Price 2iS Cexcts GV 867 .W7 1921 Copy 1 LDINGS X£VIC UBRAKV i r«Mr^ ORGANISE A LEAGUE ^ MANAGE A XEAM OAPXAIN A TEAM ^ h A \ OOAOH AXEAM SOORE A GAME 4 4 . , ARRANGE "^| [ SIGNALS Ho^v to Lay Otat a Leastae Piatt\o i\d T>^cKi\ieal Terms ^ I of Base Ball AMERICAN SPORTS PUBUSHING COMPANY 45 ROSE STREET NEW YORK COMPLETE LINE OF ATHLETIC GOO-DS IN THE FOLLOWING CITIES. ALBANY. N Y S2 Stale Street LONDON, ENGLAND 317-318, High Holboi^.W C. 98. Cheapslde. E. C ATLANTA, GA. 74 N Broad Street NEW ORLEANS, LA. 1 30 Carondelel Street MANCHESTER, ENG. 4, Oxford St. and I. Lower Mosley St BRISTOL. ENG. 42, High Street SAN FRANCISCO IS6-I68 Geary Street OAKLAND, CAL. 416 Fourteenth St. SEATTLE, WASH. 1204 Second Avenue LOS ANGELES, CAL. 435 South Spring J PORTLAND, ORE. Broadway at Alder SALT LAKE CITY. UTAH 331 Main Street ST LOUIS. MO 823 Locust Street KANSAS CITY. MO. 1008 Grand Avenue MILWAUKEE. WIS. 379 East Water Street DES MOINES. lA. ^03 Locust Street Q SPtLOI\C t BROS. ■■ I |irii^i;5iit^E{|ftRKllQi7ifdii|rj]!i| i WE SOllliB iffliiMIBiilliiiiiiiiliiiiikiiiiiii ^fflWffl FOR OUR CUSTOMERS THIS ORDER BLANK IS FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. YOU PURCHASED THIS BOOK AT We also sell a complete line of Spalding Athletic Goods as well as all the books of the Spalding Athletic Library. CONSULT THE FULL LIST FOR OTHER BOOKS ON ATHLETICS When ordering Athletic Goods use this sheet. Simply tear it out along dotted line, fill in your wants on the reverse side, and mail it with the price as noted. SEE THE OTHER SIDE Gentlemen : Enclosed please find $ _ „.„ for which send me the articles listed below : List Number Quantity Description of Article Price (See other side^ SFAIiBING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY Red Cover Series, 25c Blue Cover Series. 10c. Green Cover Series. lOc. No. IR. SPALDING'S N0.3R. SPALDING'S No. 6. SPALDING'S N0.55R. SPALDING'S N0.57R. SPALDING'S N0.59R. SPALDING'S No. lOOR. SPALDING'S No. 200R. SPALDING'S No. 700R. SPALDING'S No. IC. SPALDING'S No. 9. SPALDING'S No. 7 A. SPALDING'S N0.12A. SPALDING'S OFFICIAL ATHLETIC ALMANAC. . . . Price 25c. OFFICIAL GOLF GUIDE Price 25c. OFFICIAL ICE HOCKEY GUIDE Price 25c. OFFICIAL SOCCER FOOT BALL GUIDE. . Price 25c. LAWN TENNIS ANNUAL Price 25c. OFFICIAL BASE BALL RECORD. . . . Price 25c. OFFICIAL BASE BALL GUIDE, . . . Price 25c. OFFICIAL FOOT BALL GUIDE. • . • '.Price 25c. OFFICIAL BASKET BALL GUIDE. . . .Price 25c. OFFICIAL BASE BALL GUIDE (^I^.S) . Price 25c. OFFICIAL INDOOR BASE BALL GUIDE. . Price 10c OFFICIAL WOMEN'S BASKET BALL GUIDE. Price lOc. OFFICIAL ATHLETIC RULES (A. A. U.). . Price lOc. No. 350 No. 365 No. 9 No. 80R. No. 81R. No. 82R. Groap 1. Base Ball "Blue Cover** Series, each number 10c. No. 202 How to Play Base Ball How to Score [ners") Base Ball for Boys (' Begin- Spalding's Official Indoor Base Ball Guide (including rules for Playground Ball) •*/2ed Cover " Series, each number 25c. No. 59R. Official Base Ball Record No. lOOR. Official Base Ball Guide No. 79R. How to Pitch How to Bat How to Umpire Knotty Base Ball Problems How to Organize a League How to Organize a Club How to Manage a Club How to Train a Team How to Captain a Team How to Catch; How to Run Bases. New. In one volume How to Play the Infield and Outfield Positions. En- tirely new. In one volume. Ready Reckoner Percentages. Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide (Canadian Edition) Group II. Fool Ball *'Red Cover" Series, each number 25c. No. 200R. Official Foot Ball Guide No. 47R. How to Play Foot Ball No. 55R. Official Soccer Guide No. 39R. How to Play Soccer No. No. 96R. No. 97R. No. 98R. NclC Groap III. Tennis "Red Cover'* Series, each number 25c, No. 57R. Spalding's Tennis Annual No. 2R. Strokes and Science of Lawn Tennis No. 76R. Tennis for Girls (Miss Ballin) No. 84R. Tennis Errors and Remedies No. 85R. Tennis for Girls (Mile. Leng- No. 99R. How to Play Tennis Hen) No. lOlR. The Outdoor Group or Com- munity Sports Club; How to Organize One. Includes directions for con- structing a tennis court Group IV. Goll "Green Cover'* Series, each number 10a. No. 2P. How to Learn Golf "Red Cover " Series, each number 25e. No. 3R. Spalding's Golf Guide, with revised rules No. 4R. How to Play Golf No. 63R. Golf for Girls (Miss Cecil Leitch) Group V. Basket Ball "Blue Cover** Series, each number 10c. No. 7A. Spalding's Official Women's Basket Ball Guide No. 193 How to Play Basket Ball "Red Cover " Series, each number 25c. No. 700R. Spalding's Official Basket Ball Guide No. 93R. How to Play Basket Ball, for Women Specially Bound Series off Athletic Handbooks Any 25 cent "Red Cover" book listed in Spalding's Athletic Library will be bound in flexible or stiff covers for 75 cents each ; or any two 10 cent "Blue Cover" or "Green Cover" books m one volume for 75 cents- Mention style binding preferred. ____^__»«-«»— — , (Continued on the next page. Prices subject to change without notice.) SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY Red Cover Series. 25c. Blue Cover Series. 10c. Green Cover Series, 10c. Groap VI. Skating and Winter Sports "Blue Cover " Series, each number 10c. No. 14 Curling "Red Cover" Series, each number 25 c, No. 8R. The Art of Skating No. 20R. How to Play Ice Hockey No. 72R. Figure Skating for Women No. 90R. Spalding'sOfficiallceHockey Guide and Winter Sports Almanac (speed skating and ski records, snow shoeing and curling rules) Group VII. Track and Field Athletics "Blue Cover " Series, each number 10c. No. 12a Spalding's Official Athletic No. 27 College Athletics [Rules A AU No. 87 Athletic Primer No. 156 Athletes' Guide No. 182 All Around Athletics No. 255 How to Run 100 Yards No. 317 Marathon Running [petition No. 342 Walking for Health and Com- "Green Cover" Series, each number 10c. No. 3P. How to Become an Athlete No. 4P. How to Sprint "Red Cover " Series, each number 25c. No. IR. Spalding's Official Athletic Almanac No. 45R. Official Handbook Intercol- legiate A.A.A.A. Distance and Cross Country Running How to Be aWeight Thrower A. E. F. Athletic Almanac and Inter-Allied Games. Official Handbook Can. AAU Olympic Games of 1920 Official Handbook New Eng- land Intercollegiate A.A. Group VIII. School Athletics "Blue Cover" Series, each number 10c. No. 246 Ath. Training for Schoolboys "Red Cover" Series, each number 25c. No. 61R. School Tactics and Maze Run- ning ; Children's Games No. 66R. Calisthenic Drills and Fancy Marching and Physical Training for the School and Class Room No. 74R. Schoolyard Athletics Group IX. Water Sports "Blue Cover" Series, each number 10c. No. 128 How to Row No. 129 Water Polo "Red Cover" Series, each number 25c. No. 36R. Speed Swimming No. 37R. How to Swim No. 91R. Intercollegiate Swimming Association Guide No. 48R. No. 70R. No. 77R. No. 88R. No. 94R. No. 95R. No. 41R, No. 63R. No. 69R. No. 89R. No. 93R. Group X. Games for Women and Girls "Blue Cover " Series, each num-ber 10c. No. 7A Spalding's Official Women's Basket Ball Guide "Red Cover" Series, each number 25c. No. 38R. Field Hockey Newcomb [Leitch) Golf for Girls (Miss Cecil Girlsand Athletics Learning Field Hockey How to Play Basket Ball, for Women Group XI. Lawn and Field Games "Blue Cover " Series, each iiumber 10c. No. 170 Push Ball No. 201 How to Play Lacrosse "Red Cover" Series, each number. 