Clipping:Opposition to scoring sacrifices; scientific batting
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| Date | Wednesday, February 17, 1886 |
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| Text | The proposition to score half a base hit for every time a batter advances a runner one or more bases, even though the batter himself be put out, is not likely to command favor among scorers. It is the old and exploded notion of giving credit for what is terms 'sacrifice' hitting revived in a new form. Properly considered there is no merit in a 'sacrifice' hit, for the reason that in ninety-nine out of a hundred instances a hit of this kind is a 'scratch.' There are not among the 200 players of the League and American Association six who can more than half the time place the ball in any given direction; much less can they bat it to the ground or in the air at will, while at the same time giving it the desired direction. There is many a hard line hit which goes straight to a fielder's hands and is caught, and possibly opens the way for a double play, which is infinitely more meritorious than the so-called 'sacrifice' hitting. Safe batting is the product of a sure eye, patience to wait, and the power to hit the ball hard. All other theories about batting are worthless. The Sporting Life February 17, 1886, quoting the Chicago Mirror Save when a man deliberately undertakes to block a ball, he as a rule drives away at it to send it as hard and far as he can send it, with the intention of getting just as far as his legs will carry him before it is returned to stop him. Nine out of ten sacrifice hits are scratches, and in nine out of ten cases the striker only hits the ball with the intention of sending it it far enough to permit of his getting one or more bases. In any event, it would be hard to find a man at bat, even with three men on bases, who would deliberately put a ball into the right-fielder’s hands–admitting for argument’s sake that he could do so–in preference to sending it over the wall or among the carriages, and when a player can plant his bat on a ball so securely and confidently as to be able to put it into any fielder’s hands he can put it further if he has the muscle. Chicago Tribune February 27, 1886 |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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