The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-07-27
STORIES OF THE
BASEBALL DIAMOND
Germany schaefer Talks About Play.
ing the InfeId-second Hardest PO-
sition--Man at Keystone sta
tion Is Given Better Chance
70 Show Up.
~ HERMAN scHAHFER.
fcopyrtght. 1910. BY American Press Asso-
ciation.l

tcopyright. 1910. BY American Press Asso-
ciation.l
What are the important qualities for
successful inaeldeF IN the major
leagues today7 Wen. the only players
who become successful innelders are
those with natural aptitude for base
ball A good mechanical player who
can bit ut fair clip may make good
and hold a position In the outheld. but
when be comes to the infeld be must
be quick thinker, fast fielder and a
natural player ais well.
How many baseball fans have
thought Of the build Of these inield-
ers and the part that plays in deter
mining the qualification for a certain
position? For instance. take the FIRST
baseman. He must be q tall. rangy
fellow who can cover ground, but more
especially one who has o reach to catch
throws a triHe wild Height and reach
are valuable in stepping forward to
meet thrown balls. Many a first sack
or who understands bis position robs
a batsman OF bits merely By stretching
out to meet them In the course Of
season this one or two feet advantage
win mean a score or more less base
hits.
Speaking OF the second baseman or
the shOrtstop, will say that the lat
ter should be a short, chunky fellow,
something on the dachshund order, for
he has to gather the ball Ia from all
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
net essential there
AS you know, second base Is the key
to the inheld. Second sack gives a
player an opportunity to show up bet
ter than any other position, and be-
lieve player will last longer IN the
game IN this position than any other
that is. II be IL natural and not q
made bah player A second baseman
should 60 for short flies and depend
on the outfelders for the coaching, as
they are 10 a better position to judge
the ball. The keystone stationer
should 60 in for the short throw with
the catcher, sending the ball down for
man and a runner at third This
play requires practice and a good
throwing catcher. When running down
a man between the bases go after him
on the Jump aud get him under full
Roadway before throwing the ball.
Recently was asked who | thought
was the earnest man In baseball. |
know I have been IN the game for
many years. but I'll tell you have
not had the chance to size them all up
but will hand q lot of candy to my
present side partner, Kid Elberfeld
Some years ago when ! was playing
second base for the Detroit Tigers
had little experience with the Kid
The latter is game to the core No
matter what you do TO him be viii
take 1t without batting an eye But
you have TO watch out when his
chance comes. When be WAS playing
with New York be got ME once when
/ wasn't looking for anything and gave
me a pretty hard humping as came
back 70 the bag. | tried to get back !
at him and learned bow luck will
break against a fellow The next time
went TO bat ] passed the word that
II / reached first no one was TO give
me the signal, because 1 would 90