How to play baseball

Front matter

Class _ik\LEi>7

Bnolc . M IrS

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Preface

of the game to which they have devoted their attention, and where, by the use of their head, rather than speed and strength, they are successful.

The present book is designed to cover not only the way to play baseball and how different positions should be filled, but to offer suggestions as to the proper methods of training and practice. The erroneous ideas usually entertained by young players will be pointed out and the field of base ball covered in full. CORNELIUS McGILLICUDDY. (Connie Mack.)

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HARRY C. PULLIAM

President National League

Harry C. Pulliam

President National League

Harry C. Pulliam was born in Scottsville, Ky., thirty-three years ago. He is a graduate of Virginia University. He became a newspaper man in Louisville after graduation and was a successful base-ball writer for several years. In 1898 he resigned his position as city editor of the Louisville Commercial and accepted the presidency of the Louisville Club. In 1897 he was elected a member of the Kentucky Legislature and served one term.

Since 1898 Pulliam has been in the thick of all the fights that have disturbed the National League magnates. In 1899 Barney Dreyfuss secured control of the Louisville Club and Pulliam was deposed from the presidency. He was elected secretary and treasurer and continued to represent the club at the National League meetings.

In the fall of 1899 Dreyfuss and Pulliam engineered the biggest base-ball deal of recent years. They consolidated the Louisville and Pittsburg Clubs and sold fourteen players to Pittsburg, including Fred Clarke, Hans Wagner, Claude Ditchey and others, laying the foundation of the present Pittsburg champions.

Pulliam was elected secretary of the Pittsburg Club and retained that position until he was elected president of the National League at the December meeting in this city.

On December 12, 1902, Pulliam was unanimously elected president of the National League to succeed Nicholas E. Young, of Washington.

Ever since the ''Boy President," as Pulliam was called, joined the magnates in the councils he has been a very useful man to the National League. On more than one occasion when the magnates became overheated in arguments in New York city, where so many base-ball deals, good and bad, have been put through, Pulliam has jollied the belligerents back into good humor. When it was contemplated to organize the National Association to fight the American League, Pulliam worked night and day in the interest of the league. When Pulliam had all his plans arranged the magnates upset tlieiu through demanding concessions from the Association promoters that they were unable to comply with.

Pulliam is popular with all sorts and conditions of base-b^ll men and is considered diplomatic enough to handle the cases that are submitted to the league and come under the president's jurisdiction.

BYRON BANCROFT JOHNSON

President American League

Byron Bancroft Johnson

President American League

Without doubt the most important figure in base-ball to-day is President Byron Bancroft Johnson, of the American League. To his skill, perseverance and execution the American League is largely indebted for its proud position in the base-ball world. In the performance of his duty as he sees it or as laid down by the law, Johnson knows neither friend nor foe. Hence, his rule, while vigorous, commands respect and obedience. His one ambition in life has been to place the American League where it now is.

Ban Johnson was born in Cincinnati in 1863, and is the son of Professor Johnson, of Avondale. During his connection with the press, Johnson frequently ran afoul of President John T. Brush, of the Cincinnati Club. Since then he has engaged in a series of battles with Brush, and in every instance he has had the better of the argument with the wily Talleyrand of base-ball politics.

In 1893 the Western League held a meeting in Indianapolis. Brush, who was the owner of the Indianapolis team, did not attend the first day's session of the league. Charles Comiskey presented Johnson's name for the presidency, and he was elected, much to the disgust of Brush when he arrived on the scene the next day.

There was no friction during the first year, as the league did well financially, and Johnson proved a capable executive. In 1894 Johnson engaged in his first battle. The Indianapolis Club was one of the weakest in the league, and at the close of the season. Brush drafted several crack players from other Western League teams ostensibly for the Cincinnati Club, of the National League. Before the season of 1893 was more than a few weeks old, these players were sent to Indianapolis. Other club owners raised a protest against this shady transaction, claiming that Indianapolis, through its relations with the Cincinnati Club, had an unfair advantage. President Johnson agreed with them, and he and Brush locked horns. The battle lasted nearlv two vears, and at one time Brush almost succeeded in throwing Johnson and the Western League out in the cold through the Board of Arbitration. With the aid. of Colonel Rogers and other National League men, Johnson defeated the scheme, and Brush only saved his seat in the National Board by promising to dispose of his interest in the IndianapoHs Club.

