 
 
 BALLS BATTED OUTSIDE THE GROUNDS. 
 
 Rule 39. When a batted ball passes outside the grounds, the 
 Umpire shall decide it Fair should it disappear within, or Foul 
 should it disappear outside of the range of the Foul Lines, and 
 Rules 37 and 38 are to be construed accordingly. 
 
 Rule 40. A Fair batted ball that goes over the fence at a less 
 distance than two hundred and ten feet from Home Base shall 
 
PLAYING RULES. iSl 
 
 entitle the Batsman to two bases and a distinctive line shall be 
 marked on the fence at this point. 
 
 STRIKES. 
 
 Rule 41. A Strike is 
 
 Sec. I. A ball struck at by the Batsman without its touching 
 his bat ; or 
 
 Sec. 2. A Fair Ball, legally delivered by the Pitcher, but not 
 struck at by the Batsman. 
 
 Sec. 3. Any obvious attempt to make a foul hit. 
 
 Rule 42. A Foul Strike is a ball batted by the Batsman when 
 any part of his person is upon ground outside the lines of the 
 Batsman's position. 
 
 THE BATSMAN IS OUT. 
 
 Rule 43. The Batsman is out : 
 
 Sec. I. If he fails to take his position at the bat in his order 
 of batting, unless the error be discovered and the proper Batsman 
 takes his position before a fair hit has been made, and in such 
 case the balls and strikes called must be counted in the time at 
 bat of the proper Batsman : Provided, this rule shall not take 
 effect unless the out is declared before the ball is delivered to the 
 succeeding Batsman. 
 
 Sec. 2. If he fails to take his position within one minute 
 after the Umpire has called for the Batsman. 
 
 Sec. 3. If he makes a Foul Hit, other than a Foul Tip as 
 defined in Rule 38 and the ball be momentarily held by a 
 Fielder before touching the ground, provided it be not caught in 
 a Fielder's hat or cap, or touch some object other than a Fielder 
 before being caught. 
 
 Sic. 4. If he makes a Foul Strike. 
 
 Sec. 5. If he attempts to hinder the Catcher from fielding 
 the ball, evidently without effort to make a fair hit. 
 
 Sec. 6. If, while the First Base be occupied by a base run- 
 ner, three strikes be called on him by the Umpire, except when 
 two men are already out. 
 
 Sec. 7. If, while making the third strike, the ball hits his 
 person or clothing. 
 
 Sec. 8. If, after two strikes have been called, the Batsman 
 obviously attempts to make a foul hit, as in Section 3, Rule 41. 
 
 BASE RUNNING RULES. 
 
 WHEN THE BATSMAN BECOMES A BASE RUNNER. 
 
 Rule 44. The Batsman becomes a Base Runner : 
 Sec I. Instantly after he makes a Fair Hit. 
 
l82 
 
 PLAYING RULES. 
 
 Sec. 2. Instantly after four Balls have been called by the 
 Umpire. 
 
 Sec. 3. Instantly after three strikes have been declared 
 by the Umpire. 
 
 Sec. 4. If, while he be a Batsman, his person or clothing be 
 hit by a ball from the pitcher, unless — in the opinion of the Um- 
 pire — he intentionally permits himself to be so hit. 
 
 Sec. 5 Instantly after an illegal delivery of a ball by the 
 pitcher 
 
 BASES TO be touched. 
 
 Rule 45. The Base Runner must touch each Base in regu- 
 lar order, viz.: First, Second, Third and Home Bases; and when 
 obliged to return (except on a foul hit) must retouch the base or 
 bases in reverse order He shall only be considered as holding 
 a base after touching it, and shall then be entitled to hold such 
 base until he has legally touched the next base in order, or has 
 been legally forced to vacate it for a succeeding Base Runner. 
 
 entitled to bases. 
 
 Rule 46. The Base Runner shall be entitled, without being 
 put out, to take one Base in the following cases : 
 
 Sec. I. If, while he was Batsman, the Umpire called four 
 Balls. 
 
 Sec. 2. If the Umpire awards a succeeding Batsman a base 
 on four balls, or for being hit with a pitched ball, or in case of an 
 illegal delivery — as in Rule 44, Sec. 5 — and the Base Runner is 
 thereby forced to vacate the base held by him. 
 