25c. No, 6R. Cricket, and How to Play It No. 43R. Archery, R o q u e , Croquet, English Croquet, Lawn Hockey, Tether Ball. Clock Golf, Golf-Croquet, Hand Tennis, Hand Polo, Wicket Polo, Badminton, Drawing Room Hockey, Garden Hockey, Basket Goal. Pin Ball, Cricket No. 86R. Quoits, Lawn Bowls, Horse- shoe Pitching and " Boccie." No. lOlR. The Outdoor Group or Com- munity Sports Club; How to Organize One. Includes directions for con- structing a tennis court. Group XII. Miscellaneous Games "Blue Cover " Series, each number 10c. No. 13 American Game of Hand Ball No. 364 Volley Ball Guide "Red Cover" Series, each number 25c. No. 49R. How to Bowl Group XIII. Manly Sports "Blue Cover " Series, each number 10c. No. 282 Roller Skating Guide "Red Cover" Series, each number 25c. No. IIR. Fencing Foil Work Illustra- Professional Wrestling Lted Jiu Jitsu Boxing The Art of Fencing How to Wrestle How to Punch the Bag Group XIV. Calisthenics "Red Cover" Series, each number 25c. No. lOR. Single Stick Drill Team Wand Drill Indian Clubs and Dumb Bells and Pulley Weights Dumb Bell Exercises Graded Calisthenics and Dumb Bell Drills No. 19R. No. 21R. No. 25R, No. 30R. No. 65R. No. 78R. No. 16R. No. 22R. No. 24R. No. 73R. (Contiqued on next page. Prices subject to change without notice.) SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY Red Cover Series, 25c. Blue Cover Series, 10c. Green Cover Series, 10c. Groap XV. Gymnastics "Blue Cover" Series, each nuviher 10c. No. 124 How to Become a Gymnast No. 254 Barnjum Bar Bell Drill No. 287 Fancy Dumb Bell and March- ing Drills '^Red Cover" Series, each number 25c. No. 14R. Trapeze, Long Horse and Rope Exercises Grading of Gym. Exercises Indoor and Outdoor Gym- nastic Games Pyramid Building Tumbling for Amateurs and Ground Tumbling No. 67R. Exercises on the Side Horse; Exercises on Flying Rings No. 68R. Horizontal Bar Exercises; Exercises on Parallel Bars No. 34R. No. 40R. No. 52R. No. 56R. Groap XVI. Home Exercising "Blue Cover " Series, each number lOe. No. 161 Ten Minutes' Exercise for No. 185 Hints on Health [Busy Men No. 325 Twenty-Minute Exercises "Red Cover" Series, each number 25c. No. 7R. Physical Training Simplified No. 9R. How to Live 100 Years No. 23R. Get Well; Keep Well N0.33R. Tensing Exercises No. 51R. 285 Health Answers No. 54R. Jledicine Ball Exercises, Indigestion Treated by Gymnastics, Physical Education and Hygiene No. 62R, The Care of the Body No. 64R. Muscle Building ; Health by Muscular Gymnastics Spalding Score Books, Competitors' Numbers, Etc. BASE BALL SCORE BOOKS. Made in three styles— Morse (Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5 and M) ; A. G. Spalding style (Nos. 2 and S); John B. Foster style (No. F). The Spalding style has diamond shaped spaces for scoring. POCKET SIZE. No. 1. Paper cover, Morse style, 7 games Each $0.20 No. 2. Board cover, Spalding style, 22 games *♦ .50 No. 3. Board cover, Morse style, 46 games " 1.09 No. F. Board cover, Foster (reporters') style, 79 games " 1.50 No. M. Board cover, Morse style, 79 games " 1.50 No. S. Board cover, Spalding style, 79 games " 1.50 CLUB SIZE. No. 4. Morse style, 8%xl0% in., 30 games Each $2.00 No. 5. Morse style, 8%xl0% in., 79 games " 3.00 Score Cards, X game Dozen ,10 BASKET BALL SCORE BOOKS. No. 10. Paper cover, 10 games Bach $0.20 No. 11. Board cover, 25 games " .50 No. A. Collegiate, paper cover, 10 games " .20 No. B. Collegiate, board cover, 25 games " .50 No. W. Women's Basket Ball Score Book, 25 games " .50 TRACK AND FIELD, TENNIS AND GOLF SCORE CARDS. No. TF. Olympic Score Card; for outdoor and indoor track and field athletic meets; used in A.A.U. championships Each $0.05 No. H. Tennis Score Card, endorsed by leading umpires; used in national championships, new and improved design; for five sets: in two colors Dozen .75 No. L. Golf Score Sheets; used in leading tournaments; size 22x28 in.; match play or medal play (specify which is wanted). Each .30 COMPETITORS' NUMBERS. Used in A.A.U. , intercollegiate and interscholastic championship events. Mnde up in sets (1 to 50. 1 to 100, etc.). Manila paper Per number $0.02 Linen backed Per number $0.12 Letters, A, B, C, D, etc., on manila paper, for relay races.. Per letter .05 Any of the above mailed postpaid on receipt of price. American Sports Publishing Company, 45 Rose St., New York LEFT FIELD * N«w York American Leagu also uses this ground. RIGHT FIELD National League Club also uses this ground. In the diagram it will be noted that although the lines begin at a common home plate, actually they have no direct connection with each other as right or left field lines, but are arrangred in the order to which their length entitles them in the comparison. roLl L — plfH] — I n r^ Spalding "Red Cover" Series of *— i j— j j — ^ I Athletic Handbooks I — . p-i U No. 83R U HOW TO ORGANIZE A LEAGUE MANAGE A TEAM CAPTAIN A TEAM COACH A TEAM SCORE A GAME ARRANGE SIGNALS INCLUDING HOW TO LAY OUT A LEAGUE DIAMOND AND Technical Terms of Base Ball BY J. E. WRAY ST. LOUIS PUBLISHED BY AMERICAN SPORTS PUBLISHING O __ _ COMPANY rd^ ^ U L- .. Rose Street, New York cZ, „ ^ \'^P Copyright, 1921 BY American Sports Publishing Compaby New York ©CLA617445 Contents PAGE How to Organize a League 4 How to jManage a Team 17 How to Captain a Team 33 Duties of Captain and Manager 38 How to Coach 47 Technical Terms of Base Ball 52 Pitching 53 Batting 58 Fielding 65 Base Running 68 Umpiring 71 General 73 Base Ball Scoring Methods 76 Signal Systems for Base Ball 82 Equipment of a Base Ball Team 90 Quick Method of Laying Out a Base Ball Diamond. ... 95 How to Lay Out a Base Ball Diamond 97 How a Big League Keeps Its Records 102 How to Arrano:e a Base Ball Schedule 105 4 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIERARY. How to Organize a League Organization in base ball is the only successful method by which to establish a championship under mutual rules and like agreements which must govern all the conditions that may be created during the progress of the contest for the pennant or trophy. Independent teams flourish in small towns and communities playing seasons which are successful from the standpoints of interest, municipal ad- vertisement and financial return. The great tendency in all sections where there is sufficient population is to form leagues and play for the championship of that league. After that is v/on honors may be sought in the wider field of inter-city or inter-state competition. This is specially true of non-professional teams, with which for the moment let us deal. Leagues may be formed from any groups which contain ball players. The teams may be supplied by schools, col- leges, business houses, athletic clubs, Sunday schools, fra- ternal organizations or industrial plants. In assembling tlie leagues care should be taken to group only harmonious elements. The following points should be borne in mind: 1. Teams having a kindred origin take keenest interest in a league contest. For example, form your leagues of all mercantile clubs, all athletic club teams, all school teams, where possible. 2. Only clu1)s averaging the same age as to the per- sonnel of players or of a similar degree of experi- ence can survive. o. Avoid racial or religious rivalry in making up your leagues. