The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-04-22
Americas Greatest Sport Begins, and
the Mighty Shout Is Heard-Pzay Ball!

instance, with Wagner on first and
Tommy Leach on third, every catcher in
the National League throws to third Ii
Pittsburg attempts a double steal,' be-
cause 1t Is a well-knowD fact that Leach.
In other respects a good base-runner, wiz
come through with the play that Is,
II the catcher makes a motion as II to
throw to second base and then whips it
to third" Leach will make a false start
for the plate and be caught. In the last
| season Chicago defeated Pittsburg three
times because, with either Wagner or
Clarke on first, Leach was caught off third
on exactly the same play. Each man must
know whether Mike Donlln pulls" a fast
ball or not, whether or not he hits a curve
to left. He must know that Fred Clarke
Is tine only left-handed batter in the game
who can hit n leff-handed pitchers curve
ball hard-and a thousand other points OF
nature.
Quick Work.
Besides knowing those things the team
must play. as a whole, so as to cover every
inch of ground possible, and, by moving
away and vacatine parts of the field where
a batter is unlikely to hit, they can defend
the remainder with much greater sue
cess. A ''right-ield hitter" one who swings
late at the ball or pulls his body away from
the plate, seldom is a good batter. he
may hit the ball just as squarely and just
as hard as a free hitter, but the field
into which he hits the ball Is much better
covered and the likelihood Of the ball fall
ing safe much lessened.
The quickest thinking l ever saw on a
baseball field was dom by Tommy NC
Carthy. the Boston outhelder of years
ago. Tom Browne, one of the speeches..
runners that ever played baseball, was
on second base and New York needed one
run to tie the score. Jack Doyle, then a
great batter, was at bat, and it seemed
certain that a base hit by Doyle Wouio
tie the score and perhaps win the game,
as there was but one out, and Browne
was so speedy he could score from second
base on almost any kind of a safe hit.
Mccarthy crept closer to the inheld on
left, realizing that although he, could
throw with wonderful rapidity and ac-
curacy, the chances were all against
throwing Browne out at the plate. unless
he was close and the ball came to him quick
ly. Doyle drove a hard line hit straight
to the left field. Browne went scudding
toward third base. Doyle raced for first
and Mccarthy plunged forward at top
speed. The fielder reached the ball on its
first bound, grabbed it and without stop
ping or looking threw with terrific force
and perfect aim across the diamond into
The first b~aseman's hands, Browne had
stopped at third base; Doyle, who had
turned first with the intention of sprint
ing to second. was caught standing still
ten feet from first. The next batter went
out on a iy aud Boston won the game.
After the game I asked Mccarthy con-
corning the play. WELL" he explained,
Browne is a quick thinker. He saw
how hard that ball was hit and knew he
would be thrown out at the plate unless
l fumbled. Doyle doesn't think very fast
and, knowing that he would turn first and
stop to see If l was throwing home, ]
threw across to first and caught him."