The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-25
BASEBALL BETTER THAN
THE GAME OF YEARS AGO
Bransheld Says Great Strides
Have Been Made Along
Scientific Lines.
WORK AT FIRST BASE

PITTSBURG, April 24.-"While we hear
frequently of the wonderful fielding this
player did twenty years ago. the terrific
batting of that. or the extraordinary gen.
eral abilities of the players of that time.
/ think all keen students of baseball are a
unit in the belief that the game is now
faster. more scientific and more interesting
than it ever was" said William e Brans-
field, first baseman of the Pittsburg Ma
tionai League baseball team. in discussing
the fine points of the game recently
Long strides forward have been made
in every department of the game, but in
my humble opinion the playing of no posi-
ton has shown a more marked improve
ment than that exhibited in the modern
up-to-date guardianship of first base. In
the not far distant past the most that was
required of good first baseman was abil-
ity to hit. If he was not slugger and
could not occasionally put the fans in a
good humor by sending the ball over the
fence he was a rank failure For the rest
he was supposed to play off his base a few
feet and to receive throws to the bag. He
was not required to be fast on his feet, nor
OF necessity TO be a quick thinker. AS a
consequence IL is not to be wondered at
that there came to be very general opin-
Ion that first base was the easiest position
on the field to play. To-day all that is
changed The slow, easy-going slugger is
no longer the ideal first baseman He has
been replaced by an altogether different
style OF player, whose introduction to the
game mas been necessitated largely by the
improved methods of batting evolved by
the opponents of the modern idea of team
play while at the bat.
ABILITY TO throw was not regarded as
being of much Importance in the first base
men OF a FEW years ago. Indeed il was
the custom, when a man could hit but
PAD poor arm, TO put him on first base
put when men like Wagner and Beaumont
began to demonstrate their ability to 90
from first to third on outs at first The
siass-arm men had to go. The first base
man must think quickly and accurately
anu al oe aoie at all Tunes to grasp. instant
~, the play being made either by his team
mates or by his opponents He should
nave a good working knowledge of the
Yea, Team ne Is playing against so that when
the latter is at the bat he may place him
self for each man in the position most
ikely to be effective when the ball is hit
Many more balls are hit towards first base
now than formerly. hence il is obvious
that the first baseman of to-day must not
| only be a good fielder, but must cover a
large amount of ground as well. Obviously
DE eHectve against opposing batters is
most important, but to insure success he
must be very fast on his feet
In addition to the foregoing the first
paseman must be a good jumper, to get
| the hlgh throws: sort of dia-rubber'
man, or contortionist TO SCOOP them I'm
| from the ground or get the wide ones to the
| right or left. and. in short something of
| an all-round athlete. He must always get
| the ball when ii is batted into his terri
| tory, remembering that either the pitcher
| or the second baseman will cover first i'm
] time for his throw if he can only do his
part properly.
I'm addition to mental and physical activ-
lty. speed. endurance and all the thing
which go to make the first baseman a sue
cess in the field. all of the batting ability of
| the old-time man and something more are
| required when his turn TO WELD the willow
| comes. He cannot go UP to the plate time
after time with the sole intention of knock
| ing the cover off the ball. He must do his
| full share of team work In batting and
| base running. He must make the same
| study of opposing fielders that he does OF
| batsmen, as to be able to take every
| advantage of weakness or lack of speed
| Above ALL in batting, he should know
| how to advance a man on base. There are
| dozen ways in which to do this and he
| must know them ALL that he may choose
| the one most appropriate 10 the sjtua tion
| and least expected by his opponents Iiks
| every other player. his general usefulness
| should be limited only by his opportunities
| and many of these he can create for him.
| self