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 5 Organizers will easily sense when teams selected are apt to prove congenial, and these points may be safely left to the promoters of the organization. Often leagues are formed under one roof, as is the case with many large ])usiness corporations in the larger cities. In this case the problems of the promoters are greatly reduced, as in almost ever}' instance the house welfare organization will appoint an executive, upon request, v/ho will effect an organization of teams representing the various departments, and evolve a constitution and by-laws to govern the particular needs of the clubs involved. The growing popularity of leagues of this character seems to warrant the publishing here of a set of by-laws governing a league wliich has successfully conducted a campaign for several years. This league, wdiich developed in one of our large cities, has operated under a house wel- fare organization which was generous enough to supply uniforms for its men and an athletic field for its games. Following are the few rules it has found sufficient to govern its operation and limited business: CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE BLANK ELECTRIC BASE BALL LEAGUE. Article 1. This league shall be known as the Blank Electric Municipal Base Ball League. Article 2. i The salary of the umpires shall be $ per single game and $ per double game. Salary of ofEdal scorekeeper shall be $ per game played. Rule 1. All games shall be played on Saturday afternoons as per schedule, single games bej^inning at 3:30 o'clock, double- headers at 1 :30 o'clock. Umpire may grant an extension of C SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. fifteen minutes. If not ready to play then, offending team shall forfeit game. Team playing first game on each Saturday date must be off the field at 3:30 o'clock. Rule 2. No team shall play any person who is not employed by the Blank Electric Company, and who does not work in the de- partment or departments assigned to that team. Employes to be eligible as members of the base ball team must have been in the employ of the company at least one week, seven calendar days intervening between the date of employment and the first game in which they take part. A player who is transferred from a department after playing with that team shall remain with said team, unless written release is sent to the Secretary ; provided, however, that a player may be transferred under league ruling to another team at any time with the consent of all managers. Rule 3. An Advisory Board, consisting of Mr. Jones, Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith is hereby created. All transfers must be approved by the Advisory Board before a player is actually transferred. Rule 4. All games must be played under the rules adopted by the Committee. Rule 5. Postponed games may be played at the convenience of the teams interested ; provided, however, that the President of the league shall sanction same. Rule 6. The Spalding Official National League Ball must be used in all games. Rule 7. Copies of these rules shall be sent in duplicate to each team manager, who will sign one and return same to the Secretary. Rule S. All complaints and protests against players or officials must be made in writing to the Secretary not more than three days after offense is said to have been committed. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 7 Rule 9. To be eligible to become a member of any team in this league each player must belong to Blank Athletic Association. The city in which this league operates has inaugurated a municipal base ball league which helps center the league's interest in this way: the victors in the house league are eligible to compete in elimination matches with the winners of other municipal divisional league titles, the final winner to be the city champion. A still further incentive is fur- nished by the fact that the city champion team is annually taken on trips to play the champions of other cities. Thus a keen zest is given to the entire season of this little six- club body, which originated under the roof of one business concern. Every player in it knows that he is working for a chance at the city title and a trip out of town. Wherever it is possible, it is recommended that inde- pendent leagues group themselves with other leagues under a common organization for an elimination and community championship series. The wider the scope of a league's opportunity, the keener the interest of the players. It will be noted in the foregoing by-laws that no refer- ence is made to amateur and professional. This was because the city municipal organization under which the league operates, has defined the distinction — and a very broad and liberal definition it is. Mercantile leagues are the easiest to organize, inasmuch as employers take a more or less keen interest in the sport- ing activities of their employes and are always willing to assist financially and in other ways in the organization of teams and leagues. It keeps the men healtliy in mind and body — a condition which is reflected in their increased working eflSciency. 8 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. Independent teams exist in almost every mercantile establishment, and the task of grouping them into a league is simple. Only a leader to start the movement is needed, after which the question of finance will be cared for by mercantile establishments themselves, if necessary. How- ever, all organizations should rest on their own financial foundations wherever this is possible. Only a small indi- vidual contribution by each player v/ill be found necessary. This form of organization will need a more detailed set of governing rules, since it is not under the keen eye of a- welfare association, whose benevolent control straightens out kinks and arguments. A sample constitution for such a league is appended. It may be made applicable to almost any form of organiza- tion from mercantile to independent teams: INDEPENDENT AMATEUR BASE BALL LEAGUE. CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. Article I — Name. This organization shall be known as the Independent Ama- teur Base Ball League. Article II — Object. The object of this league shall be to play base ball and encourage it by sportsmanlike methods, always contending against and decrying rowdyism on the ball field or in the club- house. Article III — Membership. Section 1. The membership of the league shall be composed of not more than eight clubs and not less than six clubs. Sec. 2. Each club shall be entitled to one representative at all meetings, who shall vote on all matters which shall come up at the meetings. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 9 Sec. 3. Five representatives shall constitute a quorum, if an eight club league ; while four representatives shall be a quorum for a six club league. Sec. 4. No club shall be admitted into this league except its players are uniformed, and at least two-thirds of the players in any game must be fully uniformed. Article IV — Officers. ►Section 1. The officers of the league shall be composed of Fresidsnt, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secre- tary and Treasurer, to be elected at the meeting held in Febru- ary of each year, and to hold office until their successors arc elected and qualified. Sec 2. The President shall preside at all meetings. lie shall call special meetings at the request of throe representatives. Sec. 3. A Mce-President shall act in tlie same capacity of the president during his absence, the First Vice-President to have precedence. Sec. 4. The Secretary shall keep a record of the minutes of all meetings, attend to all correspondence, appoint scorekeepers, Waterboys, attend to publicity of league, and perform such other duties as the constitution and by-laws