The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-31
ny HAL CHASE.

stDII1SS. t1fSt bHu ahi'Sh 'iiIoi lh''
comes ability to scorc runs Next
stands ability to nrevont opponents
scoring. This goes for the individual
as well Az for the team. -
Will deal with base running.
Important accomplishments In base
bail. / do not except hitting. though
hitting includes successful base run.
ming Base running means The WORK
OF circling the bases In the most eff
fective way. II means in short, "a
Improve every opportunity on tho way.
also to take the least risks OF being
put out.
soon as he is entitled to first base
or TO try to reach II In safety. For
Instance. man that 10 hit with q
pitched ball or who is given u pass Is
not base runner until ne reaches
ball in fair territory or after the
catcher misses a dropped third strike
under certain conditions immediately
becomes base runner. From the
value toward scoring is right UP to
himself.
Bnsc Running Heal Test.
Base work brings out most forcibly
Snd1 Is In player ,.,l Is mere Wners
may be improved, but cannot be ac-
auired. Base running wtlrts coupled
n Mh an 81 niss s,ra.ss are . no1p
pa Is It dsfs IS not Essential Is fine
How many ten sec@d men have
etossomed out in the bK leagues. only
ments? Most of them Bked the head.
Some could not overd@ne the minor
handicaps toward puts their speed
20 pest ADVANTAGE. On
Aore important thaNDpeed is ability
TO get ntlickfv int bu,,
10 GET the drop on the other fellow,
as II were, Regardless of sprinting
aolilty, one who cannot get the break
cannot cannot advance. successfully. Jimmy
austin stole rinety-seven bases one
season in the Western League. In tho
american he could not put his speed
70 such ADVANTAGE. Hc is not a quick
breaker ore At least he. did not get
switch in batting style, may have had
much to do with il. Austin Is every
Dit as speedy as Ty Cobb. But Cobb
gets every advantage from his sprint
ing power.
Ty Cobb is the greatest base runner
IN the game. This is not because of
his running ability. It is because he
always thinks for himself. The man
VINO depends always on a coacher to
tell him what to do will never sue
coed. A PLAYER must always have the
situation in mind. He must be ready
10 take advantage of every little slip
OF an oDDonent.
Cobb Makes Own Luck.
Many say that Cobb is lucky Well.
" he is he makes his luck. He pulls
more new stuff than half the rest OF
me players put together. He takes
chances, but he seldom takes des-
desperate. Cobbs success lies In his
cunning and ability to execute on the
instant. He boasts that intuitive in
sunct that scents out bad play be-
of the Cleveland Club. is sterling
base runner nf the opposite type. He
cannot compare with Cobb as to speed
But he always takes care to have the
edge on the opposition before he starts
anything.
Making the best of opportunities is
the secret. In this no better iHustra-
ton is afforded than that of stretching
hits. On hit TO the outteld rum
ner should always make the turn to
bag Just as far as possible without
running the fisk of being trapped on
q quick. accurate throw. In this way
the least tumble by an outfielder gives
use variations of the play. For exam
pie. 1t is not bad idea once in a
while to turn quickly as If to get
back to first. This will often take tho
the ball leisurely to second. in which
case II is easy to beat the throw to
that cushion Or bluff attempt at
second may make him hurry, so that
plays as these that the heady. re.
sourceful man is often able to break
up a game.
Must OutS,,css Rivals.
In this battle of vita the one who
can outguess his rivals is the winner.
Always. worry the pitcher and catcher
by leading off as far as possible and
blufiins. 1t helps the batter and
throws the opposition off its guard
try to steal unless absolutely sure you
can get the jump on the others. Never
steal unless you have tipped off the
batter. He must protect you If the
foe has outguessed you.
To be good base runner one must
know how to slide properly. The
principle is easy. although methods
vary as much as players. Always slide
s 70 the direction in which the
line. On such slide to the inside Of
the bag. a Low. throw pulls the base
man to the inside. In this case circle
No two have the same method OF
sliding Some try for the bag feet
first. There, is less personal risk. On
2. a close play generally prefer to slide
n Tha III nrst = I nus can always keep
the dexterity of my body to fiop out
of reach of the. ball and can use nv NV
hands as an anchor, There are "hooh'.
slides and fall away" slides. and many
other kinds Space will not hermit
their various descriptions. one and ali
have the same object. To expose the
least of your person to the nIaver
taking the throw Is the idea. This
means to keen most of the body out
Slide Varies With Bascman.
The slide varies with the baseman
Some like throws to one side. whiic
others may excel Just the opposite way,
Always put yourself in such nosi.
ton that it will be hardest for the foe
to tag you. Study and practice alone
make perfect at this.
Base stealing Is, not base r,nnine
The old Cleveland team illustrates tha1'
What greater base stealers could ha
found thar Ray, Bradley. Flick, Iaioia
and Turner? And what greater aegr us.
cation of hltters. with Clarke and Sto-
vail thrown in? Yet that team was
very bad at base running The NAV
ers tossed off more runs than they
scored simply because they failed TO
grasp their opportunities. 1t was a
bad base running aggregation, and this
cost Lajoie pennants.