Evening journal., 1909-04-21
Sports
HOW TO PLAY
FIRST BASE
Fred Tenney Writes Upon
Requisites for Success
on the Bag
By Fred Tenney. First Baseman, New
York Nationals.

BY Fred Tenney. First Baseman, New
York Nationals.
Until a very few years ago the po-
sition of first base was considered the
place for a tall man, because of the
great advantage his reach would give
him in going after wild throws. Any
man who could hit we'll and catch a
thrown ball, was considered a star
first baseman, even though he didn't
possess the slightest agility in the
field, and was no wonder when It came
to using his head. All the managers
wanted to get for the position was a
man who could hit and hang onto a
thrown ball.
But of late years things have chang
ed, and the big heavy first basemen
have, with few exceptions, been driv-
en- off the bag. Their places have been
filled by smaller, more active men, who
are able to get around and put more
speed into their work. and whose play
ing has revolutionized the standards for
filling the position. Plays are now of
every day occurrence of which the big,
husky, old timers never dreamed.
Among them are the running in on
bunts and making the force play at
second, or third; going toward second
to handle ground balls. and capturing
short flies in the outfleld. In times
gone by. such performances as a reg
ular part Of the work Of the first sack
er were unthought Of, and the man
who once in a while might pull off one
Of these stunts was looked on as a
sure marvel
The position is still about the easiest
on the diamond to play-I mean or
dinarily well-though one can make
many dificult plays and do lot Of
hard work IL he tries 70 live up to the
standard that has been set in the last
few years. Some of the plays made by
the first basemen of today require the
greatest possible amount of accuracy.
activity and nerve. It is the players
who possess these qualities in good
share that are making a success of
playing ball. The one who is afraid
Of attempting a play though the
chances against his making It success
fully are great, cannot be considered
a first-class man for his position.
The player on the initial sack
should give as much attention to sec
ond, third and home as the other in
helders give to first. and should be
ready at all times to take advantage of
an opportunity that presents TO pull
off play TO any one of these posi-
tions. Many a close game can be saved
by a quick throw to second or third
which catches the base-runner mapping
because Of its very unexpectedness.
When attempting these plays the first
baseman should have an understand
ing with the second baseman and the
pitcher, so that first may not be left
uncovered.
The most vital part Of the work OF
IA good first baseman is the lxnack OF
keeping the foot on the base when the
body is extended in the most awk-
ward position. Educate the toe to stay
on the bag, at the same time getting
the body in front of the ball, so that
II the hands miss, the body will stor
It.
The best way for a beginner is tC
pick no one man for model Le
him see them all. study them and dis
cover their strong points. Let him Sc,
how they do this and that. and ther
try TO do the same himse'f I'hi,
means hard work and plenty of II
but in baseball, as IN everything else
Il Is the hard worker who wins sue
: cess. The ball player who alwayl
shirks. avoids practice whenever H.
2 can, and in general tries to TAX
, things easy. is hurting no one NOR
5 than himself He may believe that h
is obtaining some easy money, but tn
effect Of his idleness win soon begii
to show, and he will quickly be inform
ed that his services are no longer re
. quired. Success in anything mean
lots Of good hard work, and in baseball
the more strenuous Of modern profes
sions-for the game is now a profes
sion. and great one-the shirlSer ha
no place, and the man who succeed
will be one who has ambition an
nerve. and will not be turned asid
by misfortune