may provide. lie shall receive a salary of $ per game from each club. Sec. 5. The Treasurer shall receive all moneys of the league and deposit the same in such trust company or bank as the league may direct. He shall pay all bills contracted by the league, and shall render a report of all receipts and disburse- ments at each meeting. Sec. 6. Neither the Secretary nor the Treasurer shall par- ticipate as a player with any team of this league. Article V. — Games. Section 1. A schedule of games to be played shall be adopted at the earliest possible moment not later than two weeks prior to the beginning of the season. This schedule shall be carried out except as provided for. Sec. 2. The first game of each double header shall be started promptly at 1:30 o'clock, and shall continue until 3:30 o'clock, 10 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. or until at least seven full innings liave been played, provided weather permits. Sec. 3. All second period games of a doubleheader shall be started not later than ten minutes after first period games are completed according to Section 2, and shall continue until com- pleted, unless called by the umpire on account of darkness, unfavorable weather conditions, or through objection over which the league has no control. Sec. 4. If rain or wet grounds interfere with starting of the first game of a doubleheader, the second game of such double- header shall be automatically called off on those grounds until such date as the game may be played. Aeticle VI — Funds. Section 1. Each club shall deposit with the treasurer the sum of $ not later than , 19 , as a guar- antee of good faith. Of this amount $ shall be deducted for entry fee into League, balance to be returned at end of season. Sec. 2. Each club shall deposit with the Treasurer twenty- five dollars ($25.00) April the first, and on June 15, twenty dollars ($20.00). This is for expenses of the league, such as umpire, scorekeeper. Secretary, waterboy, etc. Article VII. Section 1. Any club leaving the field during the progress of a game shall be fined the sum of five dollars ($5.00), and be subject to expulsion, should the league so direct. Sec 2. All protests of games shall be filed in writing with the Secretary not later than three days after game is played. Sec. 3. Games shall not be protested on account of a player having played for a consideration without the manager's knowledge, provided the manager makes a sworn aflSdavit to that effect. Sec 4. Managers having protest information shall imn>e- diately present same to umpire before start of game. Sec 5. All postponed games that have any bearing on standing of league must be played when Arbitration Committee so directs. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 11 Aeticle VIII — Umpires. Section 1. Umpires shall be appointed by the President, and shall receive for their services the sum of $ per game. Article IX — Forfeiture. Section 1. Any club failing to deposit the sum of money as provided for in Article 6, Section 1, within the stipulated time, shall forfeit all rights to membership, and the clubs in good standing shall have power to fill such vacancies. Sec. 2. Any club failing to obey the provisions of the rules and regulations shall be expelled from the league, and shall forfeit all moneys deposited with the league. Sec 3. Any club voluntarily withdrawing from the league shall forfeit all moneys deposited with the league. Article X — Meetings. Section 1. The regular meeting of the league shall be held on the first Tuesday of each month during the playing season. Article XI — Order of Business. The regular order of business at meetings shall be : 1. Roll call. 2. Reading of minutes of previous meeting. 3. Bills and communications. 4. Reports of committees. 5. Unfinished business. 6. New business. 7. Treasurer's report of receipts and disbursements. 8. Remarks. 9. Adjournment. Article XII — Arbitration. Section 1. An Arbitration Committee shall be composed of one representative from each team, and in case of tie vote, the President shall cast the deciding vote. Article XIII— Ball. Section 1. Tl^,e Spalding Official National League Ball shall be the official ball. 12 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY:. Article XIV. Section 1. This constitution and by-laws shall be in force immediately after their adoption, and shall be subject to a change at any regular meeting by two-thirds vote of the num- ber of clubs comprising the league. The foregoing can be made to fit all conditions by a few alterations and will be found to cover practically all emergencies. Nevertheless, the success of any league U entirely up to the co-operation of team managers, captains and players, as well as the directors of the league. One of the great evils pertaining to the class of leagues developed under the conditions outlined is the ten- dency toward secreting professionals. Professionalism is all right in the open, where it is expected and acknowl- edged; but in organizations that are in the game merely for the sport, secret professionalism is the blight that eventually destroys the peach. Men interested in clubs, perhaps employing some of the players, are the principal causes of this form of professionalism. Desiring to see the team win that they favor they secretly pay more expert talent in violation of league rules, while the other clubs continue to play for glory. Again, say in mercantile leagues, the employer will reach out and hire a man of known exceptional base ball ability, paying him a secret bonus to play ball in addition to his salary for working. This is an obvious injustice to teams which are observing the rules. It also tends to cause unrest among the less favored players of other teams and also among workers in the plant who do not play. In some cities this form of professionalism has reached the point where some base ball players are paid more to play two games a week, Saturday and Sunday, than they SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 13 are for their entire week's daily labor. Yet clubs which are thus unfairly benefited are called ''amateur/' Professional teams have a big place in the base ball of the country. Openly conducted as professional and semi- professional, they are a great boon to the fans, who desire to watch a higher grade of base ball playing than can be found among the "Simon pures." Organization of leagues like this becomes a complicated matter, one for a specialist. No novice should enter this field. Preferably it should be undertaken by one who has had experience in base ball organization, as there are many difficulties to be overcome. In forming a semi-professional or professional league, the first two points to be considered are : 1. Population of the cities comprising the circuit. 