 Sec. 3. If the Umpire calls a "balk." 
 
 Sec. 4. If a ball delivered by the Pitcher pass the Catcher 
 and touch the Umpire or any fence or building within ninety feet 
 of the Home Base. 
 
 Sec. 5. If upon a fair hit the Ball strikes the person or 
 clothing of the Umpire on fair ground. 
 
 Sec. 6. If he be prevented from making a base by the ob- 
 struction of an adversary. 
 
 Sec. 7. If the Fielder stop or catch a batted ball with his 
 hat or any part of his dress. 
 
 returning to bases. 
 
 Rule 47. The Base Runner shall return to his Base, and shall 
 be entitled to so return without being put out. 
 
 Sec. I. If the Umpire declares a Foul Tip (as defined in 
 Rule 38) or any other Foul Hit not legally caught by a Fielder. 
 
 Sec. 2. If the Umpire declares a P^oul Strike. 
 
 Sec. 3. If the Umpire declares a Dead Ball, unless it be also 
 
r-LAYING RULES. 1S3 
 
 the fourth Unfair Ball, and he be thereby forced to take the next 
 base, as provided in Rule 46, Sec. 2. 
 
 Sec. 4. If the person or clothing of the Umpire is struck 
 by a ball thrown by the Catcher to intercept a Base Runnete 
 
 WHEN BASE RUNN^.RS ARE OUT. 
 
 Rule 48. The Base Runner is out : 
 
 Sec. I. If, after three strikes have been declared against him 
 while Batsman, and the Catcher fail to catch the third strike ball, 
 he plainly attempts to hinder the Catcher from fielding the ball. 
 
 Sec. 2. If, having made a Fair Hit while Batsman, such fair 
 hit ball be momentarily held by a Fielder, before touching the 
 ground or any object other than a Fielder . Provided, it be not 
 caught in a Fielder's hat or cap. 
 
 Sec. 3. If. when the Umpire has declared three strikes on 
 him, while batsman, the third strike ball be momentarily held by 
 a Fielder before touching the ground. Provided, it be not caught 
 in a Fielder's hat or cap, or touch some object other than a Fielder 
 before being caught. 
 
 Sec. 4. If, after Three Strikes or a Fair Hit, he be touched 
 >vith the ball in the hand of a Fielder before such Base Runner 
 touches Y'xxsX Base. 
 
 Sec. 5. If, after Three Strikes or a Fair Hit, the ball be se- 
 curely held by a Fielder, while touching First Base with any part 
 of his person, before such Base Runner touches First Base. 
 
 Sec. 6. If, in running the last half of the distance from Home 
 Base to First Base, he runs outside the Three Feet Lines, as 
 defined in Rule 10; except that he must do so if necessary to 
 avoid a Fielder attempting to field a batted ball, and in such case 
 shall not be declared out. 
 
 Sec. 7. If, in running from First to Second Base, from Sec- 
 ond to Third Base, or from Third to Home Base, he runs more 
 than three feet from a direct line between such bases to avoid 
 being touched by the ball in the hands of a Fielder ; but in case a 
 Fielder be occupying the Base Runner's proper path, attempting 
 to field a batted ball, then the Base Runner shall run out of the 
 path and behind said Fielder, and shall not be declared out for so 
 doing. 
 
 Sec. 8. If he fails to avoid a Fielder attempting to field a 
 batted ball, in the manner prescribed in Sections 6 and 7 of this 
 Rule ; or if he, in any way, obstructs a Fielder attempting to field 
 a batted ball, or intentionally interferes with a thrown ball : Pro- 
 vided, That if two or more Fielders attempt to field a batted ball, 
 and the Base Runner comes in contact with one or more of them, 
 the Umpire shall determine which Fielder is entitled to the bene- 
 
t84 playing rules. 
 
 fit of this Rule, and shall not decide the Base Runner out for com- 
 ing in contact with any other Fielder. 
 
