The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-08-02
"esFmay' SshasIsT TsIks
49, nr~.1- A. f-u-nI
Abvu rldJlllg Ing lllIlsia
SECOND HARDEST POSITION
Man II the ksysssns Staten 10 Given
Better chanss . Show Up Than
Any othsr pIayar--ds osnsrally
Lasts Lsnssr In canaa
No. XVI.
~ HERl-fAN scHAEFER.


IcepyTtght. isls. by American Press Aaso-
ciation-l
What are the important qualities for
a successful in6elder in the major
leagues fodays Wen. the only players
who become successful in6elders are
those with a natural aptitude for base
bail A grJd mechanical player who
can hit at a fair clip may make good
and bold a position IN the outfeld. but
when be comes TO the infeld he must
be a quick thinker, fast fielder and
natural player as well
How many baseball fans have
thought OF the build Of these iniield-
ers and the part that plays in deter
mining the qualification for a certain
positson1 Fer instance. take the first
baseman. He must be q tail. rangy
fellow who can cover ground. but more
especially one who has reach 10 catch
throws q tribe wild Height and reach
are valuable in stepping forward to
meet thrown balls. Many a first sack
er who understands bis position robs
= bafsman Of hits merely BY stretching
out to meet them. In the course OF a
season this one or two feet advantage
win mean a score or more less base
hits.
Speaking Of the second baseman or
the shortstop l VIII say that the lat
ter should be short chunky fellow.
something on the dachshund order, for
be has TO gather the ball in 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
not essential there.
As you know. second base Is the key
10 the inheld Second sack gives
piayer an opportunity to show up bet
ter than any other position. and l be-
lIeve a player win last longer in the
game IN this position than any other
that Is. IL he is natural and not
made ball player. A second baseman
should 90 for short flies and depend
on the outielders for the coaching. as
they are In a better position to judge
the ball. The keystone stationeF
should 20 In for the short throw with
the catcher. sending the ball down for
man and "a runner at third This
play requires practice and q good
throwing catcher. When running down
a man between the bases 60 after him
on the jump and get him under full
headway before throwing the ball.
Recently I was asked who l thought
was the gamest man In baseball. !
know / have been in the game for
many years. but I'll tell you I have
not had the chance to size them all up
but / win hand a lot Of candy to my
present side partner. Kid Elberfeld
Some years ago when was playing
second base for the Detroit Tigers
had a little experience with the Kid.
The latter is game TO the core. No
matter what you do to him. he will
take 1t 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 came
back to the bag. tried to get back
at him and learned how luck will
break against fellow. The next time
/ went to bat I passed the word that
II / reached first no one was to give
me the signal. because would 90
down on the first ball pitched, having
an engagement at second. had q
good lead and waG away with the
pitch. But there wasn't chance TO
get Norman, because Catcher Kieinow
pulled him on the bag with a wide
throw. and had to keep on for third
a chance TO exchange complt /
ments. was ready for the Kid when |
the time came. He reached first. and
I tipped O'Leary that would take the
throw II he stole. When he came down
was all ready, with my elbows in the
right place. He came IN just as
wanted him to. spikes first and feet up (
In the air. But the throw was short,
and I had to run In to get the ball.
Afterward EIberfeId told me he had
me dead II hadn't pulled Of the bag.
But that's what be thought.