2. Cheapness of transportation facilities. Semi-professional leagues can seldom survive other than a compact circuit, because of loss of time, hotel bills and railroad fare. Perhaps no better advice could be offered than that of Tim IMurnane, an old ball playe. and himself an organizer of leagues and for many years chief executive officer of a Class A organization. Murnane epitomized the necessities of professional league promotion in the fol- lowing article, written before his death. He wrote: If I were to organize another minor league to-morrow I would first, after selecting the cities for an eight-club league, name the eight men to manage the clubs. These men would be old ball players with executive a1:>ility, and each would receive a certain percentage of stock in the club. I would have it arranged so that no club could remove its manager without the consent of the 14 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. president of the league. This would give each manager confidence and contribute to continued earnest efforts, if his start happened to be discouraging. My first advice would be to insist upon perfect order on the field and clean uniforms. Nothing influences popular opinion more certainly than the spick and span appearance of a club on the field. Nothing suggests slovenly base ball play more certainly than a slovenly personal appearance. Gambling should be absolutely barred, and gambling among spectators as well as players punished or stopped. Games should be called promptly; there is little excuse for a nine-inning contest enduring longer than two hours. In general, I would recommend to the league promoters as worthy of consideration the following suggestions: 1. Keep your circuit as compact as possible, while taking in the best base ball cities available. 2. Have officers and a head who know the game and will insist on every one living up to the rules and regulations, and who will force managers and players to respect the umpires as representing the league. 3. Select the class to which your population entitles you, and make every effort to stick within the sal- ary limit. 4. A fair sprinkling of experienced players with raw recruits will make the best combination. The young players should start at a modest salary, as for them it is everything to get a chance in organ- ized ball where those looking for talent will soon find the boys entitled to the substantial salaries. 5. Live up to the rules, and force the press and pub- lic of your cities to realize that the league is a SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 15 substantial institution, bound to improve the weak spots, and respect the rights of the individual members. 6. Pay all bills promptly, including advertising, and work in every way to gain the respect of the local public, which will find a well-handled base ball team one of the best methods of advertising a city. 7. Insist on discipline among the players, for one bad peach will spoil a basket. Therefore, be on the alert to keep the players on their good behavior, as this counts more in the minor leagues and local teams than in the larger cities in the major leagues; but in all parts of the country it is the salvation of the game. 8. Selfish players come from all sides, and, like the restless ones, must be guarded against. The pick of the players go to the big leagues, and a man- ager of a club should make it plain to his players that any of them worthy of advancement will receive his hearty co-operation. For all minor leagues a salary limit is essential, and the observance of this limit is one of the vital features in the success of a league. It is just as important as the enforcement of the umpire's decision and the insistence on the payments of fines for dereliction in either play or deportment. Each league must have officers at the head who are able to force club owners, managers and players to live up to the laws in every particular. In other words, men who con- eider the interests of the league above all else, and who, while holding office, hew to the line, with fair play for a watchword, and the closest regard for the good of the sport. 16 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. These officials must eliminate all personal interests, and the very man who will fight hardest to gain a point or a concession from the league will be the warmest admirer of the officials when he realizes that they enforce the laws of the league to the letter, and spell duty all the time with a capital D. Therefore, when promoting a base ball league, the most important work on hand is the selection of an executive head who is well posted on base ball from all angles, politi- cal as well as from the standpoint of owners and players. A man who can mix with the lovers of the sport and still have adaptability to his executive position and ability to lead at all times. A poor executive can keep his league in hot water all the time, while an official with good judgment and back- bone will make the same league bloom like June roses. Men who have given up the idea of any connection with major leagues make the best controlling heads for the smaller organizations, for the reason that they are willing to bring out young players, and are not taken up with the cham- pionship idea at the expense of the salary limit. The safest man to control a minor league club below Class A is a retired ball player who wins out when his club does well financially. He will keep closer to the salary limit than the owner. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. H How to Manage a Team (The folloiolng article, in substance, teas contributed by the manager of a major league base ball club, a man whose judgment of ball players has given to the world at least three of its most brilliant players. For personal reasons, he docs not wish his name mentioned.) A FEW ^^DON'TS" FOR NEW MANAGERS Don't "bawl out'' a player on the field — or any other place. Don't forget to explain to each and every player the technical nature of a mistake he has made. Don't forget to be considerate in the way you do it. Don't lose your temper. Don't ever fine a player for making a misplay either of hand or judgment, if he's trying. Don't talk contract business with players, unless you have to. Don't teach your players to "bait'^ the umpire. Don't reproach a player for impulsive, honest protest against what he believes to be injustice. Don't hamper your men with too many rules of personal conduct — they breed sneaks. Don't forget that a vast majority of men respond to persuasion more readily than to force. Don't displace a player because he has two or three bad days. Prescribing a set formula or plan for managing a base ball club is fully as easy as "squaring the circle" or invent- ing perpetual motion. In other words, it is theoretically possible, but practically, impossible. 18 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. When I speak of managing a base ball club I, of course, refer to a major league base ball club, since all other teams are handled on modifications of major league ideals or principles. I have had experience as a player, as scout and as manager of both college and major league teams, and feel that when I say theee is no set rule foe handling ANY TEAM, that I am qualified to speak authoritatively on the subject. In the first place, so many things enter the realm of club management, matters that concern human nature quite as much as, or perhaps more than, the technical side, that nothing short of a perfect knowledge of tempera- mental and playing qualities of the entire squad would entitle anybody to lay down even one rule for the conduct of a club. Nevertheless, there are certain broad principles which every manager must keep in mind before he can begin putting his house in order and directing the play and tactics of his men intelligently. When a manager is assigned to a club and, to some degree, strange players, he should have in mind several steps which he expects to take up in turn. 1. Thoroughly acquaint himself with his team mem- bers, technically and temperamentally, and the key- note to their dispositions. 