, 1923-06-17
STEALING THIRD BASE
VERY effective PLAY
BY I. E. SANBORN.

Tor n ian to attend every game
played in the National and American
leagues, he probably would see Inc OF
the most effective plays. n a fairly
easy one made once n month on the
average. And 1t would not be attempt
ed much oftener than that
Stealing third base with less than
two out will upset q defending ball
team In a close game almost as much
as losing confidence in the pitcher. In
spite OF the frequency OF high score
contests. tho majority OF them still
are close. consequently the value OF
one run is nearly as great as in an
airtight combat.
Third base is the easiest one on the
circuit to steal, yet 1t is not attempted
nearly as often as n theft Of second
base. and usually the try is made after
two are out, when the advantage to
be gained makes 1t hardly worth while.
IL two are already n the average
player can score from second on almost
anything that would let him in from
third,
Better Chance to Score.
with only one out or nobody gone,
however, a runner on third has a far
better chance to score than one on Sec
ond- Moreover. he gives the batsman
n better chance to make a clean hit
by pulling the infeld In II the game
is close. Instead of sending a runner
from second to third ION his own"
the modern manager orders the bats
man to sacrifice II there is nobody out
M the battle is close enough to make
1t wise TO play for one run.
This is a shameful waste Of effort
and is no justified at all unless this
runner whom 1t Is desired to advance
TO third is an ice-cart or a pitcher.
The distance from second TO third is
no greater than from first to second in
actual feet. For n base runner 1t "a
no as far. He can get a much longer
lead off second than of first IL he
wants TO. The catcher's throw to third
is shorter than TO second base, but at
the rate a throw travels this differences
Is innnitesimal compared 10 the ad.
vantage Of being able TO get more than
twice as much lead before the ball
leaves the pitchers hand.
The "system" Of today has rele.
gated the stolen base to the hazardous
class to be used only In desperate situa.
tons. Most attempts to steal nova.
days are merely hit and run plays in
which h batsman is supposed 10 pro.
tect the runner by fouling the bail II
he annot hit 1t fair.
Only after two are out Is the defend
Ing team alert to check genuine Mt
tempts TO steal a base. Consequent,
with nobody out a runner who reaches
second on a double or an error car
risk taking a long lead of second with
every pitch.
The hurlers have no deceptive ball
motion in throwing TO second. They
have TO turn around to throw, and The
shortstop or second baseman mus
start on signal in time to take n throw
there. With a wise coacher and ar
unmistakable signal no runner eve,
ought to be picked on second by IN,
pitcher. no matter IL he leads of n,
far as the shortstop plays. He car
keep one eye on the second basemar
himself.
That makes II only a short lash the
rest OF the way to third, and a sue.
cessful steal OF third. with nobody out,
puts the defending team in a tough
place. because 1t compels tho defense
to tighten up everywhere, and enables
h attacking team to choose from a
wide variety Of plays to score the run.
1t doesn't require speed to steal third
base. but 1t does require something
under the hair that is not developed
much by the present system In the
big leagues.
Mike Kelly Great Player.
I happened to see the last profes.
siSnal game in which Mike Kelly.
the king " Of his day, played. 1t was
a bush league game. Kelly was man
aging a team which bore the name OF
fonkers, but had no home. 1t was
merely playing out tho schedule Of a
defunct franchise. transferring all
home games to other grounds. KEEL
~ was playing FIRST base but no lame
he could cover no ground.
In the ninth inning. with the score
ted and ono out. Kelly hit one SO far
he could limp to second base on It.
On the second ball pitched he stole
third base clearly. in spite OF a per-
feet throw. The next batsnnen hit a
ny Ions enough to let Kelly In with the
winning run. That was the final game
OF tho season and before another
spring King Kelly's playing days were
over. Huf he uaa n rreat hail ot4..x.