Clipping:Proposed partial hits to be scored for sacrifices
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| Date | Saturday, May 3, 1890 |
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| Text | [editorial matter] “A change should be made in sacrifice hits. Many favor giving the batter credit for one-third hit. It is a good idea.” – New York Press A half hit would be about the right thing. Then we shall have real team work at the bat, and the slugger who can do nothing bug slug for home runs and his personal record would soon be brought to his proper level. The Sporting Life May 3, 1890 [from Red Mulford's column] There have been many laments over the fact that under the present rules sacrifice hits have no value so far as being factors in building up a record are concerned. Several suggestions have been made in the line of amendment, one—which I deem foolish—advancing the idea to credit each sacrifice as one-third of a hit. Even if that fractional hit scheme should carry, one-third is not the right proportion, but one-fourth. There are four bases in the game and the fourth is the most essential of all. I have a proposition which I beg leave to submit to the Scorers' League, and all lay brethren without the fold as well. Under this plan of mine a percentage can be gained for sacrificing just as easily as one for hitting or fielding. Let me illustrate: Captain Ollie Bear, let us say, has played in eight games. He has these figures to his credit: A.B. R. 1B. SH. Beard....................... 39 8 12 9 In batting he has made .307, and I figure that as a sacrifice hitter he is deserving of a percentage of .333. He has been at bat thirty-nine times and has succeeded in making safe connection with the ball a dozen times. Subtract twelve from thirty-nine and you have twenty-seven times at bat in which he has made no hits, but on nine of these occasions he sacrificed. By the same rule of average-making carried out in safe hitting—dividing nine by twenty-seven—you have the percentage of .333, showing that he was equal to sacrificing once in every three times at bat. The idea of mixing one-third or one-quarter hits with safe hits would be just as misleading as was that old and awful rule charging a base on balls as a base hit against a pitcher. The Sporting Life May 10, 1890 |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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