The Western League, under Johnson's handling, in the next few years became the strongest minor league in the country. In 1899, w^hen the National League set about reducing itself to an eight-club basis, Johnson began the expansion policy that has resulted so disastrously for the National League. He changed the name of the Western to the American League, and induced Charles Comiskey to move his St. Paul team and franchise to Chicago. This move brought on a clash with the National League, the first of a long series in which the older body has invariably been worsted.

In 1901 the American League made the boldest move in its history. Johnson announced that clubs would be placed in Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington. The Na tional League men ignored Johnson and his intentions and laughed at him. While the National League was in session in this city in the spring of 1901, Johnson was in Philadelphia awaiting a message which did not come until two years later, when the once haughty National League men petitioned Johnson to end the base-ball war.

The supporters of the American League have implicit faith in Johnson. One of them says : ''Ban Johnson has fairly fought for and won in his ten years of base-ball leadership the fullest meed of success and is clearly entitled to his position as the greatest executive in the base-ball world. There is not a single instance on record where Johnson has failed to accomplish what he had set out to do."

BILL DOUGLASS

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The Art of Pitching

A pitcher's sole desire is to accomplish his work in such a manner as to secure the best results. My record with the Champion Athletics (American L^eague) team during the season of 1902 was due to my ability in mastering .the different assortments of balls used by the leading pitchers of the country, I varied my pitching to suit the occasions as required. Being over six feet in height and weighing two hundred pounds I had many advantages not enjoyed by lighter and smaller pitchers, especially when it became necessary for me to use speed.

My best ball is a fast inshoot, which breaks when close to the batsman and is a very hard ball to judge. I would advise all young pitchers to use a fast ball, as they will find it much easier on the arm.

I depend mostly upon a fast ball, and up to the present time have been free from a sore arm, although I have pitched for the past seven years. But it is necessary to be able to use a n

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Art of Pitching

slow ball, with the same motion as when delivering a fast ball, which makes the speedy ball more efifective.

All pitchers will have days when it seems almost impossible to get up full speed, and on such days they change their delivery and use either the slow ball or an out curve. Upon such days I would advise young pitchers to use a curve ball, but would advise no pitcher to use a curve ball when the same results can be accomplished with his fast ball.

My advice to all young pitchers when first entering the box and facing the batsman is to study closely the position taken by batsman. If finding he is standing close to the plate keep the ball in close and use as much speed as possible. I would also advise young pitchers when being hit freely to stop and rest, or, in other words, to steady himself long enough to regain his control. This will also worry the batsman, and that is the main thing in pitching.

H. D. QUIN

President American Baseball Association

EDDIE McFARLAND

NAPOLEON LAJOIE

THE most difficult feature of baseball in which to acquire proficiency, and the one to which least attention is usually given, is batting. This is especially the case with young players, with w^hom inability to hit is the greatest weakness as compared to fielding. Just as clean fielding can be witnessed in amateur games as that seen in the best professional contests, but the batting is always light. Much of this can be overcome if more attention and time are devoted to it.

It is a grievous error to suppose that batting practice consists of hitting grounders to the infield or long flies to the outfield. While no harm can come from such form of practice, I do not consider any great good will follow. The practice is so entirely different from that w^hich is required w^hen actually hit-

2 17 ting pitched balls, that it does not improve the player's hitting any more than lawn tennis or exercises with Indian clubs.

It helps to develop many of the same muscles of the wrists, arms, body and legs that are used in actual play, and to that extent it is a good thing. But its uselessness as an aid to good hitting lies in the fact that it does not train the eye.

It is not good batting practice to hit against a player who knows nothing about pitching, but who insists upon taking his place in the box and just tosses the ball over the plate. The only real practice is when the batter takes his place at the home plate with a pitcher who has good control and is possessed of a fair amount of speed. In that way only can the brain, muscles and eye be taught to work in imison. There is one thing to be avoided, and that is hitting against a swift pitcher who does not know himself where the ball is going.

It is not very pleasant or agreeable to receive a hard blow on some tender part of the body from a wildly pitched ball, and it often affecto a player's hitting. It not infrequently develops an uncontrollable nervous fear, which often causes a man to shrink away from the l)late in spite of himself. The fear of beinghit has made many bad players of young men who otherwise might shine on the diamond. The change in the rules giving a batter his base when hit by a pitched ball has had a tendency to help many of the batters' averages.

