Clipping:Proto-ERA
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| Date | Saturday, January 11, 1879 |
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| Text | One more matter before closing, and that is in reference to the blunder of last season’s estimate of a pitcher’s skill in judging him by the base-hits scored against him. “Bond was knocked all over the field for twenty odd base-hits,” says one report. “Larkin was fearfully punished, no less than ten base-hits being scored off his pitching in one inning,” says another report. And so on throughout the season was this false estimate of a pitcher’s ability in his position made. There is but one true estimate of a pitcher’s excellence in playing the position, and that is in the number of earned runs charges against him. Just look at the matter in its right light. The A nine got to the bat; their first striker hits a high ball to the outfield, which is dropped; their second makes a base-hit, their third hits a ball to short-stop, who throws it badly to second, and base-runners occupy second and third bases. The fourth striker then hits a ball to third base, who throws it wildly, and three men run home, but one base-hit being made, the three chances were plainly offered the field to put the side out for a blank. Discouraged by this, the pitcher becomes less effective, while the batsmen hit with confidence; a dozen base-hits follow, and down goes the record of the pitcher, being “hit all over the field” for so many base-hits, when the fact is that, had he been properly supported, not a run would have been scored. Judge pitching and pitchers solely by the runs earned charged against them; the base-hits are of no account unless they yield earned runs, and surely base-hits don’t yield an earned run if three chances for outs are given before base-hits can send home those who make them. |
| Source | New York Clipper |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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