Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-04-25
EXPERT TELLS HOW
TO PLAY TRYING
POSITION
For First BaSeman From
Fred Tenney Who Has Made
Good With Giants.
BY Fred Tcnney.

tFtrSt Baseman, New 1ofk NatlonalSD
Until a very few years agO the po-
sition Of first base was considered the
place for a tan man. because Of the
great advantage his reach would give
him in going after wild throws. Any
mai who could hit we'll aud catch q
thrown BAH, was considered a star first
baseman, even though he didn't nos
sess the slightest agility in The field,
and was no wonder when II came to
using his head. All the managers
wanted to get for the position was a
man who could hit and hang onto 4
thrown ball
But Of late years things have
changed. and the big heavy first base
men have. with few exceptions, been
driven off the bag. Their places have
been filled by smaller, moro active
men, who are able to get around ana
put more speed into their work. and
whose playing has reVolutionized the
standards for filling the position
Plays are now Of everyday occurrence
Of which the big, husky. old-timrrs
never dreamed Among them are the
running in on bunts and making Tho
force PLAY at second, or third COINS
toward second to handle ground ball-,
capturing short flies in the out
field. In times gone by. such per
formances as a regular nart of tho
work of the firstsackcr We're un-
thought of, and the man who once
10 a while might pun off II OF these
stunts was looked on as a sure mar
vel
The position is still about the easiest
on the diamond to play mean ord
narilN Well-though n can make
many difficult PLAYS and do a lot OF
hard work il he tries TO live up to Tho
standard that hats been sci In the Last
few years. Some OF the plays made
b. the first basemen OF today require
the greatest possible amount of ac-
curacy. activity ana nerve II is the
players who possess these qualities IN
good share that are making a Sue
'ess of playing ball. The ~ who d
afraid to attempting "a play, though
the chances against his making it sue
.essfully are great. cannot ht consid-
cred a first-cHiss man for his position
The player on the initial sack
should give as much attention 20 see
third and home as the other h-
fielders give to first, and should De
ready at AN times to take advantage
Of an opportunity that presents Itself
to pull Off q play to "a u oi mo
positions. Many a close game can bH
by a quick throw to second on
third. which catches tho baseruanef
manning because Of its very uncXprct-
edness. when attempting thees PLAYS.
the first baseman should have an hn-
with the second haaemdu
and the pitcher, So that first mas NOT
be left uncof efcd.
A. to style of mitt To DE Ised. }
would Suggest a small. light affair. as
il can be handled much moe eaSilt
accurately than n al thu heavy
ones Much Hne-hand work nf nrrs-
sItv falls 10 he lot of the first base
man. and the tight glove IS au fuNtiu-
able asset. So TAR as this rnd " hls
playing goes
Always reach out and meet Q
thrown bali with as great a strntch
A. possible. remembering that ettt
fraction Of q second counts. especially
IN infield faus Very often a fleet
footed runner beats out "a ground hai'
s. credited with "a hit. all D.
the first hasrman was tne sue
u the out. aud did not ct the bali