The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-08-18
4 BASEBALL YARN
TOLD BY VETERAN
"Topsy" Hartsel Tells About
the Experiences of an
OutfieIder.
HE MUST BE GOOD JUDGE
PLAYER sHoUIo KNOW WHERE
Ykg BALL WILL FALL-AccUR.
Acv AND oUickNEss Aoso-
LuTglv NgcGssARv.
No. XVII.
Dy "TOPSY" HAATSEL.

~ "roPsY" HAATsEL.
fcepyrisht 'sae' sy America" Press A'so-
Do ! consider playing the outdeld
easy compared with other positions on
a ball team? should say not. While
he has not - much to do a. the In
feidcrs. catcher or pitcher. the out
6eidsr has not cinch by any means.
There are many qualities that a player
must possess before he can he called
nm expert outhelder. First OF all he
must be 4 good Judge Of ny balls,
quick and accurate. Judgment In tell
ing where the ball will fall Ia not all
that II necessary. lie must be able to
determine In Z fraction OF u second
how to catch the ball. where to throw
II and how to throw II. He must know
whether to run up and try to smother
q low hit hall or play 1t safely. that
II. wait and take Il on tho bound. and
his Judgment. combined with his mem
DRY. must tell him where this or that
batter H. going to hit the ball, The
nrst thing a major league ball outtield-
er must learn To do II bow tn handle
the. ball after q single IL made. This
10 pushing to many. The trst thing
an 0utielder should do ID to get the
ball to second base ~ aeon a. possible.
That In whcrc II belongs. whether q
single has been made to right. loft o.
center. Tho object IL. Of course, to
bold the runner on drst sack. II the
runner secs that y0u are about 70
make . mistake and throw the ball
to. the pitcher or. perhaps. to the
catcher to ATTEMPT to get man run
ming home, he Will start for second
sure. Aud the chances are that he
will make the base very easily.
When hit Ii made with man on
third sack It IL. Of course, impossible to
get him at the plate. When a good
clean hit In made with man ON sec.
oud It IL not likely that he can be
caught at the plate even by the fastest
outfielder Throws to the home plate
are to he expected more often when
there In hy tO the Outfleld with mar
on third corner with none or one out.
Then the outer gardener has an op.
portunity to test his throwing wing.
There Ii no prettier sight than that o!
long, perfect throw from the outfield
which arrives before the runner and
he IL tagged out. The player who can
make throw like that il admired by
everybody. When you can see one that
can do II right along ask him how he
throws SO well and he will answer, by
practicinG."
1t must be left entirely to the judg
ment If the man playing in the outticld
whether or not he Is to throw to the
plate - try to get the runner making
for home after ny to the outfield
Perhaps he has been too far out and nc
fielder can r,nEe the throw and gel
the runner. In surh case nnd II there
Is maa on trst the outfielder should
not throw TO the plate, hut to second
| sack instead. II the throw were made
to home plate thr runner ON frst would
reach second. AMI from that point hl
could score II the batter following
should make hit.
1t Is tn, aim Of nearly every outfeld.
er In the majors 10 throw the ball low
! and straight. II Is better for It to GO
into the catchcr's mitt on the first
bound. Then II Is pretty sure not to
be TO high, and the moment he gets
his hands on II he can tag the runner
out. 1t Il rarlonah!e TO. he deliberate
In throw ing froYn the outtield to the
home plate. but not too much time cor
be taken. Constant practice in throw
Ing to the plate can only engende,
speed In getting the hail away.
| 1t is very important that the ont
fielder sh.'uid he able TO know whether
to run M or 10 wait when the ball Il
hit low. Low balls are the hardest
things the outfcldcr IL called upon Il
stop-thoss which are too low to catcl
on the tiy and too high TO get OH the
bound. II he runs In and tries Il
SCOOP the ball II IL likely TO &c
through his hands and go to the real
fence. II he waits for II ON the bouni
1t Is likely TO turn suddenly, since
most outer gardens are rough. and &c
away from him. The thing that SHOULD
be uppermt,st In the mind OF the out
| fielder at that time should be to hoit
4 Nva - AA lsan ~AA ehrS~~N Tho haA<