The chronicle=news., 1913-03-20

pOin, In base running: namely. slid
ing. " you should ask me how to
learn to slide. ! should answer.
practice" That is the way to learn
nnything. Practice not only makes
perfect. but II also makes possible,
Keep On trying to slide and you VIII
learn how. anyone should be able 10
hit the dirt as we call II in base
ball
! Some boys slide into the bag. slid
Ing head first DO not do this: slide
feet first. When you slide feet first
you are less liable to be stepped on.
Enscmcn do not keep their feet
around pair Of spikes. ana these
spikes arc ON the feet which YOU are
showing toward the bag. when YOU
slide head first the baseman will not
take any precautlon. but viii step
| into you. because there II no danger
to him. II. will not step on YOU in
tcn,ionally. but he Will not take the
sam. care that he would take II he
knew a pair OF spikes wcrc whirl-
ing that way.
DO not try to slid. away from every
basoman Their. are som. bascmcn
who will expect you to slid. away
from them: they Will be looking for
II ana b. prepared to turn aud tag
YOU. Again. II Is mp to you to out
guess them. and YOU can io this by
sliding directly into them, Thcr. Is
an advantage. in going directly Into
sliding. I have trained myself so that
slide away from him. You might lar
him and Ia. will lose confid.nc. In
himself and miss YOU when Ii. tries
to put the ball on you u YOU are IL
abi. TO bump him with YOUR knee or
th. calf OF your leg. so that he VIII
drop the ball.
Some PLAYERS slide too soon and
they lose speed before they reach the
bag. As a matter OF fact. they arc ly-
Ing still before they touch tho bag.
Some players do not slide soon
, nough and they slide over the bag
and although they have the base
stolen they are touched out before
they can recover II.
What you want to do IL to bc on
the offensive at all times. When YOU
want to steal. start In hurry ana
30 fast. Make up your mind that YOU
Will get to the lag aud do II. Let
out all the speed You have aud Eo
| into that base.
When YOU nrc tying 4" score
that is. going into the home plate
20 In as hard M you can. You do not
hnvc to halt Mt any bag when YOU are
going home and you do not have to bc
ready to advance on an overthrow:
your course will be finished when
YOU reach the plate. You can over
slide home M Tar ms YOU like.
Stopping suddenly has brought in-
jjur, TO many men. Going into bag
1 I,vIn N ~, In
sudden stup has caused many men TO
receive n broken ankl. or II broken
leg. MANY have spraincd their ankles
lin lust that way. There is no danger
lin doing this when you 20 ito Il bns
sliding. I havct raincd myself SO that
" slide without even thinking about
lit. I have practicsd II constantly. "a
that when I get To the proper dis
ltancc from the bag ''hi, the dirt
Just Nm naturally as ! put up my
glove to catch n ball. or Just as nat,
|urnily as | move both feet wncn l
lrun. II Is IA habit now.
Never slide stiff legged. tut have "a
Timber position. As soon m your foot
touches the bag s,iffcn your leg and
dig the left knee into the dirt. This
will serve as n brake TO YOU aud VIII
,nnp you without your running Il
,cMnnce OF injuring yourself. Tighten
your muscles as soon as YOU touch
the bag. but not before then.
OF course. you can buy sliding
pads Mt sporting goods houses. but
YOU can protcc. yourself even more
lin a simple manner. When you put
ION your uniform. double the bottom
OF your trousers up and under. SO
thut a double thickness will res; over
the knee. For. as | have told YOU. the
knee plays an important part In slid
\ ling and should be protected as much
as possible. BY using the trousers ~
u means of protection. you Will not
| cause yourself any inconvenience and
] you will be protected as well as II
| YOU wore knee pads. AS some boys do
by Ty Cobb in How to Play Base
ball
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