Evening journal., 1912-02-23
sun FIELD IS
HARD TO PLAY
Most Players In That Position
Use Glasses for Their
Eyes
SOME FANS THINK
TEE TASK EASY

outfeld is the "sun" field. and that is
not always the same field, nor are all
of them equally difficult. Sun" field,
by the way is the ball players name
for the field into which the afternoon
sun shines on a direct or almost direct
line with the home plate, so that the
majority of flies hit to that fielder
come to him out of a blazing back
ground.
At Comiskey park in Chicago the
right field is the sun" field, although
center field is bothered at certain sea-
sons At the Cubs park the sun in
of Chicagos ball parks is laid out so
as to make any cutfield what the play
ers call fierce" What is admitted by
all to be the worst in the major
leagues is left field in Cleveland, al
though right field at the Polo Grounds
in New York is pretty fierce" The
st. Louis American League grounds
have everything else beaten. for both
right and center fields are bad sun"
fields, whenever the weather is clear.
Sometimes even the left fielder then is
handicapped, too.
The fan probably wonders why ball
parks are not planned so that there
will be no "sun" field That can be
done easily enough by making a con-
siderable part of the spectators face
the sun, and not only face il, but sit in
it most of the game, and that is not
comfortable on a hot afternoon. De-
tfoit and Brooklyn have plants laid
out that way, and the first base side
Of the covered stands is no more COM
Portable than open bleachers i'm July
or August Detroit's new plant, now
httf1 &c r,I tlo,.
because the comfort of the fan is more
important to the revenue of the game
than the convenience of the Outielders.
1t is better to have a fly misjudged
occasionally, even at the cost OF
game, than to have large section
OF the stand Stunned by persons un-
less the place is crowded
Even If Sheckard and Mcintyre have
TO stare Old Sol out of countenanee
lot Of the time when they are play
ing at home they are not always doing
it away from home Sheckard has
the laugh ON Schultz and Mcintyre
has to lend his smoked glasses to Cal
lahan about half the time while on the
rnad Occasionally Holman and
hodie get it in the eyes.
faN Curves From Bat.
Aside from this sun feature. one
would think the outfield positions we're
alike and equally difficult to play.
That is far from the truth. Each
position has its peculiarities and a
man who has played one outfield po-
sition for a number of years will be
at sea for a while in any other field.
The greatest difference is between
center field and either OF the other
tc0 positions. As a-rule long fl.es
fIffrs 1a.s a.. g..1.I H.
axe hit almost squarely by the bats
man. and consequently have little
English" TO make them curve. The
majority of flies hit to right or left
field, however, will curve in their
eight and the fielder must remember
instinctively to allow for this curve
when running to get under the ball.
The fly which right-handed bats
man hits into right field will curve
I'm the opposite direction to the fly
which a left-handed batsman hits
into left field. but when man changes
from right to left field he takes the
curve instinct along with him and
merely has 20 remember which field
he is in. The center fielder who
changes 10 right or left field must
ACQUIRE the. habit of expecting every
nv to curve, unless il is a straight
liner pulled" squarely by The bats
man.
There is not as much difference be-
tween outheld positions as there is on
the nfield. but there is enough sc
that a PLAYER is left in his so-called
snaturals position unless ii is neces-
sary to change him.
Judgment Of Flies.
The physical requirements in th'
outfcld are speed, accuracy in judging
flies. and surety OF each. The men
tai requirements are much the same
as IN any other department TIT
outfelder must study the batsmen and
learn in which direction certain mer
usually hit certain kinds of pitching
knowing the catchers' signs so tha
he will know just what is being pitch.
ed each time is Of great help to thu
wise outfielder in guessing the d
rection ball will take the instan
he hears tho crack OF the bat. An,
one who has watched the outfield o
good team on the defense has seer
great expanscs of ground left un
guarded at times and may have won
dered at Il. There's a reason" al
ways. and "a is simply the ielders o
same law Of averages which govern
insurance premiums that the mau a
The bat Is almost certain not to hi
he ball into the territory left un
covered.
knowledge of what to do with III
ball when one gets it also is prim
requisite in the outfeld Many gam
has been lost by an unwise throw I
the plate or to the wrong base. Tn
outdelder must take into considera
ton the speed of the men on bases
the lead they have when he gets tn
ball and the state of the game.
play that would be wise under som
conditions would be the height OF foil
under others.
There is more in outfelding tina
there is in shoveling snow
IA BOYS IN SOCCER.