The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01
SECRET OF DEFENSIVE GAME
 IS TOLD BY HANS WAGNER

would probably go and always was right on top of it.
 These simple directions, naturally hitter. In either case, however, the shortstop must always be in position to go in for a slow hit ball. In other words he mustn't start too quick. Otherwise the batter might cross him. Study how to time your move- ments and never be so overanxious as to let everybody on the field know what you intend to do.
 Some batters are liable to hit any kind of pitched balls in any direc- ton. Those are very difficult to play. but luckily for the infieiders: there are very few of them. Still, If everything could be figured out exactly there wouldn't be any thrills in baseball. Surprise and unexpected things make the game what 1t Is.
 The shortstop in fielding a ball to his extreme right must be sure to put himself in position to throw to first base as the ball hits his hands. As his back is turned to the bag when he swings to make the play he must have a good line in his mind on where the bag is. You see. he must throw with the same motion that he fields the ball and he hasn't time to take aim. If he does the batter will beat the bail.
 A fine piece of fielding was done by Frank Frisch in the last worlds series, but the spectators, missing the real point of greatness, applauded his catch rather than his throw.
 Frlsch's Rapid Fire Shift.
 With man on third a Texas leaguer was hit back of second. It looked impossible, but Frisch started for it. On the last two jumps he saw he would get the ball and he knew that he would have to make a throw to plate. He suddenly shifted and jumped to the other side of the ball so that when he caught 1t he could peg to the plate without turning again or looking. Can you imagine a man thinking that fast in a situation like that?
 But Frisch made the catch and also nailed the runner, who tried to score on the play, It was a great catch. but greater throw. .
 Now on a slow hit ball the short stop must learn to throw accurately while still on the run. It takes long practice to get that. Handling balls of this kind makes 1t necessary for him also to learn to field a ball with one hand and throw with the same motion. He must learn to throw from any position and get the ball away quickly. If he has to straight en up to throw runner out at first he will never make big league shortstop.
 This thing of infleIders stumbling into the ball and having a lot of luck is mostly bunk. Usually they hav. figuredNit that way. There is some luck of course. but 1t usually breaks about even.
 Taking throws from the catcher or other players. for that matter is an entirely different subject. The short- stop also has to learn that part of his job and learn it well. I will have to go into that more fully in another article.
 The main idea Is always to give the runner half of the bag to touch. You can determine which to give him the moment the ball starts. Be careful not to hog the whole bag. It is not so much that you want to be fair as that you don't want to get your leg cut off. In this day and time a run ner knows his rights and won't hesi- tate to take all that is coming to him.
 Tomorrow: Some moIe tips on de- fense.