2. Establish a thorough understanding with each indi- vidual, making a strong endeavor to command his liking as well as respect and confidence. 3. Establish reasonable personal conduct rules. 4. Select from the members of the squad those who are most alert to act as captain and field coaches. 5. Develop smooth team work in the field. It will be noted that the first consideration is to gain the confidence of the team and its earnest support. No SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 19 base ball nine can run successfully unless there is a spirit of cordiality and co-operation between players and man- ager. Without it, individual efficiency is lowered and the team will become one of factional dispute and acrimonious quarreling. One disaffected player may upset every man- agerial effort for unanimity. Too often one disaffected player has brought that about. Experience has shown that at the outset of his career a manager's first objective should be the development of a team spirit. With this thought in mind, the manager is to take his list of available material and study its nature with respect to the probable temperament of his players. In any squad of men it is assured there will be all sorts of personal dispositions, and right here is where the man- ager has to make himself a diplomat. Some players must be cajoled, some praised, some punished. The last method should be resorted to only when patient effort has ex- hausted every means to win a player's interest and to render him tractable. One of the most frequent causes of disagreement lies in the system which exists widely to-day of permitting the manager to arrange financial contracts with the players. Haggling over the amount of salary frequently leads to breaches beyond healing, and in no infrequent number of cases forces the manager, in the end, to trade a great player for a less able one. Wherever it is possible, contract agree- ments should be reached by the club president and not the manager. Ill-feeling is then directed away from the man- ager, who is relieved of the embarrassment of taking a large sum off a player's pay envelope and thereby incurring his dislike. Players yAU not sulk with a manager who does not hire them, because they esteem him one of them- 20 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. selves — just a hired man on a salary. Where a manager DOES hire his players, he will have to work out his OAvn salvation through knowledge of the individual involved; for individual cases require different treatment. Presuming that he has signed all the desirable talent that he figures he may need — in the case of a major league club this ought not to be over twenty-five men in early spring — and has become personally acquainted witli the idios3^ncrasieSj hobbies and dispositions of the various players, the manager must resort to the training season test of his men — all too short a test, if the men are entirely new to him. To a certain extent he is compelled to accept the dictum of the other officers of the club regarding the qualities of veterans and to center his efforts on the analysis of his newer playing material. It is considered wise for any manager, building toward the future, to keep in hand a certain number of young men of promise, both for relief duty and for further seasoning. Under existing conditions it is hardly possible to maintain more than four extra young players, for tlie demands of regular play will require that each team have the following subdivision of regular talent: Pitchers — At least six. Catchers — At least three. Infielders — Five; six preferably. Outfielders — Four regulars. This is a total of eighteen, leaving room on the bench for only four reserve "prospects.'' The necessities of pitching will require that two of these be pitchers, one right-hander and one left-hander; a third should be an infield utility substitute, while the other should be a man of pinch hitting strength with an outfield leaning. When Sl'ALDI-NG'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 21 June r.ppears, some such line-up will have been effected in conroimity with the league's player limitations. Having weeded out superfluous talent while training, the manager faces the task in his team of learning its bed-rock qualities and the special abilities which his players may be relied upon to show under pressure. The knowledge of individual ability to perform to top efficiency under stress is of the greatest importance to managers. The weaklings must be tabbed and every strain possible lifted from them. To a certain extent every player can be edu- cated into confidence in himself so that ordinary discourage- ments cease to affect his playing. The tendency of latter day managers to pull players out of the game on the slightest sign of faltering seems to have been carried too far in many instances. The with- drawing of a hitter to make way for another hitter who swings from the opposite side of the plate, just to meet a shift of pitchers on the part of the opposing team, may also ])e carried to extremes. Some judges of base ball hold that frequent withdrawals of pitchers and batters to make way for pinch performers weakens the morale of the player withdrawn and tends to make him lose his stubbornness, resisting power and self reliance. That does not neces- sarily follow. Some players recognize fully their personal limitations and do not care to force their way into situa- tions they know they cannot overcome. Having become acquainted with the disposition and play- ing abilities of his men, the manager proceeds to assemble the team, arranging it with due regard to balance in bat- ting, pitching, fielding and base running. Of course, where it is possible, at learnt two-thirds of the regulars will be seasoned and tested material, and the placing of these men 22 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. will be a matter of course. The pitching department will receive the manager's first attention. It is the usual goal of every manager to have four pitchers of Al merit, to work in rotation. Reinforcing these, most major league teams have from three to seven extra players, some in the tryout stage, but generally three who are sufficiently advanced to act as stop-gaps in emergency. The manager will be likely to give his most earnest atten- tion to his battery department, for right here is where base ball teams are made or ruined. A manager may make a base ball club. By getting top efficiency out of every man, he may extract twenty-five per cent moee from a mediocre team — enough to give it a margin over his rivals. But let this be understood : A strong pitching staff has won more pennants than high class managers have won. For, after all, the most frequent winners are not neces- sarily the managers who are the best diplomats, the best tacticians or the greatest students of base ball ; they are the leaders who through good fortune or good judgment have assembled surpassing pitchers. It is well known that a great pitcher, now dead, once declared pitching was "eighty per cent of the game." That may be high; but it represents the broad fact that only an exceptional team can get world's championship honors without world's championship pitching. Look it up and see: One of the greatest teams in base ball, efficient in most departments and fairly efficient in all departments, with a master player like Ty Cobb as a member, failed to win a world's championship in three trials