The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-26
M'INNIS TELLS
HIS SECRET OF
PLAYING FIRST.
Position No Longer Regarded As a
Place for These Beginning
to Slip.

(Stuffy McInnis is playing the
stellar role in one of the biggest
baseball deals of the year, result
ing in his trade from the Boston tc
the Cleveland team of the Amer
lean league, McInnis aroused tbs
baseball world last season by play
ing the greatest fielding game in
history, holding down the initia
sack with the only one error ans
that one debatable.)
BY ~STUFFYo McTNNIS.
Copyright, 1921. NEA Service.)
| Playing first base is no Longer
considered a soft Job.
Once upon a time it was thought
that all a first baseman had to dc
was catch thrown balls.
Working on that theory . lot oi
players after they started to slip al
their regular position, began to
think about becoming a first base
man.
Those days, however, are over.
There is really as much, if not
more, to do around first base than
any of the other infield positions.
changed the style of first base play.
1t was Chase who first came tear
ing in right under the batter's nose
to take a bunt and force a runner
at some other base.
1t was Hal Chase who first orig
mated the idea of playing a deep
first base. This made it possible
for him to get a lot of ground balls,
and make a play at first base that
otherwise would have been base
hits.
1t was Hal Chase who made a
practice of getting the thrown ball
first and then touching the base
after receiving the throw. Prev
ioGsly first basemen had always
stationed themselves on the bag.
regardless of the direction of the
throw.
l believe l am the first fellow.
who hasn't measured around six
feet. VINO has been success at
first base. When Connie Mack
told the world he intended TO make
a first baseman ont of me, il
laughed. Everyone said it
was impossible for so short a
player to succeed at first. There
have been a lot of first basemen
about my height since.
Left-Hander Has the Edge.
No longer is it necessary for a
first baseman to be a six-footer to
have q chance to make good in the
American league. or any other
league. That theory has been cast
to the winds.
Right off the reel 1 want to say
that l think a left-handed throweT
has much the better OF a right
nander, when playing first base is
considered. He has all the natural
advantages which make it much
EASIER on a great many plays.
A left-handed first baseman is
always in position to make a throw
o any base when a play comes I'D.
often it is necessary for a right |
lander to shift his position before
making the throw. The fraction of |
second that is lost is often fatal. !
When a player catches a ball in
is gloved hand, it is often re- /
arded as a grandstand effort. That /!
oesn't go for a first basemar.
lie, more than any other player on
ne field. must be an adept at
atching balls in his gloved hand.
On a great many thrown balls
here the play is certain to be
lose, handling of the ball with the
loved hand is the only possible
ay to win the decision. For that
JASON any fellow who hopes to
axe good at first base must be an
pert with the gloved hand. That
why I constantly handle thrown
Ills in practice that way.
Some Interesting Dope.
1t is also a very good idea for a i,
st baseman to stretch out as far !
possible on every thrown, with 4
t putting himself of his stride. {