 Sec. 9. If, at any time while the ball is in play, he be 
 touched by the ball in the hands of a PMelder, unless some part of 
 his person is touching a base he is entitled to occupy : Provided, 
 The ball be held by the Fielder after touching him ; but (-exception 
 as to First Base), in running to First Base, he may overrun said base 
 without being put out for being off said base, after first touching 
 it, provided he returns at once and retouches the base, after which 
 he may be put out as at any other base. If, in overrunning First 
 Base, he also attempts to run to Second Base, or, after passing the 
 baiie he turns to his left from the foul line, he shall forfeit such 
 exemption from being put out. 
 
 Sec. id. If, when a Fair or Foul Hit ball, other than a foul 
 tip as referred to in Rule 38, is legally caught by a Fielder, such 
 ball is legally held by a Fielder on the base occupied by the Base 
 Runner when such ball was struck (or the I^ase Runner be touched 
 with the ball in the hands of a Fielder), before he retouches said 
 base after such Fair or Foul Hit ball was so caught. Provided, 
 That the Base Runner shall not be out in such case, if, after the 
 ball was legally caught as above, it be delivered to the bat by the 
 Pitcher before the Fielder holds it on said base, or touches the 
 Base Runner with it ; but if the Base Runner in attempting to 
 reach a base, detaches it before being touched or forced out he 
 shall be declared safe. 
 
 Sec. II. If, when a Batsman becomes a Base Runner, the 
 First Base, or the First and Second Bases, or the First, Second 
 and Third Bases, be occupied, any Base Runner so occupying 
 a base shall cease to be entitled to hold it until any following Base 
 Runner is put out and may be put out at the next base or by being 
 touched by the ball in the hands of a Fielder in the same manner 
 as in running to First Base, at any time before any following 
 Base Runner is put out. 
 
 Sec. 12. If a Fair Hit ball strike him before touching the fielder 
 and in such case no base shall be run unless forced by the Bats- 
 man becoming a Base Runner, and no run shall be scored. 
 
 Sec. 13. If when running to a base or forced to return to a 
 base, he fail to touch the intervening base or bases, if any, in the 
 order prescribed in Rule 45, he may be put out at the base he 
 fails to touch, or by being touched by the ball in the hands of a 
 Fielder, in the same manner as in running to First Base. 
 
 Sec. 14. If, when the Umpire calls * Play," after any sus- 
 pension of a game, he fails to return to and touch the base he 
 occupied when " Time " was called before touching the next base. 
 
LAYING RULES. 185 
 
 WHEN BATSMAN OR BASE RUNNER IS OUT. 
 
 Rule 49, The Umpire shall declare the Batsman or Rase 
 Runner out, without waiting for an appeal for such decision, in 
 all cases where such player is put out in accordance with these 
 rules, except as provided in Rule 48, Sections 10 and 14. 
 
 COACHING RULES. 
 
 Rule 50. The Captains and Coachers are restricted in coach- 
 ing to the Base Runner only, and are not allowed to address any 
 remarks except to the Base Runner, and then only in words of 
 necessary direction ; and no player shall use language which will 
 in any manner refer to or reflect upon a player of the opposing 
 club, or the audience. To enforce the above, the Captain of the 
 opposite side may call the attention of the Umpire to the offence, 
 and upon a repetition of the same the club shall be debarred from 
 further coaching during the game. 
 
 THE UMPIRE. 
 
 Rule 51. The Umpire shall not be changed during the pro- 
 gress of a game, except for reasons of illness or injury. 
 
 HIS POWERS AND JURISDICTION. 
 
 Rule 52. Sf.c. i. The Umpire is master of the Field from 
 the commencement to the termination of the game, and is entitled 
 to the respect of the spectators, and any person offering any 
 insult or indignity to him must be promptly ejected from the 
 grounds. 
 
 Sec. 2. He must compel the players to observe the provisions 
 of all the Playing Rules, and he is hereby invested with authority 
 to order any player to do or omit to do any act as he may deem 
 necessary, to give force and effect to any and all of such provi- 
 sions. 
 
 SPECIAL DUTIES. 
 
