The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-25

Airy n OF the nine positions on n ball
field, TO be played properly, requires brains
as well rs muscle. John NJ. Ward says
in his book "How TO Become a Ball
Player" that tho left-ield is the simplest
OF all tho outfeld positions, and names
Andy Leonard, who was one Of the fam
Gus Cincinnati Reds in 80, as n model Of
the players Of tho present day. Tim.
Mundane. in his "reminiscences in the Bos-
ton Globe declares:
! can't say that ] agree with John NJ. In
the above quoted opinion. IL has been
the custom since the game was introduced
TO put the surest catch in the left-iield. IL
Is much more difficult 10 play for a bats.
man in leit-field than In center or right
A player, In order TO cover the position
properly, should change his position for
nearly every batsman.
In laying for left-hand battes ! consider
Joe IIornung the best man In tho busi-
ness. For playing the position for all IL il
worth l think Hardie Richardson, OF the
present Boston team. by far the best in
the league. When Il comes TO playing the
position for all there Ia in Il, l must agree
with Harry Wright and other fist-class
authorities that Andy Leonard, OF the old
Boston champions, was the finest the
game ever produced.
What Dickey Johnston Il 10 the league
| center fcidors, this old-timer Is 10 the base.
ball loft.fieldors up 10 the present time,
and he has boon out OF the business now
for ten years.
The men OF tho present time mover at.
tempt 30 get the balls hit far over their
heads as this man did. / have seen the
BOYS practice Il for hours on the South
End grounds, but invariably gave II up In
disgust. Leonard played a short field and
was noted for getting line hits between
third and short. The instant the ball was
hit hard he would turn with II, and would
never turn when he got under the de.
scending sphere, as Johnston does, but
would take Il In while still running with
Il. To see him gather himself for n long
throw homo wa a picture.
Nothing like his throwing has ovcr been
seen from the outhcld. Swift and straight
rs a rifle shot tho ball would come tearing
homo in time 10 get the runner, whenever
there was n ghost OF n chance. lie II was
who introduced throwing 10 the home
plate on n shooting first bound.
During the eight years that | played with
and against Leonard | never saw him
make q wild throw, aud have seen him
let the ball 20 from all sorts OF positions
when hurried. II ever there was a natural
born ball player Leonard vas the man. In
| his day lac was classcd with the best bats.
men In tho business, and could run bases
and play the fine points OF the game with
the best OF them. lie was about he build
Of Dickey Johnslon-porhaps a little
siouter. lie was also a remarkable In
fielder, and could play second OF third In
fine style. His last season on the diamond
was In 1870, when he travelled from one
end OF tho States 10 the other with the Hop
Bittcn Club-oi Rochester, n. y. As the
team was on its way 10 California the boys
ran up 10 Dubuque, In, 10 play n series oil
gaines with the club OF that place. Charley
Radbourn. now with Boston; Comiskey,
the st. Louis captain, aud tho two Glea-
son brothers we're members OF tho team,
IA was also Tom LOTUS, now managing
tho Cleveland club. II was q skin dia'
mond, and q ball would skip Q the
ground very fast. Fred Corey was pitch
Ing for tho Hop Biltcrs team, and was
giving Jack Gleason n drop ball. How
he could Int ~ But no matter how hard,
avery ono went on the ground. Gleason
was n slow runner, and Leonard, who
covered short, played his position nearly
out TO left fcld-certainly twenty yarus
back OF tho llnc-but got his man every
time by his remarkable throwing nc
Wrslcin bows didn't know what TO MAKE
Of IL. The harder Gleason would nv tue