The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-04-13
How To Run Bases

tEDITOR'S NOTE: The following ar
ticie was written for Frank G.. Menkc
by Ty Cobb. best known bail player in
America. It's purpose is to school the
younEster in the tricks of running
basca. While II is of the most vital
interest to youngsters, IT also fur
nishes splendid reading for the adult
fan. for 1t details the methods vhich
Cobb's article Is the ninth of a series
that IL appearing in this column daily
on "How to Play BasebaIl". The ar
tfcle tomorrow will he "Defensive Team
Play" by wiibert Robinson. The fol-
lowing day. Robinson, ranked rs one
Of the maatcr strntcgists Of baseball
writes on "Offensive Team Play" The
finnl article. also by Robinson, contains
"SUccessful baseball Leadership.- Pre-
vious contributors were SisIer, Collins
Meanwhile. Groh, Speaker. O'NeiIl and
The successful baserunner is one
who is never afraid to take a chance
who uses his brains every minute, and
who never misses an opportunity.
Keep in mind that when you are on
bases you are fighting practically alone
against nine men. Every player on
the other team is there for the purpose
of killing you off before you can ad
vance further You are faced by dos
perate odds, and the only chance you
have for success is unceasing watch.
fulness and alertness in taking adyant-
age of every advancement chance that
comes to you.
Having arrived at first, its up to you
Immediately to put to work your
earlier findings to-wit:
ID The strength or weakness Of the
opposition catcher as to throwing;
CD the ability of the pitcher in hold.
ing runner to the bag; CD the trick.
ness of the first baseman, and a. how
good is the opposition second baseman
or shortstop in putting the ball on a
stealing runner
You learn these things by observa
ton. Utilize every minute on the
bench in studying the other players
Learn what they can do-and what
they can't do-by watching them. Then
when Your time comes to run bases,
you'll be started" up.
Study Players.
You can't take as many base stealing
liberties with great throwing catcher
as with one who is erratic in his
losses to the bags. Keep that in mind
Nor can you take the same lead Oft
the bag on all pitchers. Some have a
way of getting that ball over to first
so fast and without ''telegraphing'
their jntent-that il catches you fiat
footed. Others cant cultivate that so
called half balk motion.
pom arriving at first it is usually a
splendid thing to bluff steal inn
mediately. That will enable you to
learn whether the shortstop or the
second baseman will cover the bag.
You can use that knowledge to your
advantage when you are sliding into
the bag
Hesitation in base running Is fatal
Once you make up your mind to steal
and the signal has been passed to your
mates, don't hesitate. If you hesitate,
all is lost. For hesitation loses you q
second or SO and the difference be
tween putout and a successful steal
usually is less than second of time.
The base lines belong to the runner
The baseman has no right TO block
Your way. According 10 the rules. you
are justified in sliding into any base.
man who tries to bar your progress H.
legitimately. But don't, play dirty
baseball Never ram into baseman
unless it's absolutely necessary
Practice Feet First.
Practic e feet-first sliding. You'll
need TO slide practically every time
YOU attempt to steal. Try short slides
first. while running only at moderate
speed. Then try longer ones. AS you
acquire the knack of successful long
slides from slow runs, increase your
running speed. AS you increase your
speed, go back first of all to the short
slide and gradually work up to the long
slide from a full-speed run.
When hitting the dirt, aim to land
on the side of your leg, with most of
the weight and impact upon the flesh.
lest part of the upper hip. Keep your