 Rule 53. The Umpire's duties shall be as follows : 
 Sec. I. The Umpire is the sole and absolute judge of play. 
 In no instance shall any person be allowed to question the cor- 
 rectness of any decision made by him except the Captains of the 
 contending nines, and no other player shall at such time leave 
 his position in the field, his place at the bat. on the bases or play- 
 ers' bench, to approach or address the Umpire in word or act up- 
 on such disputed decision. Neither shall any Manager or other 
 officers of either club — except the Captains as before mentioned 
 — be permitted to go upon the field or address the Umpire in 
 regard to such disputed decision, under a penalty of a forfeiture 
 
1 86 PLAYING RULES. 
 
 of the game to the opposing club. The Umpire shall in no case 
 appeal to any spectator for information in regard to any case, and 
 shall not reverse his decision on any point of play on the testi- 
 mony of any player or bystander. 
 
 Sec. 2. Before the commencement of a Game, the Um- 
 pire shall see that the rules governing all the materials of the 
 game are strictly observed. He shall ask the Captain of the 
 Home Club whether there are any special ground rules to be en- 
 forced, and if there are, he shall see that they arc duly enforced, 
 provided they do not conflict with any of these Rules. He shall 
 also ascertain whether the fence in the rear of the Catcher's posi- 
 tion is distant ninety feet from the Home Base. 
 
 Sec. 3. The Umpire must keep the contesting nines playing 
 constantly from the commencement of the game to its termination, 
 allowing such delays only as are rendered unavoidable by accident, 
 injury or rain. He must, until the completion of the game, require 
 the players of each side to promptly take their positions in the field 
 as soon as the the third man is put out, and must require the 
 first striker of the opposite side to be in his position at the bat 
 as soon as the fielders are in their places. 
 
 Sec. 4. The Umpire shall count and call every " unfair 
 ball*' delivered by the Pitcher, and every "dead ball," if 
 also an unfair ball, as a " ball," and he shall also count and call 
 every " strike." Neither a " ball " nor a " strike " shall be counted 
 or called until the ball has passed the home base. He shall also 
 declare every ''Dead Ball," "Block," "Foul Hit," "Foul 
 Strike," and "Balk." 
 
 Rule 54. For the special benefit of the patrons of the game, 
 and because the offences specified are under his immediate juris- 
 diction, and not subject to appeal by players, the attention of the 
 Umpire is particularly directed to possible violations of the purpose 
 and spirit of the Rules of the following character : 
 
 Sec. I. Laziness or loafing of players in taking their places 
 in the field, or those allotted them by the Rules when their side is 
 at the bat, and especially any failure to keep the bats in the racks 
 provided for them ; to be ready (two men) to take position as 
 Batsmen, and to remain upon the Players' Bench, except when 
 otherwise required by the Rules. 
 
 Sec. 2. Any attempt by players of the side at bat, by calling 
 to a Fielder, other than the one designated by his Captain, to field 
 a ball, or by any other equally disreputable means seeking to dis- 
 concert a Fielder. 
 
 Sec. 3. The Rules make a marked distinction between hin- 
 drance of an adversary in fielding a batted or thrown ball. This 
 has been done to rid the game of the childish excuses and claims 
 formerly made by a Fielder failing to hold a ball to put out a Base 
 
PLAYING RULES. l8/ 
 
 Runner. But there may be cases of a Base Runner so flagrantly 
 violating the spirit of the Rules and of the Game in obstructing a 
 Fielder from tieldino'. i thrown ball that it would become the duty 
 of the Umpire, not only to declare the Base Runner " out'' (and 
 to compel any succeeding Base Runners to hold their bases), but 
 also to impose a heavy fine upon him. For example : If the Base 
 Runner plainly strike at the ball while passing him, to prevent its 
 being caught by a Fielder; if he holds a Fielder's arms so as to dis- 
 able him from catching the ball, or if he run against or knock the 
 Fielder down for the same purpose, 
 
 CALLING "play" AND "TIME." 
 
 Rule 55. The Umpire must call " Play," promptly at the 
 hour designated by the Home Club, and on the call of "Play" the 
 game must immediately begin. When he calls " Time," play shall 
 be suspended unlil he calls " Play " again, and during the interim no 
 player shall be put out, base be run, or run be scored. The Um- 
 pire shall suspend play only for an accident to himself or a player 
 (but in case of accident to a Fielder, " Time" shall not be called 
 until the ball be returned to, and held by the Pitcher, standing in 
 his position), or in case rain falls so heavily thaf the spectators are 
 compelled, by the severity of the storm, to seek shelter, in which 
 case he shall note the time of suspension, and should such rain con- 
 tinue to fall thirty minutes thereafter, he shall terminate the game; 
 or to enforce order in case of annoyance from spectators. 
 
