Clipping:Intentional fouls; working a walk
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Date | Wednesday, November 10, 1886 |
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Text | [from the Baltimore correspondent] The fouling process is believed to have originated with Latham, and he has been followed in its use until now there are a number of players who are very judicious in its practice, so that it is a large factor in the problem of their club's success in winning games. Latham's mode is very ingenious and displays an acuteness on his part that illustrates his native intelligence. He is a good, strong batter, and is therefore not driven to fouling as a necessity. When he steps to the plate he is obliged to quickly take in the circumstances of the situation and decide promptly whether his chances are best to get to first base on balls or on a hit. As the balls are pitched he may be even obliged to change his first intentions, especially so if he is opposed to a pitcher who uses good headwork and attempts to outwit him. He seems to be guided by the work of the pitcher. If a fair ball comes in out of the first three or four pitched he attempts to line it out, but if the pitcher has had three or four balls called, then he seems to think his chances of getting the base on balls is best, and from that time he commences the fouling process. Every ball that comes fairly where he has called for it he fouls on his bat to save having it called a strike, and each unfair ball he allows to pass until the sixth one gives him the coveted base. The fight is a very pretty one between the batsman and the pitcher when the latter is a strategist and also has command of the ball. On one occasion, with McGinnis in the box when he felt good, Latham fouled five successive balls after the fifth had been called, and took his base on the sixth. |
Source | Sporting Life |
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Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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