simply because the pitching of the other team was better than that of its own. Managers, therefore, should strive to get together the greatest pitching staff possible — an average team, well SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. handled, will do the rest. In the absence of topnotch pitchers, much may be done to present a fighting front to stronger pitching opposition. With his pitching staff of ordinary quality, the manager, balked of reinforcing this department of defense, turns his attention to the opposite feature of play — strengthening his attack. He gets together his strongest batting array and adds a heavy hitter, if possible, to make up for the lack of topnotch pitching. Batting can never quite be brought to a point where it can offset good pitching, because there will be breaks in the sequence of good hitting that will prevent runs. But most managers contrive to have one good lead- off man, whose duty it is to get to first. The first three men should all be fast, good hunters, base-stealers and alert men on the paths. They are the men who have the best chance to score early in the game, when a run weak- ens the morale of the foe and encourages your own pitcher. A lead makes vast difference in the fighting spirit of some teams. Hence the lead-off man must be a man who gets on frequently, either by drawing a base on balls, beating out infield hits or by clean singles. The stereotyped and logical play is, of course, to sacrifice the runner with a bunt, and the second man, therefore, MUST be an absolutely reliable hunter. No team, by the way, should ever neglect constant practice at this impor- tant batting function, for there is never telling when the batsmen will be called upon to "squeeze" in a runner with the winning or tieing tally. The manager will have to seek, for his third, fourth and fifth hitters, his cleanest and hardest batters. The third place man should be one who makes the most base hits annually; that is, hits of the type that would score a man 24 SPALDING'S ATnLETIC LIBRARY. from second base. Following him come the 42-centimeter ''clean-np*' men, the big stick boys who break up ball games with one swing of the club. Here is where the reliable hit- ters should be placed — men w^ho love a crisis and who rise to their best when one presents itself. Following these, the hitting will depend on the man- ager's good or bad fortune in his last four batsmen. A hard-hitting catcher or a "Babe" Ruth pitcher is the salva- tion of a batting order, in that it prevents the usual innocu- ous, punchless finish to a rally started by the fifth place man. A team with second rate pitching, or one that lack;s ENOUGH high-class pitchers, should have a batting punch throughout its make-up. It's easy enough for a manager to know what to do with good talent — his real problems arise when he is forced to nurse along weak or erratic players and obtain an even delivery of power from each cylinder of the motor, so to speak. The manager can at least help his men over their weaknesses, to a surprising degree, in some instances. Take, for example, the pitching, which I must again remind you is where every managei^s attention must be directed. Pitching can be greatly improved by a system of record keeping. I have a friend, a big league manager, who brought this to my attention through a system of his own, and it looked so good to me that I have since tried it myself. It has been the custom of this manager to keep on his bench a man whose duty it is to score every play made with reference to what each opposing team batter does to each ball delivered by members of his own pitching staff. This scoring shows in detail just what each batter did to each ball pitched. My friend the manager brought to my atten- SPALDIXGS ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 25 tion the record of one of his pitchers, a crack southpaw, against the Detroit Tigers. He pointed out how he had kept books on what the Detroit batters had done to his pitcher during his first year in the American League. He showed me a chart, which had been compiled from the scores kept, according to which the pitcher could see at a glance just what Ty Cobb — I name him just as an example — had done to every ball pitched; what kind of a ball it v/as; whether Ty had struck at it, fouled it, hit safely against it, singled, doubled or tripled ; to what field it was driven; vrhether it was a fly or ground ball — everything about it, in short. It also showed him, briefly, just what kind of pitching every member of the Detroit club failed to hit ! In other words, it was a chart of the Detroit bat- ting team's weaknesses against this pitcher. Then my friend the manager pointed to the result, the following season — this player had won nine out of ten games pitched against the Detroit team. He showed me other things which made me think hard. I have since grown to believe there is a great deal in his system. For a manager without surpassing pitching, some such help is necessary to bolster up the staff. Knowledge by the pitcher of the enemy's weak features against his own style of pitching tends to give the pitcher confidence and control. While on this topic of "control," I wish to mention a system that I have adopted of determining the value of my pitchers, or of new ones whom I am about to engage. I go to the record books to find out two elements about the past performances of my pitchers — the "bases on balls" and "strike-ouf columns. Here are two points in whieli teammates have no bearing on the situation. The base on balls, hit batsmen and wild pitches directly indicate eacli 26 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. pitcher's control or lack of it. Nothing his teammates can do will reduce or increase the total — it's just up to the man out there on the slab. By the same token, a strike-out is the only way by which his pitching effectiveness can be accurately attested. No teammate enters into the strike- out, as any catcher is good enough mechanically to receive a properly delivered ball. I have found that I can accurately depend for judgment of pitchers on their performance in these two respects. Whenever you find a pitcher with a low number of bases on balls charged to him and credited with an unusually large number of strike-outs, you have found a gem, a Koh- inoor. You can bank on it. Managers should not always take it for granted that former major league players must be left alone to play the game as they know it. I have found weaknesses in their play that can be eradicated by a little practise. In those features wherein both individual and team are weak practise is absolutely essential. In training camp I emphasize this feature and, instead of letting players practise in things at which they excel, I set them polish- ing up points in which they are deficient. Occasionally this polishing gains here or there, makes a run now and then, and not infrequently wins a game. In the long run the "percentage" as between othervv^ise equal clubs will swing the pendulum. Everything else being equal, for example, the team with the best base stealers will win the pennant from its rivals. It behooves the manager not only to let his players practise at the things they already knoW; but at those they are not so effective in performing to improve both. At the training camp, too, it is proper for the manager to begin establishing those rules of conduct which are to SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 