 Rule 56. The Umpire is only allowed, by the Rules, to call 
 " Time " in case of an accident to himself or a player, a " Block," 
 as referred to in Rule 35, Sec. 3, or in case of rain, as defined by 
 the Rules. The practice of players suspending the game to discuss 
 or contest a discussion with the Umpire, is a gross violation of 
 the Rules, and the Umpire must promptly fine any player who 
 interrupts the game in this manner. 
 
 INFLICTING fines. 
 
 Rule 57. The Umpire is empowered to inflict fines of not less 
 than $5.00 nor more than I25.00 for the first offence on players 
 during the progress of a game, as follows : 
 
 Sec I. For indecent or improper language addressed to the 
 audience, the Umpire or any player. 
 
 Sec. 2. For the Captain or Coacher willfully failing to remain 
 within the legal bounds of his position, except upon an appeal by 
 the Captain from the Umpire's decision upon a misinterpretation 
 of the rules. 
 
 Sec. 3. For the disobedience by a player of any other of his 
 orders, or for any other violation of these Rules. 
 
l88 PLAYING RULES. 
 
 Sec. 4. In case the Umpire imposes a fine on a player, he 
 shall at once notify the Captain of the offending player's side, and 
 shall transmit a written notice thereof to the President of the 
 Association or League within twenty-four hours thereafter, under 
 the penalty of having said fine taken from his own salary. 
 
 Sec. 5. A repetition of any of the above offences shall, at 
 the discretion of the Umpire, subject the offender either to a repe- 
 tition of the fine or to removal from the field and the immediate 
 substitution of another player then in uniform. 
 
 FIELD RULES. 
 
 Rule 58. No Club shall allow open betting or pool selling 
 upon its grounds, nor in any building owned or occupied by it. 
 
 Rule 59. No person shall be allowed upon any part of the 
 field during the progress of the game, in addition to the players in 
 uniform, the Manag'^r on each side and the Umpire ; except such 
 officers of the law as may be present in uniform, and such officials 
 of the Home Club as may be necessary to preserve the peace. 
 
 Rule 60. No Umpire, Manager, Captain or Player shall ad- 
 dress the audience during the progress of a game, except in case 
 of necessary explanation. 
 
 Rule 61. Every Club shall furnish sufficient police force upon 
 its own grounds to preserve order, and in the event of a crowd 
 entering the iield during the progress of a game, and interfering 
 with the play in any manner, the Visiting Club may refuse to 
 play further until the field be cleared. If the ground be not 
 cleared within fifteen minutes thereafter, the Visiting Club may 
 claim, and shall be entitled to, the game by a score of nine runs 
 to none (no matter what number of innings have been played). 
 
 general definitions. 
 
 Rule 62. "Play" is the order of the Umpire to begin the game 
 or to resume play after its suspension. 
 
 Rule 63. "Time" is the order of the Umpire to suspend play. 
 Such suspension must not extend beyond the day of the game. 
 
 Rule 64. ' 'Game" is the announcement by the Umpire that the 
 game is terminated. 
 
 Rule 65 "An Inning" is the term at bat of the nine players 
 representing a Club in a game, and is completed when three of 
 such players have been put out as provided in these Rules, 
 
 Rule 66. "A Time at Bat" is the term at bat of a Batsman. 
 It begins when he takes his position, and continues until he is put 
 out or becomes a Base Runner ; except when, because of being 
 hit by a pitched ball, or in case of an illegal delivery by the 
 Pitcher, as in Rule 44. 
 
 Rule 67. "Legal" or "Legally" signifies as required by these 
 Rules. 
 
PLAYING RULES. _ 1S9 
 
 SCORING. 
 
 Rule 68. In order to promote Uniformity in Scoring Cham- 
 pionship Games, the following- instructions, suggestions and defi- 
 nitions are made for the benefit of scorers, and they are required 
 to make ajl scores in accordance therewith. 
 
