Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-23
RIGHT FIELD EASIEST.
Catcher's Position Most Difficult
One on the Ball Field.

Ball players often gather in the winter
months and discuss the question which
Is the easiest and which is the hardest
position to play upon the diamond Not
so many years back there would have
been but one answer as TO which is the
easiest position on the team to play and
this would have been first base" Leav-
ing out the battery positions, shortstop
would have been picked out as the hard
est on the team Now. first base is not
considered the easiest position by most OF
the players. while a good percentage OF
them do not consider shortstop the hard
est. Neither do the players agree as to
the relative amount OF skill required iii
the different positions.
Right field is now most commonly ac-
Cepted as the easiest position to play
AS rule when a player has skill in
batting and is weak on the offensive he
is assigned to right field The chances
offered in right field are fewe- than il
any other position on the team, and as Z
rule the chances are OF IN easier kind
than elsewhere Both the left and center
felders are expected TO cover more ground
and handle more and harder chances than
d player in right field.
First base Is generally considered second
TO right neld as an easy position, but thee
Is growing sentiment among the players
that q higher rating should be placed On
is covering that bag. Such men as Chance
Donohue and Chase are virtu iIly intielde~s
In the ordinarily accepted sense of the
word outside of their duties of taking
thrown balls. They not only cover u lot
of ground around the bag but are re-
CURED TO use lot of judgment in fielding
hunts. For the first baseman who gets
Ail there is out of the position IL is any
thing but an easy one. On the other hand
a good percentage of the first baSeInen
n pc tn l.t
their positions through their ability to
handle bad throws. To play this way
first base is easily the second easiest posi-
ton on the diamond
When IL comes 10 the most difficult
position the players are divided between
shortstop and third base. good per-
centage of them consider third base a
harder position to play than short. They
contend that what counts most at short
stop Is the natural ability to cover ground
and make throws and that a mechanically
perfect Shortstop has trouble in TAX
ing care of his position In playing third
they say more headwork Is required as
well as speed and good arm. Without a
good head third basenan is of but little
value. as the batter will fool him con-
tinualiy by bunting when he is rot look
ing for the play by placing the ball
where he cannot handle it, Throws by
the third baseman must be quick and
hard and he must be quick on his feet in
order to get the ball.
Taking the entire team into considera-
ton the players are pretty well agreed
that the hardest place to play and get all
that is in the position out of IL is behind
the bat. Good headwork Is necessary In
order TO do this. and along with 1t good
feet a good arm and good eye are re-
ouired The catcher can make or I'M
make the average pitcher and mis- services
arc practically invaluable If he plays the
position as it should be played.