Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-27
FIRST BASE HARD POST. Ok
BOB UNGLAUB SAYS INITIAL
CORNER IS NO LONGER EASY.

Time was when any old catcher with
his wing gone could play first base and
get away with the job. but that's not so
now" says Bob Cnglaub, the Boston
American League first sacker. TT takes
a real ball player who has everything
that any other member of the club has
and then some to make good in the BIS
league now as first baseman.
Look over the list of star ball players
who are working at first base in this
league. Harry Davis. Hal Chase, Tom
Jones. and so on. They are all high-class
ball players. I tell you that the old style
first basenan, slow on his feet. unable to
throw TO third on anything Ike & line.
and q miserable fielder of hunts and fast
grounders. couldn't hold a job in base
bal! today.
"Rossman Is a good first baseman, too
He IS only a young fellow and VIII {
better with more experience and years.
hut so far as l know the only weakness
Ne has is on slow hit ground5rs. Looh
over the league and you vii. see that he
Is hitting right up with the other first
Jas gnen-
1t tlkas a lot of quick thinking by q
hrsJ s4cka- when the bail IS coming to
T. n rum an infelder Ike a shot and d
y al covered with spikes is tearing
% tn bag. If the ball IS thrown
1sy Il h has time he can go across
"ag and take it on foul ground tn
!.ght .oot on the bag but If he hash I
I- III = there's trouble. He's got To
oh OaJ right against the runners body
ID nook tn ball with his mitt in on
and and then tin can out OF the way.
Must Watch Base Runner
IL he cans over toward the runner 70
= ow o.. with the intention of getting
bic. The chances are that the runner $
knee Will give him deadening jolt in
the head In one of the Chicago games
had that kind of q play on CULLEN. H :
knee hit me full n the mouth and
knocked me cold or q wlek the muscles
OF my neck hurt though l had ton
silit.s. It's a wonder 1t didn't break my
neck.
"One OF the hardest balls to catch com
ing from fielder IS one that comes just
waist high. II a fellow tries 10 reach
down for It, the ball lands on the heel 0.
his glove and bounds out before you can
say Jack Robinson. So 1t s necessary
20 stoop and catch a ball Of that kind as
you would a high ball.
with Wagner, who throws like shot
and is the hardest throw = l ever saw
the case is complicated in the extr m
He often throws just al that height, and
II tried to catch IL as l would 4Ow
ball the little upshoot its speed gives i
would make It impossible. So / take IT,
chances and go down after nearly every
one he throws.
Helps Out Infelders.
When three iHlelders have a first
baseman in whom they have confidence
on account OF his ability to dig the bal
out % the dirt grab It from either side
or pull It out Of the clouds, they worI
at a big advantage. II an inAeider ha:
10 pick up a ball. steady himself. siga
the bag and throw directly overland Il
make sure of getting II where the frs
sacker can reach II such left-handed hit
f-rs as Crawford and Cobb. for instance
Nil beat the throw. It's necessary for
club to have first baseman TO whom
the ficlders can throw the ball anywhert
within reach with al assurance that h
sill 81 ii.
Instinct has a great deal TO do witt
Ing low throws that come on tn
slrd AS an infie!der is getting hold o
rruundar I instinctively either raIs
ID Wer my hands 20 receive the ban
at l. before the throw. Sometimes ! =
wrong. bat you would be surprised t
o.y .ow O-tsn my lunches are night
ru. too. luck plays big part