The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-08
FOOTBALL MORE
SCIENTIFIC GAME
So Says St. Louis Man Who
Thinks 1t Far 0utClaSSeS
Baseball.
WOULD LET PUBLIC DECIDE
EXPLAINS OFFENSE AND DE-
TENSE OF BOTH GAMES.
WOULD LET PUBLIC DECIDE

of st. Louis university evidently thinks
II is. and advances his reasons for this
belief. He SAYS:
-Unquestionably il is a moOted
problem. The baseball fan will tell
you that baseball is the most scien-
tific game ever established, while
the football bug viii loudly declare
for football
The purpose of this article is not
10 decry either sport, since both have
their followers and both their dis
tinctive elements that are beneficial.
Neither does the writer wish il to
be inferred that he is against either
sport or its adherents. This article
is simply TO expose the scientific side
of both games and let the public de
eide.
In the first place it is necessary to
define science.
Science is experiences or ability 10
do resulting from exact knowledge.
Another definition is Is knowledge
gained and verified by exact oSserva-
ton and correct thinking also the
sum OF universal knowledge. Another
one is, An exact and systematic
statement of knowledge.
Before probing the subject it must
be understood that we must not con-
found pure manual performance with
manual performance predominated by
mental effort, e. g., the mere act of
running with football as tossing a
baseball represents no scientific eff
fort but is purely mechanical or the
result of instinct.
Basic Principles of Games.
Manual performance is a funda-
mental factor in the display of a
scientific effort, but taken alone it
is simply a physical manifestation As
70 l.
eerned, it plays practically an equal
part IN both baseball and football.
II is necessary, therefore. to look be
yond this element in either game TO
find something which could be called
scientific.
'@rhe basic principles OF both games
are clearly exposed in the two depart
ments OF offense and defense. In
baseball there are nine men to side,
or eighteen in all, while in football
there are eleven on side. or twenty
two men in all. The greatest number
of players that can operate at any one
time in baseball is thirteen, and that
includes three base runners and a bat
ter. In the performance of any one
particular play only three men can
operate.
In football two men are constantly
in operation in every play, and often
the two safety men are likewise ac-
tive. In baseball a player may go
through an entire game without ever
being placed on defense. This is an
impossibility in football.
'On offense only four men can ope-
rate at once, and this number de-
ponds upon men getting on bases.
Really only one man is on offense,
and he is the batter.
Whole Team on offense.
In football eleven men are absolute
~ required on offense all the time.
The offensive tactics in baseball are
greatly restricted owing to the kind
of field they play upon, and the fact
that but one man can operate at one
time. Also that Offense represents
hitting and running. while defense
simply represents throwing, catching
and picking up a ball. Moreover, the
base runner is compelled to run TO
certain parts of the field of play,
represented by four bases, siz., home,
first, second and third base.
Taking into consideration these
facts, the limited number of men in
operation, the fixed places Of the field
and the variety of offensive tactics,
it can plainly be seen that the possi-
bilities of play and the use of scien-
titc methods are perfOrce greatly
curtailed. Therefore. the offensive
play and defensive positions of play
ers are necessarily 'stereOtyped'
The defense is compelled TO cover
the bases and 10 spread out in the
field. The players know absolutely
that all the offensive team can do is
10 hit and run. He can hit a bunt
long fly or a liner. Should he be hit
with the ball or draw a base on balls,
IT is immaterial TO the defensive team
as far as their positions are con-
cerned-
Can Determine Play.
From the stereotyped positions OF
the base runners the defensive player
can all but determine before the play
is made what he shall do should he re-
ceive a hunt, liner or fly ball. There
fore the only use that can be made of
scientific methods is represented by
the anticipatory ideas of the defensive
play.
For example, the infield and outfield
players from fast observation may
know Just about where a batter viii
nit TO and consequently, viii vary their
position to suit the play. However, his
observations can never be exact and
are always subject to chance and acct
dent.
Every game is dominated by chance
conditions. and all the science in the
world will not win some of them. The
I'm the employment of them with the
purpose in view of reducing chance con-
ditions in the greater number of cases.
The ffelders vary their positions be
tause in the greater number Of cases
experience warns them that certain bat
ters hit to certain fields. Owing to this
variation a single game may be lost,
whereas in the majority of cases 1t
should be won.
1.-The employment of scientific meth
Ids in baseball viii always be subject
Ia accident and chance elements and
consequently can never assume the
eveI of an exact science
No stereotyped Plays.
"FootbaH, on the other hand, presents
IN entirely different aspect. Here me-
lhanIcal. manual and mathematical
Ines can be drawn and scientific meth
Ids expIoited. Until the new rules were
adopted chance conditions played but
"A indifferent role These elements I'M
Ter investigation are rapidly being re-