 Sec. I. The first item in the tabulated score, after the play- 
 er's name and position, shall be the number of times he has been 
 at bat during the game. The time or times where the player 
 has been sent to base by being hit by a pitched ball, by the pitch- 
 er's illegal delivery, or by a base on balls shall not be included in 
 this column. 
 
 Sec. 2. In the second column should be set down the runs 
 made by each player. 
 
 Sec. 3. In the third column should be placed the first base 
 hits made by each player. A base hit should be scored in the 
 following cases : 
 
 When the ball from the bat strikes the ground within the 
 foul lines, and out of reach of the fielders. 
 
 When a hit ball is partially or wholly stopped by a fielder 
 in motion, but such player cannot recover himself in time to 
 handle the ball before the striker reaches First Base. 
 
 When a hit ball is hit so sharply to an infielder that he cannot 
 handle it m time to put out the batsman. In case of doubt over 
 this class of hits, score a base hit, and exempt the fielder from 
 the charge of an errr)r. 
 
 When a ball is hit so slowly towards a fielder that he cannot 
 handle it in time to put out the batsman. 
 
 That in all cases where a base runner is retired by being hit by 
 a batted ball, the batsman should be credited with a base hit. 
 
 When a batted ball hits the person or clothing of the Umpire, 
 as defined in Rule 37. 
 
 Sec. 4. In the fourth column shall be placed Sacrifice Hits, 
 which shall be credited to the batsman, who when but one man 
 is out advances a runner a base on a fly to the outfield or a ground 
 hit, which results in putting out the batsman, or would so result 
 if handled without error. 
 
 Sec. 5. The number of opponents put out by each player shall 
 be set down in the fifth column. W here a striker is given out by 
 the Umpire for a foul strike, or because he struck out of his turn, 
 the put-out shall be scored to the Catcher. 
 
 Sec. 6. The n..nber of times the player assists shall be set 
 down in the sixth column. An assist should be given to each 
 
IQO . PLAYING RULES. 
 
 player who handles the ball in assisting a run out or other play of 
 the kind. 
 
 An assist should be given to a player who makes a play in time 
 to put a runner out, even if the player who should complete the 
 play fails, through no fault of the player assisting. 
 
 And generally an assist should be given to each player who 
 handles the ball from the time it leaves the bat until it reaches 
 the player who makes the put out, or in case of a thrown ball, to 
 each player who throws or handles it cleanly and in such a way 
 that a put-out results, or would result if no error were made by 
 the receiver. 
 
 Sec. 7. An error shall be given in the seventh column for 
 each misplay which allows the striker or base runner to make one 
 or more bases when perfect play would have insured his being put 
 out, except that " wild pitches," " bases on balls," " bases on the 
 batsman being struck by a pitched ball," or case of illegal pitched 
 ball, balks and passed balls, shall not be included in said column. 
 In scoring errors of batted balls see Section 3 of this Rule. 
 
 STOLEN BASES. 
 
 Sec. 8. Stolen bases shall be scored as follows : 
 Any attempt to steal a base must go to the credit of the base 
 runner, whether the ball is thrown wild or muffed by the fielder, 
 but any manifest error is to be charged to the fielder making the 
 same. If the base runner advances another base he shall not be 
 credited with a stolen base, and the fielder allowing the advance- 
 ment is also to be charged with an error. If a base runner makes 
 a start and a battery error is made, the runner secures the credit 
 of a stolen base, and the battery error is scored against the player 
 making it. Should a base runner overrun a base and then be put 
 out, he should receive the credit for the stolen base. 
 
 E.\RNED RUNS. 
 
 Sec. 9. An earned run shall be scored every time the player 
 reaches the home base unaided by errors before chances have 
 been offered to retire the side. 
 
 THE SUMMARY. 
 
 Rule 6g. The Summary shall contain : 
 Sec. I. The number of earned runs made by each side. 
 Sec. 2. The number of two-base hits made by each player. 
 Sec. 3. The number of three-base hits made by each player. 
 Sec. 4. The number of home runs made by each player. 
 Sec. 5. The number of bases stolen by each player. . 
 
