Omaha daily bee., 1921-04-09
HOW TO PLAY TIE
OUTFIELD.
BY IRIS SPEAKER.
COZ Cleveland Indians.)

]. Learn to catch the ball in til,
proper and the easiest and sures
way.
:. Learn to be in such position
when making catch that he car
make a throw to any needed bas,
without whirling around.
5. Learn to throw perfectly from
all angles, from all distances and tt
all bases.
4. Learn to make catches while
running backward for the ball.
The best way OF catching the bal
is with the hands cupped. That's
the surest and usually the most nat
ural fashion. 1t may be a little
iancier to make the "V" shaped
catch at the chest but it's not az
sure. And you must be sure about
making the catch.
OF course, there are times when
the ball comes at you in such a
way that you can't make a cup
catch. Then catch it in any way
that you can. But whenever pos
sible, take the ball in the cup OF
your hands. -,.-
Try One-Handed Catches.
After you have learned thorough
ly how to make catches with both
hands, try making one-handed
catches. Practice that until you
feel you are absolutely proficient
in it. But, after you have learned
it, never try to make handed
catch in any game unless it is ut
terly impossible for you to use both
hands in receiving the ball.
Remember, the one-handed catch
is to be made only in an absolute
emergency.
Practice faithfully the trick of fac
ing the infield and especially the
base where a play is likely to be
made whenever you make catch.
With conscientious effort you not
only can do this when making ord
mary catches but, in time, you'll
learn the trick of shifting around
when making running backward
catch so that you can make the
throw without lost motion or the
loss of time.
Speed is of vital necessity. in all
your actions. Very often the
barest fraction of a second deter
mines whether an enemy runner is
safe or is putout victim.
Bear this in mind at all times:
When one play is completed and
another is about to start, get the
battle action fixed absolutely in your
mind. Remember how many rum
ners are on the bases-and on what
bases they are resting. Anticipate
what they're likely to do If ball
is hit to you. Then. if the ball is
hit out your way, you'll know just
what to do with it when you get it.
So, never lose sight of the ball.
Keep Eyes on Ball.
Never take your eyes off OF that
infield until the side is retired. How
do you know that your pitcher, or
your catcher isn't going to try to
catch man mapping off the basesl
And how do you know that the
throw isn't going to be wild--and
that the ball won't roll out your
way.
So, keep your eye on the ball
always.
A man who can make one mirac--
ulous catch after another never will
merit job in the outheld if he isn't
a last and accurate thrower. The
only way you can become one is by
constant practice. Make throws to
all bags in your practice sessions.
Make them from all distances; make
them standing still, make them
while running forward, make them
while completing backward run
ming catch.
Peg for every base; keep on peg
ging; practice throwing until you
reach a point so that you can shoot
the ball with rifle bullet speed to
anv base, or to the plate. After you
are 100 per cent perfect in your
thowing ability, keep right on with
your pegging practice SO you'll main
tain 100 per cent perfection.
1t isn't reaching greatness that
counts most in base ball; maintain
ing that greatness is the thing.
Shoe string catches are about the
most difficult of all. Certainly they
are the most dangerous. A shoe
string catch may save run-i1lay
even save the game. But if you
miss the catch you may lose the
game, for the ball is going to roll
past YOU and the drive that would
have been an ordinary single, ii you
had taken it on the first bound, may
net the batter two or three bases.
You can reach a certain perfection
in shoestring catching by practice
practice-and more practice. bu'
even when nearly perfect don't try
for a shoeshtringer unless you are
practically sure you car make II.
Play Safe.
OF course, circumstances alter
cases. If put out is the only thing
that will save the game, try for the
SnOeSII1NS. L Ou StS "a'
gambling then. But If holding the
drive to a single saves the game,
whereas missing and permitting the
batter to get two or three bases
loses it, play safe by taking the bali
on a bound.
| have been credited with origin
ating the present day practice OF
outhelders playing in much closer
to the infield than was the custom
in the other days. My reason for
playing so close to the bases was
because in my earliest days /
noticed that many of the opposition
batsmen were hitting safely just
back of the bags.
So l moved in closer and closer
to the infeld. As l did so, / began
trapping drives that formerly wen.
for hits. My earliest manager, al
though glad to note that | was get
ting such potential safeties, was
worried for fear that the other fei-
lows would begin driving the bal
over my head.