July 9, 1910 - The Marion Daily Star, OH - Elberfeld describing third base plays
OTHER STORIES OF THE SQUARE DIAMOND
Kid Elberfeld Talks About THird Sackers
PLAY SNAPPPY AND USE GOOD JUDGMENT
Third Baseman Should Always Work with Pitcher, Catcher and the Shortstop, and Practice Hard to Be Able To Play His Position Well. Some Good Pointers Given
No. XIV
By Kid Elberfeld
[Copyright, 1910, by American Press Association]
Snappy play and good judgment are the prime qualities in playing the third station. No man on the team has cause to think and act quicker than the fellow on third. It is a case of the batsman trying to fool you, and your success depends upon your ability to guess what the batter is going to do and your speed in thwarting his plans.
A big man is not necessary at the 3rd station. If the position demanded it I would not be playing there myself, but a man who can think and work fast and throw strongly and accurately is necessary.
Quick thinking will give you more time to do the mechanical work of the position and enable you to make plays which would otherwise be impossible. A good arm is essential for a third baseman. He must not only be able to whip the ball across from behind third, bu make a quick snap on slow grounders as well.
A third baseman must be a close student of the game. He must know the batters and their peculiarities or he is likely to make a mistake in fielding for them. He should know what his own pitcher is going to send up to the batsman and handle himself accordingly. With men on the bases he must know the capabilities of the runners and the batsmen and the plays which are possible under the conditions.
In case something happens to make a play impossible he must make up his mind about what to do on the instant and do it. An understanding with the pitcher, catcher and shortstop is of the utmost importance to a this baseman. Nothing is more aggravating than for the pitcher, catcher, and third sacker to go after a bunt and the ball to roll safe owing to a mixup.
The same is true of flies, and one of the most foolish plays on a diamond is to have th ball drop safe among a bunch of fielders when had any taken the chance by himself it would have been an easy out. A good understanding with the first and second basemen is also of importance and all of this comes under the head of team play, keynote to a successful nine.
Benefit by your errors and the experience you gain through them. Study the reasons for them and never make the same break twice. Watch other play the game and pick up points from them. You can pointers from even a novice by watching him play, and the opportunity to watch a first class man work is of immense advantage. Things will frequently come to you when watching another play which you fail to notice when playing yourself. Practice is what makes a perfect player, and you should get all of this you can. In the heat of the a game is a poor time to correct your mistakes. In practice you can try a play over if you miss out the first time. In a game experimenting is like to prove costly. Work hard in you practice.
Listless work in practice will do but little good, and you are likely to do your work in the game in the same manner.
All great teams have been noted for the snap and ginger shown by them in their practice.
Kid Elberfeld Talks About THird Sackers
PLAY SNAPPPY AND USE GOOD JUDGMENT
Third Baseman Should Always Work with Pitcher, Catcher and the Shortstop, and Practice Hard to Be Able To Play His Position Well. Some Good Pointers Given
No. XIV
By Kid Elberfeld
[Copyright, 1910, by American Press Association]
Snappy play and good judgment are the prime qualities in playing the third station. No man on the team has cause to think and act quicker than the fellow on third. It is a case of the batsman trying to fool you, and your success depends upon your ability to guess what the batter is going to do and your speed in thwarting his plans.
A big man is not necessary at the 3rd station. If the position demanded it I would not be playing there myself, but a man who can think and work fast and throw strongly and accurately is necessary.
Quick thinking will give you more time to do the mechanical work of the position and enable you to make plays which would otherwise be impossible. A good arm is essential for a third baseman. He must not only be able to whip the ball across from behind third, bu make a quick snap on slow grounders as well.
A third baseman must be a close student of the game. He must know the batters and their peculiarities or he is likely to make a mistake in fielding for them. He should know what his own pitcher is going to send up to the batsman and handle himself accordingly. With men on the bases he must know the capabilities of the runners and the batsmen and the plays which are possible under the conditions.
In case something happens to make a play impossible he must make up his mind about what to do on the instant and do it. An understanding with the pitcher, catcher and shortstop is of the utmost importance to a this baseman. Nothing is more aggravating than for the pitcher, catcher, and third sacker to go after a bunt and the ball to roll safe owing to a mixup.
The same is true of flies, and one of the most foolish plays on a diamond is to have th ball drop safe among a bunch of fielders when had any taken the chance by himself it would have been an easy out. A good understanding with the first and second basemen is also of importance and all of this comes under the head of team play, keynote to a successful nine.
Benefit by your errors and the experience you gain through them. Study the reasons for them and never make the same break twice. Watch other play the game and pick up points from them. You can pointers from even a novice by watching him play, and the opportunity to watch a first class man work is of immense advantage. Things will frequently come to you when watching another play which you fail to notice when playing yourself. Practice is what makes a perfect player, and you should get all of this you can. In the heat of the a game is a poor time to correct your mistakes. In practice you can try a play over if you miss out the first time. In a game experimenting is like to prove costly. Work hard in you practice.
Listless work in practice will do but little good, and you are likely to do your work in the game in the same manner.
All great teams have been noted for the snap and ginger shown by them in their practice.
