The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-01-24
SHERWOOD MAGE
ANXIOUS TO PLAY
FIRST FOR PHHA.

Sherwood Masee is now all first
base: Since Charley. Doom of the
playing the outhelder at the initial
sack the latter has done nothing much
but eat, sleep and think first base.
He has the whole thing worked out
the fans on a few points about the
first basenan's job.
There was a time when first base
was about the easiest on the infeld, -
said Sherwood, but that day has
long gone past, and now 1t is only a
clever man that makes good at the
first bag. You see. haven't made
good there yet, SO I'm not throwing
any roses at myself. But you know
they always thought that all a first
baseman was needed for was to catch
the ball and to get z two Dagger when
two baggers were most appropriate to
the occasion Times have changed
since then and 1T is only a, fellow that
is all pepper that makes good at the
initial bag now. Why, even Doom has
got a new man for the first bag just
to get speed into the Phillies.
First base has always been under
rated. In my. mind it is the most i'm
prortRnt on the entire inAefd. In more
than nine plays out of ten in which
the infielders figure is the first base
slightest slip by him will mar the en-
tire work of the infield.
Next to the catcher and the pitcher
he is the busiest man on the team,
as busy as the battery. His value to
the infeId is unreasonable. The first
basenan may be a world of power in
developing shortstop or a third
btaseInan, and have known many in
helders, inclined to be wild, who owed
their baseball success in a large
they broke in. Confidence in the abi1-
ity Of the first baseman Will often
give the sfaortstop and second base.
man courage to attempt q. play that
inn
But the value Of q first basenan is
greater even to the outfielders. I have
been in the outfield for years and I
know win ereofe 1 speak. The tNrstf
baseman and the third baseman may
add or detract from the strength of
the outfield. The reason IS this, when
positions the outffefder must be on
his toes to get the grounder in case
it gets through the infieIder. Now
there are some first sackers who, in
variaQbIy get grounders. no matter how
fast they, arg coming. Eddie Grant,
formerly of the Phi1lies, and now of
the Cincinnati Beds, is q third base
man Of that type. Eddie can always
be relied upon to spear a grounder
In this way he can make or can help
the outfieIder- in back of him to a
ION the other hand. there, are some
infielders who never seem to be able
to get the speedy ones. Mind you,
it doesn't impair their alI-round work
to- a, great extent, for a man isn't ex-
pected to stop these young cannon
balls. But when a .grounder is thit
to these men. the outfit elders must
start with the crack of the bat and
get after the ball And. need not tell
you that an out6e1der would, sooner
get after three OF four difficult flies
than one grounder. You can never
tell what a grounder is going. to do
in the outfield:
when the Phihes are down south
this spring I intend to develop my
self to get these grounders. Then
if I don't make good at the bag
will be a much better fielding soutfield-
er. But it will be more with the idea
of helping the man working behind me
that will go after the grounders. The
first baSeman should be just as good
at getting the grounders as a short
stop or third baseman and just as
flo -,-a. !.