The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-29
10 THROW 4 BASE BALL.
Hints to the Young on "A Subject of National
Interest.


Fvory one has what may be called natural
way Of throwing tho ball. but this so-called
natural way" usually means u perverted
method acquired through carclessness or at
tempt to throw too hard before the arm is SUI
ilcicn,ly accustomed 10 tho work. As result
OF this there aro few boys or college men
who NAV not learn n great deal in tho
matter, Of throwing ly careful alton
t tSn poiS Hr The s m"H Sf rs whom attention
| should be called il the man who takes mop
| skip, and jump before he let's the ball 90. No
| man Cun run fast enough to beat thrown
ball, and, consequently. it takes longer to carry
the bail part way and throw it the rect than , IL
| fIst thing Tor the man who has acquired this
trick TO do is to stand sill, whom he gets the
to this is that OF leaning away when
thr9wng man gets sh arp E gacoiered
his balance, and the force q the throw is
thereby greatly diminished. While this Is not
nearly so common as the other fault v Is cute
tween tho two is the man who receives the ball
and, quickly strat:htening himself drives ~, II
hand, takes his single step in the direction OF
So much for tho foot and body, now for tho
The best and most accurate throwers arc
those who continually practice what Is cal ind
| first steps toward the ACQUISITION Of this meth
cd, let the player take the ball In his hand
]
planting both feet nrmly, attempt to throw the
pail without using the legs or body Al iirSt
! practice speedily results in moderate speed
and peculiar accuracy. Attor steady practice
at this until aae pace Is fac ae4TTGbI d S9G m ian
| crease the speed, still, however, sticking TO the
str9Ght forw"d motion Of TIE hand hand wrist ~ 81
| course, keeping the hand in limo with the arm
| and not swinging it out TO tho side anu away
from tho head, where much Of the ACCURACY
AMI
| catchers have brought this style OF throw 70
S aII aWav toward second almost on the stunt
! 1t strikes the hands. They aid the throwing
| by,a slight twist OF tho body, ,,,.,.,.
Of course. due to the fact that there Is no delay
| caused 10y drawing back the arm past the head
| the fact that it is easier to aim ut au object
is out beyond the shoulder, One can easily as
certain this by comparing the ease OF pointing
the index neer at any object when tho iand
! doing SO when tho arm Is EXTENDED out
sideways from tho body. stu iurtherS IL
many player use tho hand describes an arc,
| and the ball must be let 90 ut tho proper polYnt
swing. the throw is certain to be wild. In the
other method. that OF straEht,nrm throwlnS'
any variation Is far more likely TO ne q Earia-
| riaIionmny lie greater without serious error.
A straight. arm throw sends ball much easier
| Is likely 70 curve. bound irregularly. and DO
| moro inconvcnient for tho baseman. lnteld
! throwing should be- on II line as much
ns possible, and there are few distances to
| be covered there that require any UP and
over" throwing. In getting a ball IN from u
| deep outied the distance is sometimes so
great that none but professionals or execution
! ally strong throwcrs can drive tho ball In eN-
cept Ivy giving it quite an upward direction
even then, however, one should tie careful to
| keep the bal fairly well down; ms 1t Is far bet
ter to have it reach the catcher on the 6oun,
| than to go sailing over his head. " Keep down
is II cardinal rule when ilclding to tho home
late from the field. If n low bail is thrown. 1t
| is ser for tho catcher to touch tho runner
who in a tight place will Invariably slide as
close TO the ground as possible. high throw
give, tho catcher almost no chance to recover
aud put the ball on the man whereas low
. throw trings his hands in the most advanta-
! gnous position for touching the runner. The
| same Is, OF course. true in tine case OF the
| catcher's throws to tho second or the other
| bases TO put out the runner.
The position OF the fingers when throwing q
! ball is n point upon which there are individual
! differences OF opinion; but tho majority OF me
| best throwers In tho country use principally
the foreingcr and middle finger in giving
direction to the ball. Further, particulars re,
| garc,Ing special throwing will be noted in Il
later Article upon the individual positions.