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LAVE CROSS Third Baseman, Athletics

When a player takes his position at the plate he should wait patiently until the ball travels directly over the centre of the rubber. Do not lose sight of the ball from the time the pitcher starts to deliver. When he draws back his arm, take one short step and meet the ball just as it reaches the plate. Then hit out straight on a line to the field. From the grand stand it looks easy enough. To sit back of the catcher and see the balls coming over the plate the average spectator will wonder why they are not hit out of the field. But to the batter himself, they look altogether different. Since the pitchers have mastered a slow ball it is now more difficult for the batter to gauge the ball, as the pitcher will send a very swift ball and the very next time may deliver with the same motion a slow one which will hardly reach the plate. In this way the batter is kept guessing as to what to expect next.

There are certain points in batting to be observed, especially in the matter of ''form," and while there are apparently many styles of hitting, to be successful it is necessary that they should all agree in this respect. The element of chance, or luck as it is called, enters largely into the question. The hardest and most difficult kinds of hits will often go into the waiting hands of a fielder, while a little punk or bunt will sometimes drop into safe territory. But in the long run chances of this kind will break even.

The first element necessary for a successful

zi batsman is to acquire the proper *'form/' This does not mean exactly the position to be assumed while waiting for the ball, because each batter may, and, as a rule, does, have his own peculiar distinctive style. This is noticeable with professional ball players, and many of them are recognized by this style when at the bat rather than by their features.

When in the act of hitting there is a certain ''form" which should be religiously observed. And this, in its salient points, is the same with all good batters. Standing within easy reach of the plate, the batter should hold himself in readiness to hit the ball which is best suited to himself. It is often more advantageous to the batter to let a strike be called on him than to take chances on hitting at a high ball when he would much prefer a low one. When the ball is pitched he should not move until he has seen where the ball is going.

Do not step forward until you see the ball coming towards the plate, and then take a vshort step and directly towards the pitcher.

When hitting the body should be held nearly straight ; just a sHght stoop, so that when the bat meets the ball the weight is principally on the forward foot.

Too much care cannot be exercised by the batter when taking his position at the plate. It is impossible to change the position when once taken, and any slight miscalculation' he may have made in the speed or direction of the ball will operate against him, and he would

SCHRECKENGOST

Catcher, Athletics have no time to remedy the error of judgment. A short stride is important, for the reason that if any miscalculation has been made for speed or location of the ball he might be able to change his position, and a long stride would put him in such a position that no such change could possibly be made, and the batter would be at the mercy of the pitcher.

It will also be found that a long stride will lose the batter all of the height and reach, and would necessarily force the man at the plate to hit at a high ball which he might otherwise have met on a line. The player who takes a long step naturally stoops down as he hits, and this fact would be a great disadvantage to him with high balls.

The ball that would have been of fair height he would find would be over his head. The batter should generally step directly towards the pitcher, unless he has good reasons for doing otherwise, as, for example, if he is trying to hit in any particular part of the field. In that case he should step accordingly.

A right-handed batter attempting to hit towards right field should stand at least eighteen inches from the plate, and before hitting should wait until the ball is directly over the home base, taking a short step toward the plate. By standing erect the batter is in better position to hit at any good ball, and is not so easily fooled on a slowly delivered ball.

It is not necessary to hit hard in order to drive the ball a great distance. The secret lies in meeting the ball with a quick and short snap, putting the whole weight of the shoulder just at the proper moment. There are some of the very best batters who hit entirely with the arms, w^hile others use principally the shoulder and simply push rather than swing. It is a great mistake to swing too hard at the ball. The effect is certain to take away that which is most required — that is, judgment of height, judgment and speed.

If a player would remem-ber that it is much better to think of making single hits rather than attempt home runs, his batting average would materially improve, though now and then a player should attempt to put a little more force in hitting, especially if he finds the outfielders playing a rather short field. Some of the longest hitters on the diamond are men who seem to make the least effort.

