Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-23
STORIES OF
The DIAMOND
Germany" Schaefer Talks
About Methods of Playing
the Infield.
SECOND is HARDEST JOB
Nan at the keystone Station Given
Better Chance to Show Up
Than Anywhere Else.
No. XVI.
BY FiERN1AN sCHAEFER.


copyright, 1910. by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
What are the important qualities fol
successful infeder in the major
leagues today? Well. the only players
who become successful infeldcrs are
those with a natural aptitude for base
ball. a good mechanical player who
can hit at fair clip may make good
and hold position IN the outfeld, but
when he comes to the fnfeld he must
be quick thinker. fast fielder and a
r natural player as we'll
How many baseball fans have
thought of the build of tSese infeld-
ers and the part that plays in deter
mining the qualification for q certain
positions For Instance. take the first
baseman- He must. he a tail. rangy
fellow who can cover ground, but more
especially one who has reach to catch
throws trife wild. Height and reach
are valuable in stepping forward tc
meet thrown balls. Many first sack
or who understands his position robs
a bats1nan Of hits merelS BIZ stretching
out to meet them IN the course of a
season this one or two feet advantage
will mean a score or more less base
hits.
Speaking of the second baseman or
the shortstOp, I viii say that the lat
ter should be short. chunky fellow,
something on the dachShund order, for
he has TO gather the ball in from al
positions while on the run. so the low
er they are to the ground the better.
The majority of the third sackers in
the major leagues today are small men
or fellows Of medium height, but it is
not essential there.
AS you know. second base is the key
to the infield. Second sack gives a
player an opportunity to show up bet
ter than any other position. and I be
Heve a player will last longer in the
game in this position than any other
that is. if he is a natural and not
made bail player. y second baseman
should go for short flies and depend
on the outfe,ders for the coaching, as
they are in a better position to judge
the ball. The keystone stationer
should go in for the short throw with
the catcher, sending the bah down for
a man and a runner at third. This
play requires practice and a good
"
e man between the bases 20 after him
on the jump and get him under full
Roadway before throwing the bali.
Who Is the Gcmest Man:
Recently | was ASKED who ! thought
was the Gamest man in baseball. I
know | have been in the game for
many years. but III tell you l have
not had the chance to size them all up.
but l will hand a lot Of candy to my
present side partner. Kid ElJerfeld.
Some years ago when l was playing
second base for the Detroit Tigers l
had a little experience with the Kid
The latter is game to the core. No
matter what you do to him, he will
take it without batting an eye. But
you have to watch out when his
chance comes. When he was playing
with New York he got me once when
I wasn't looking for anything and gave
me a pretty hard humping as l came
back 20 the bag. I tried to get back
at him and learned how luck will
break against q fellow. The next time
I went to bat l passed the word that
If reached first no one was to give
me the signal. because l would go
uCWu Oh the uISL DAN IlLCueu, hdNluS
an engagement at second. 1 had a
good lead and was away with the
pitch. But there wasn't. chance to
get Norman, because Catcher KIeinow /
pulled him OF the bag with a wide /
throw, and l had to keep on for third I
without a chance to exchange compli- /.
ments. 1 was ready for the Kid when /
the time came. He reached first, and |
! tipped O'Leary that l would take the .
throw if he stole. When he came down /
1 was all ready. with my elbows in the /
right place. He came in just as l
wanted him to, spikes first and feet up /
In the air. But the throw was short.
and 1 had to run in to get the ball.
Afterward ElberfeId told me he had
me dead If hadn't pulled off the bag.
But that's what he thought.