Clipping:Strategic outfield play
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| Date | Saturday, February 8, 1873 |
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| Text | The old style of playing the out-field, in which all that was required of a player was to catch the ball whenever it came near to his posiiton, has been superseded by a method of fielding which is characteristic of the new system of strategic play now so necessary an element of success in professional contests. Formerly anything like coming in close to the in-field or going out further, in accordance with the different features of the batting, was almost unknown. Now, however, we frequently see a right-fielder playing almost within reach of the foul-ball line, the left-fielder backing up the third baseman and the centre-fielder close to the second baseman when the pitcher calls in his men for any special point of play; while each man in the outer field is taught never to stand still or to occupy steadily any particular standing-point in the field, but to change his position accordingly as a heavy hitter or a fair-foul strategist takes his position at the bat. Informer years, too, all that an out-fielder was selected for was his ability to catch a ball well and thrown in from a long distance. Now “headwork” is considered essential, and no man can be regarded as an expert and serviceable man in the position who, in addition to his ability to hold a ball well and to make a long throw, cannot judge the play of the batsman from his style of taking his position at home-base and his manner of handling his bat, and who cannot also run in and stop bases from being made, instead of merely waiting until the ball comes to him. In other words, your skilful out-fielder is one who can catch surely throw in accurately to the right position, judge his batsmen well, and especially be effective in stopping ground balls in such a way as to limit a second or third base hit to one base secured. Formerly, too, the left-field used to be regarded as the most responsible; now, the three positions must be equally well attended to, or a weak point will be developed. In fact, no one of the three positions of the out-field is exempt from the requirements of as much skill as is necessary in either of the other points of the out-field. The catching of long high balls, which used to be the forte of an out-fielder, is now a secondary matter when compared with a sharp piece of fielding by which a hot ground ball is stopped, picked up and thrown in so as to oblige the batsman to content himself with a single base on a hit on which he had hoped to get at least “three bags.” A new and very important point of ply in out-fielding was developed last season, that of standing in close to the in-field for shot high, instead of going quite far out for catches of long-hit balls. Experience has shown pretty conclusively that out of every ten balls hit to the outer field at least six will fall short of the out-fielders; and though it is easier to urn in for a shot high ball than to run out for a long high one, more bases can be saved and runs prevented by standing in close than by waiting for catches by going far out. If your pitcher finds it necessary to send in tosses, especially for catches in the outer field, why then the players should stand out well; but for general play, whether the fielding [sic] be swift of medium-paced, the out-fielders should stand in pretty close, even if a ball or two should occasionally go over their heads. Better that, than bases should be run on ground balls, or lives given from failures to get under high short balls, owing to the fielders standing too far out for catches. |
| Source | New York Clipper |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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