When swinging at a high ball the bat should be held in such a way as to bring it downward to hit the ball in such a manner as to send it on a line to the outfield. The ball should be met about six inches from the end of the bat. Should the ball strike a little further up or down on the centre line of the bat, or, if it does strike fairly on the centre line, it will still be thrown off toward first or third base on a line, and not up or down, as would otherwise be the case. In holding the bat, the hands should be kept slightly apart, but not so much so that it would interfere with an easy and free swing.

After a short time the player will be better

*' CHICK'* ERASER

Pitcher, Philadelphia (N. L.) Club able to judge for himself how he should handle the bat, choosing his own peculiar style which comes most natural to him.

When a sacrifice hit is needed the player should, by all means, have his hands fully three inches apart, and lean forward, waiting for a low ball, which can be better placed than a high ball. In picking out a high ball to sacrifice, the batter is more liable to hit an infield fly. Too much attention cannot be given to sacrifice hitting, which is one of the first things a player should learn. Every ball player who pretends to play the game with his brains, as well as his arms and legs, should be able to hit in whatever direction he desires. A batter cannot always place the ball in any particular spot, but he can, with practice, hit into the right or left field at will. The advantage of this to a player and his team cannot be overestimated, and such players are valuable to any team.

Confidence is one of the greatest factors in successful hitting. The player who faces the pitcher with timidity written all over his face is not only handicapped from the start, but he is already half out. On the other hand, the batter who does not feel any fear becomes inspired by his own confidence, and for that very reason is more liable to hit well. Enthusiasm is another element in good batting. A player who loves to bat can be depended upon, when the pccasion requires his best efiforts. This is often the reason that batting is done in streaks, and many players for a number of games will lose confidence in themselves and cannot hit the simplest kind of pitching. It is a fact that a whole team has failed to hit for eight innings, and then go in and bat out a victory. Some one player will start the ball rolling by lining out a clean hit, giving confidence to the next man, and so on down the line, until the game is won. To win a game of this kind gives confidence to the whole team, and when they take the field the next day, the possession of greater confidence is apparent.

In order to be a good batsman, the player's eyesight must be perfect. No player can possibly make a good batter who has had trouble with his eyes. It requires a quick, strong eye to keep track of the ball and tell when it is over the plate and at the right height for hitting. Nervousness, when at bat, is to be avoided, and the desire to hit at every ball pitched should also be avoided. By resisting the temptation to strike the first ball pitched, a player will gradually increase his confidence. A nervous player is easily ''worked'' by the pitcher, for the reason that he can hardly wait for the pitcher to deliver the ball. He thus throws himself open to be fooled by almost any pitcher.

The most important attribute in the composition of a good batter is courage. In this term, I include the self-control and the resolutions by which a player will force himself to stand before the swiftest and wildest pitching without flinching, and the fearlessness that can contemplate the probability of a blow from the ball without allowing the judgment to be affected. As a rule, the poor batters are pla3^ers who are afraid of being hit. The player who has such fear will frequently get in the way of the ball, where the player with confidence will escape being hit. This is due to the fact that when he sees the ball coming towards him he will step directly to meet it. A first-class batter will not mind being hit now and then without having any tendency to fear the pitcher when called upon to take his turn at bat. The player who will stand at the plate in an easy position will seldom get hit, owing to his ability to move quickly. The player who sinks the spikes of his shoes deep into the ground cannot easily extract himself from that position should he find it necessary at any time. The batter's mind should be concentrated on the ball when he is at bat. This is not a difficult matter to some players, but to others a determined effort is necessary.

The nerves must be taught and kept under control. To some this may seem an utter impossibility. Instinct of self-command is such a controlling power with them that they find themselves drawing away from the ball. Try as they may, they are not able to stand up to the plate. The player who cannot break himself of this habit will never amount to anything in the hitting line.

In order to break yourself from stepping away from the plate, throw the forward foot toward the plate, keeping the rear foot a little further away. Every style of batting should be tried before giving up entirely. Should you find it utterly impossible to overcome this weakness, you would do well to give up all thoughts of becoming a professional player.

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PITCHING

THE pitching department is the most important on any team, and the pitcher is the central figure around which others are grouped.