PLAYING RULES. 19 1 
 
 Sec. 6. The number of double and triple plays made by each 
 side, with the names of the players assisting in the same. 
 
 Sec. 7. The number of men given bases on called balls, by 
 each Pitcher. 
 
 Sec. 8. The number of men given bases from being hit by 
 pitched balls. 
 
 Sec. q The number of men struck out. 
 
 Sec. 10. The number of passed balls by each Catcher. 
 
 Sec. II. The number of wild pitches by each Pitcher. 
 
 Sec. 12. The time of game. 
 
 Sec. 13. The name of the Umpire. 
 
 AMENDMENTS. 
 
 Rule 70. No Amendment or change of any of these Na- 
 lional Playing Rules shall be made, except by a joint committee 
 on rules, consisting of three members from the National League 
 and three members from the American Association. Such com- 
 mittee to be appointed at the annual meetings of each of said 
 bodies to serve one year from the twentieth day of December of 
 each year Such committee shall have full power to act, provided 
 that such amendments shall be made only by an affirmative vote of 
 the majority of each delegation. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Page. 
 
 How Base Ball is I^layed 7 
 
 Diagram of Field lo 
 
 Primary Rules of Play 12 
 
 Professional Ball Playing 16 
 
 The Art of Pitching 21 
 
 The Correct Position 24 
 
 Strategy in Pitching .... 26 
 
 Speed in Delivery 34 
 
 How to Curve the Ball 35 
 
 Disguised Change of Pace 42 
 
 Pitching for Catches 47 
 
 Change of Pitchers 48 
 
 A Catcher's Assistance. ... 51 
 
 Balking 55 
 
 Battery Work 57 
 
 Hints to Pitchers 62 
 
 The Art of Fielding 64 
 
 The Catcher's Work 73 
 
 Base Play 79 
 
 Short Field Play 96 
 
 The Outfield Positions loi 
 
 Hints on Fielding no 
 
 The Art of Batting 114 
 
 Facing for Position 121 
 
 On Base Hits 132 
 
 Placing the Ball , 142 
 
 Sacrifice Hitting 144 
 
 Waiting for Balls 149 
 
 Confidence in Hitting 153 
 
 The Art of Base Running 159 
 
 Watching the Pitcher 164 
 
 Overrunning Bases . 165 
 
 Points in the Game 168 
 
 The New Rules for 18S9 173 
 
 192 
 
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 The old style of open backed gloves introduced by us sever- 
 al years ago is still adhered to, but the quality of material and 
 workmanship has been materially improved, until now we are 
 justified in claiming the best line of catchers' gloves in the 
 market. These gloves do not interfere with throwing, can be 
 easily put on and taken off, and no player subject to sore hands 
 should be without a pair. Our new patent seamless palm glove 
 is admittedly the finest glove ever made, and is used by all pro- 
 fessional catchers. We make them in ten different grades, as 
 follows: 
 
 Frice of Full lieft-Hand CJloves. 
 
 No. 3-0. Spalding's Special 
 League Catchers' Gloves. 
 Patented, both gloves with- 
 out seams in palm. Full 
 left-hand back stop glove, 
 made of heaviest Indian- 
 tanned or drab buckskin, the 
 very best that can be pro- 
 duced. The full left-hand 
 glove is extra padded and 
 sole leather finger tips to 
 prevent the low curve balls 
 from breaking or otherwise 
 injuring the fingers. The 
 right-hand glove is made with open back and finger- 
 less, thoroughly padded. We especially recom- 
 mend this glove for catchers. Each pair packed in 
 
 separate box ^c; 00 
 
 No. 4-0. Spalding's Special League Catchers* or Field- 
 ers' Gloves, full left-hand soft-tips, lined, drab color 
 
 buckskin 5 00 
 
 No. 2-0. Spalding's League Regulation Catchers' Gloves 
 full left-hand, with tips, good quality buckskin, same 
 
 style of gloves as 3-0, not quite so heavy 3 50 
 
 No. 3. A. Full left-hand "Spring Buck" with sole leather 
 
 tips 300 
 
 No. A. Full left-hand buckskin without tips 2 50 
 
 No. AA. Full left-hand oiled tan sheepskin, without 
 
 tips 125 
 
 cH'CAoo. A. 6. SPALDING & BROS, newvopk. 
 
