The Washington times., 1914-03-08
Ty Cobb Says Base Runners Must Hit Dirt AS If They Liked
They Win Renown by Their Feetess and Their Sagaciy

and dig back for first to give the mar
going home a chance u score, aud the
whole defense is upset.
Always Figuring Out Ways
Smart ball players are always iigur.
ing out ways to get the base runner
especially II he is a bushcr and no
familiar with all the rough work of the
majors. There Is an old one pulled BY
many second basemcn and shortstop.
on recruits The green one gets dowr
to second base. and the catcher makes
blum to throw the ball. after receiv.
ing II from the pitcher. to catch hirr
mapping. The runner scampers back tc
the bag. which has been covered by
the shortstop. As the latter walks to.
ward his position again. he cuts into
conversation with the bushcr to hold
IF the catcher'd thrown that time,
he would have got you," says the short.
STOP
The youngster, thinking this a refiec.
tion on his baseball intelligence. turns
his head to argue and protest.
II would have been sitting on the bag
when the ball got there" he replies.
The turning of the head Is fatal, for
the second baseman sneaks to the bag,
the catcher shoots the ball. and the run
ner 10 out by yards and walks to the
bench listening to the laughter Of the
shortstop who has pulled the trick, and
having some idea of what his manager
will say to him. He goes to the water
cooler first. for his drink. as any ball
player does after he fans or pulls .
bone. and then huddies down ON the
end OF the bench. But, from the aver
age big league manager he always gets
the call for the bone no matter how
hard he tries to dodge 1t.
There Is one spectacular play in base
running that the fans Ike to see. and
that most managers will ''bawl'' play.
c: for attempting. whether or not he 10
successful. This Is stealing home. Wher
a man starts to steal home. the per.
centage is all against him. I have
heard managers call down a man for
attempting the play, even when IT has
been successfully accomplished.
In conclusion, l want my readers tc
appreciate the fact that there is plenty
Of science in base running. Most team,
nave a set Of signs for this branch OF
the game that are necessary for its.
success.
A player must be willing to take
chances on the bases. Good base run
nsrs are valuable assets to any cIrb-
because nothing will keep an opponent
guessing so much as a collection OF
base stealers- once a team begins tc
run Wild on the paths and steal base.
loosely. 1t usually means defeat for II.
opponents.
Are Not Very Valuable.
Players who cannot run the bases ars
not very valuable to a club. Even
they get on, 1t takes a lot of safe ones
10 bring them around home. Bass
running is as important a department
OF the game, in my estimation, as am
other single. branch of baseball.
ners are the ones that are not afraid
10 hit the dirt. and the science of slid,
Ing is large part Of successful bass
running: and most managers. .realizins
this. rehearse their players diligently
In sliding during the spring practice
Nearly all the star base runners suck
as Bescher. Collins, Milan, Speaker ant
the rest. use the hook slide now Therv
are only 2 few left who go into th
Fred Merkle. of the Giants. and Ha
Chase. frequently take a dive at tn,
base. but wfenever they attempt thii
they are always running a risk of hit.
ting the baseman with their heads ant
II a baseman knows that runner
slides head-first, he is not as apt te
give him his share Of the lines as he
would be il he expected to be met By
smaller area to touch when he uses
the hook slide and throws his body
away from the bag. This style -
auires an expert in tagging to get a mar
who has perfected this fall-away slide
Watch the stars of the game next
season. and see how they 20 out to stea.
bag Notice how they get the start
and pay no attention to anything until
they hit the dirt. To me II is the most
thrilling and absorbing plav of the
game, and it satisfies me almost az
much to steal a base as to drive
ball on a line for clean hit.
Copyright. 1914, by the Wheeler Syndi-
cate, Inc)
Next week: Batting, and How Made
NFpsalf uitferr