No matter how strong a team may be, it cannot make a good showing unless the man in the pitcher's box possesses the requisite skill to mystify and deceive the opposing batsmen. A pitcher, after winning the game, has often lost it again through becoming rattled, thus while a man may be a little short of marvelous in pitching curves, drops or inshoots, his work is apt to become non-effective if he is not the possessor of a cool head and is not backed by a clever, wide-awake catcher, w^ho can put life into an otherwise mediocre nine. It is not, however, the catcher that is to be considered in the present article, but the pitcher, who, if he is first-class, is the master of all batters. He is not always the man who can deliver the swiftest ball that is the most effective. Speed is an admirable requisite, but to become a really first-class pitcher a knowledge of all curves, change of pace, judgment of batting and a keen observance of conditions as they may exist at different times are necessary.

Where formerly a fast ball was considered the most effective, the present up-to-date pitcher must be able to vary his speed as conditions warrant. Speed should be practiced, but no attempt should be made to overdo it. With speedy balls should be mixed slow and curved ones. There is also a danger in a pitcher being too true ; that is to say, he puts too many balls over the plate, which gives the batsman greater confidence in facing them. When the batter knows that the ball will cleave the centre of the plate every time he will keep close up and will be able to gauge the delivery more accurately than if a ball is thrown close to the batter, w^hich will drive him away from the plate. This error is often apparent ^n young players, who use every endeavor to pitch every ball in a direct line. Avoid this and try and make the batter afraid of your delivery.

To field his position is another necessity in a good pitcher. Should a pitcher be backward in this respect he should practice continually until he is able not only to catch the swiftest ball, but field the hardest kind of grounders. The pitcher is nearer the batter than any of the fielders, and as a result he has very little time to make up his mind what to do should the ball be driven in his direction. In this he must be quick to act, and until he learns to master the fielding problem he cannot be considered a

Pitching

winning pitcher, more especially at the present time, when such great strides have been made in hitting, and where the bunt has been so successfully developed.

Watching bases when any of the runners are on them is very important. It is a fact that a pitcher who can hold the base runners close to the base can be batted for double the number of hits and still have fewer runs caught ofif him than the pitcher who fails to hold his men safe.

A pitcher should hold himself in a straight, upright position preparatory to throwing the ball. He should also throw with a quick, short snap. By so doing he can be depended upon to catch many men napping at first base. He should watch his catcher, who faces the field, and who can signal where and when the ball should be thrown. By proper attention to the man wearing the pad he can be saved many useless throws and frequently catch men off bases who otherwise would be safe.

The pitcher should start for first the instant the ball is hit in this direction, providing it is not a long drive. The advantage of this is obvious. In the event of a fumble he will then have plenty of time to make the put-out. It is work of this kind that makes a pitcher the most valued member of a base-ball team. He should be ready for any emergency, and in a position to cover any base left vacant, so as to catch the runner between the bases. Strive to make the base as soon as possible, so as to be better able to return the ball.

Never fail to back up the catcher on all throws from the outfield to the plate. There are times, however, when it might be advisable to get in line in front of the catcher, to handle the ball, making the throw to second. Such an action can be prompted only by the conditions as they might exist. The catcher has full observation of the entire field, and should he find the throw will be ahead of the base runner he can readily instruct the pitcher to stand aside.

Whenil^cking up a fielder take a position at a fair distance, say about 50 feet from the fielder, so as to be sure of the ball, and ready, prepared for any erratic bound. Many runs can be saved by this work. No ball player is perfect, and everyone is liable to commit an error at any stage of the game. It is to prevent as far as possible these errors being disastrous that the pitcher should always back up the infielders.

A pitcher must always know just what to do with the ball when hit to him. Care should be taken to anticipate a play as far as possible. The pitcher should review the likelihood of diflferent plays, and when determined deliver the ball. Too much haste in this respect often results in a wild pitch. On the other hand, long delays are often dangerous. Do not pitch until you are ready, but when ready do not hesitate. Should any kind of failure follow any play, do not attempt to ofifer excuses, either to yourself or the captain of the team. If a

Pitching

mistake is made it is too late to rectify it, and the proper course to pursue is to prevent, as far as possible, a recurrence of the bad play.

When throwing to base do not attempt to hold the ball for any lengthy period. It is just as easy to put a man out when he is midway betw^n the bases as it is to draw a decision close. If by chance the fielder should drop the ball after being thrown to him, this will give him a better opportunity to recover it. It is far easier to avoid mistakes than to remedy them. )fc^