SPAIiDINQ'S TRADB-MAHKED CATOHEH'S MASKS 
 
 No. 1-0. SrALDiNG's Regulation L,eague Mask, made of heavy 
 wire, -well padded and faced with horsehide, warranted first- 
 cl iss in every lespect $3 00 
 
 No. 1. Spalding's Boys' League Mask, made of heavy wire, 
 equally as heavy in proportion to size as the No. 2-0 mask. 
 It is made to fit a boy's f ice, and gives the same protection as 
 the League Mask . . .'. 2 50 
 
 AMATEUR MASKS. 
 
 To meet the demand for good masks at a low 
 price, we have manufactured a line of amateur 
 masks, which is superior to any mr k in the 
 miirket at the same price. We do not guarantee 
 these m isks, and believe that our Trade -Marked 
 Masks are worth more than the difiFerence in 
 price. 
 
 No. A. Amateur Mask, made the same 
 size and general style as the League 
 Mask, but with lighter wire, and faced 
 with leather. (We guarantee this mask 
 to be superior to so-called League or 
 professional masks sold by other manu- 
 facturers $1 75 
 
 No. B. Boys' Amateur Mask, similar 
 to ^o. A Mask, only made smiller to fit 
 
 Amateur Mask. a boy's face .... 150 
 
 Any of the above masks mailed post-paid on receipt of price. 
 
 SPALDING'S PATENT CELLULWD UMPIRE INDICATOR, 
 
 As shown in the above cut, is intended for the use of Base Ball Umpires 
 and Scorers to keep tally of the number of Strikes and Balls that may be 
 called. The illustration, which represents the exact size of the Indicator, 
 gives a good idea of its construction and mode of handhng. It can be 
 easily operated by the thumb or finger while held in the pa'm of the hand. 
 It has been highly recommended by all League ; nd Assocjation umpires 
 who haye seen it. 
 
 Price, each -. ;•■•.• 5"c 
 
 By mail postpaid on receipt of \ ri' e. 
 
 FW YORK. 
 
 CHICAGO 
 
 A. 6. SPALDING & BROS. N 
 
SPALDING'S TRADE-MARKED BATS. 
 
 Probably no class of Sportsmen are more particular about their weapons 
 than a professional ball player is abont his bat, lor it is a recognized fact, 
 that no player can excel as a batsman, unless he uses a first-class, well-pro- 
 portioned, thoroug-hly seasoned bat. A cheap, poor bat is worthless at any 
 price. Recognizing- that ball players would appreciate a good article, and 
 would willingly stand the slight additional expense, about eight years ago 
 we introduced "Spalding's Trade-marked Hats," and they proved so popu- 
 lar, and were so far ahead of anything else ever put upon the market, that 
 for a time it seemed impossible to keep up with the demand. We have im- 
 proved these bats from year to year, until now they are the bat par excel- 
 lence, and are used by every prominent professional player in America. 
 No. 3-0. No. 2-0. No. 1-0. No. 1. No. 3. No. 4. No. AA. 
 
 For testimonials and indorsements we refer to all professional ball players 
 in America. 
 
THE OFFICIAL, 
 
 Spalding League Ball. 
 
 ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR 1888. 
 
 NO. 1. SPATiDINQ'S OFFICIAIj LBAQtrE BAXjIi, To Clubs, 
 
 as adopted by the National Leagfue for ten consecu- Each. Per Doz. 
 live years, including iSSS; each ball wrapped in tin 
 foil and put up in a separate box as represented in 
 the above illustration, and sealed in accordance with 
 the latest Leaeue.regulations. Warranted to last 
 a full game without ripping or losing its elasticity 
 or shape. Beware of Counterfeits ; none 
 genuine without trade mark on each box and ball, . SI BO $15 00 
 
 If you cannot obtain this ball from your local dealer, send $1.50 to us, and 
 we will send it to you prepaid. 
 
 CHICAGO. 
 
 A. G. SPALDING & BROS, h 
 
 EW YORK. 
 
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