This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 Excerpt: ...trousers, but he must remember never to do this unconsciously when he does not mean it. The catcher, to acknowledge the receipt of the sign, reaches down and pats his glove in the dirt. Then the first baseman immediately runs back to the bag behind the baserunner to receive a throw from the catcher, having made only a ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 Excerpt: ...trousers, but he must remember never to do this unconsciously when he does not mean it. The catcher, to acknowledge the receipt of the sign, reaches down and pats his glove in the dirt. Then the first baseman immediately runs back to the bag behind the baserunner to receive a throw from the catcher, having made only a bluff at leaving it to fool the base runner. The catcher throws the ball as soon as he receives it because the play depends on the speed of its execution for its success. The first baseman must be there to cover and must tag the runner quickly. Many managers advocate the first baseman and the other infielders blocking the base line on a long hit to slow up the runner in taking the turns and give the outfielders more time. I do not urge any of my players to take an unfair advantage, but each one should assume the position at the bag to which he is entitled by the rules. For instance, the first baseman can stand at the inside corner of the Dag to make sure the runner takes his turn instead of cutting just the corner of the base as he would if the first baseman had not stood there. Each man should watch to see that the runner touches every bag, too, and, if he does not, call the umpire's attention to it at once. Do not stand on the bag and block the runner altogether, because it is against the rules in the first place, and, in the second place, if you could get away with it the members of the other club would only be after you. There is no use in making yourself trouble. Simply stand on the inside of the bag and make the runner go around you. It may save a three-base hit or a home run. VI SECOND BASE THE position of second base is one of the most important on a ball club because it is the keystone position of the whole infield. The second baseman...
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