27 shape the habits and aid the morale of the men for the entire season. This is important if the team gets into its stride; but it is still more important if the team starts poorly, when the tendency of players is to let everything slide and take to questionable amusements that will make them forget their failures. Such a lapse of good discipline might fatally affect a team which really was merely in the doldrums, not incapable. Lifting a team across despondent periods is one part of a manager's work and it is then that he needs all his spine — and able lieutenants on the team in a coach and a captain. The trainer or "doc'' of a team, the veteran player who perhaps has been hired as coach, the field captain — all can be used to restrain a team's spirits from getting into the Slough of Despond. Helpful, cheerful pointers can be delivered by these trusties; and they will be received with good grace whenever a manager fears that constant criti- cism and carping, coming from himself, will only further depress the spirits of his men. Charles Comiskey, the "Old Koman," was probably as successful a manager as the base ball world can recall. He has won league pennants and world's pennants for the past thirty years or more. He knew the game as a player, han- dled the team as captain, managed and captained the club, and later managed from the bench. As president of the White Sox he has dominated his manager and has won a world's pennant. Comiskey's judgment, therefore, may be rightly esteemed. In his day as manager he laid down the following rules for his own guidance, and they might be reprinted with some advantage to those interested in the subject. Here they are: SPALDING'S ATETLETIC LIBRARY. 'Make it as pleasant for the players as possible, for success comes from a united front, and players will often band together to make it unpleasant for a manager they find unreasonable, and often rough, with no knowledge of the game. Players never should be called down for mis- takes on the field; fines do no good, but, instead, cause the other players to sour on the manage- ment. "Where a player fails to make good after a fair trial, get rid of the man in a diplomatic way ; for every player must pass on sooner or later, and each will note carefully the manager's style of doing business. Clever managers listen to the comments and reasonings of the players, thereby picking up val- uable information. Treat every player like a man, and never "knock" the most stupid man in the club. Quickly get rid of the failures, and treat the successes with the respect due a man filling his contract to the letter. The young players need encouragement, while the seasoned players care little for flattery. A good cigar will go further than a basket of cut flowers. See that every man pays his honest debts. Gambling should not be allowed. Intoxication during the playing season should mean expulsion. To be a good winner, a man should be a good loser. Confidence is everything with a ball team. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY, 29 I do not believe in "bawling out'' players — that is, in angril}^ criticizing them — above all, not on the field. Criticism of the right kind, delivered in the right way, will be resented only rarely; and then by wrong-minded men you had better get rid of at the earliest possible moment. A player who doubts the wisdom of your tactics is amen- able to argument, and it is occasionally a manager's duty to take him aside and explain in detail as one man to another just where the mistake was made and what could be done to improve it. Never forget that it never helps slow thinkers to keep calling them "boneheads." Most of them it angers and all of them it disconcerts still more. Constant teaching, with patience, can so instruct the slow thinker as to make him automatically pick out the right play at the right time. "Wherever there is a player who resents even fair criti- cism from his manager, if he can not be spared he should be handled by the coach, the captain, or some other lieu- tenant, in such a way as not to excite his suspicion that he is being criticized and coached at the same time. But, best of all, lay plans to get rid of him at the earliest possible opportunity. A sorehead on a team is exactly like a canker at the heart of a blossom. A manager is made by his players more often than the reverse. Occasionally, too, he may meet with success as a result of judicious choice of lieutenants. Numerous instances might be cited. A coach who can think should be on third base; and a field captain who has enough initia- tive to act without first stopping the game and consulting the manager is of great help. Plays come up when a wave of the hand to an outfielder or a word in the pitcher's ear, a reminder of a forgotten weakness, perhaps, may turn the so SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. tide and stop a rally. A field captain should be not only a man of experience, of even mental poise, but an alert thinker and, above all, a loyal supporter of the manager. Good team work between the manager, coach and captain is essential, it goes without saying. The difference between teams inspired by a Johnny Evers and those lacking such inspiration is sufficiently apparent to make the point self- evident. Clubs which are fortunate enough to have such a field captain are in the position of a club with a manager of the team on the field and another on the bench — that's what it amounts to. A manager who has not such an asset should take pains to develop, from among the squad, his most alert thinker, with the view of making him fill just such a need. As to "schemes of play," dismiss the idea that any set line of procedure exists that will fit all cases. With some teams the hit-and-run, the daring stuff, comes through amazingly ; with others, the old army game of "give me one run and I'll win the ball game" works out — the sacrifice and the squeeze. But, after all, systems of play are strictly up to the heavy artillery a team owns, its base run- ning strength and the enemy's pitching equipment. No instruction in "jockeying" can be laid down ; but, in the main, if a team is properly equipped it would do well to go forward with its regular rotation of pitchers. It may be noted that real good pitchers, like good batters, do just about as well in the long run whether their opposition is right or left handed. It is the off-color players who have right or left-handed weaknesses. A scheme of play alone never made a manager success- ful. Quick analysis of a situation and quick decision in meeting it, is what is required of any leader; no prescrip- SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. SI tion can be laid down for that either. It's bred in the *^bone" — which is not altogether meant as a joke. In fact, in thinking over what may be said that might be of value to any person who is about to assume a manager's responsibilities, there is not much of a positive nature that can be advised. For, after all, winning ball players win pennants, not ^^miracle" managers. And sometimes a scout does more for his club than the man who handles the team. In which I am reminded of the remark once made by Bill Dinneen, himself a great umpire and once a great pitcher, a world's champion, in fact: "If I had a team I would have a $15,000 scout and a $5,000 manager," he said. By which he meant that the function of finding and accurately estimating good ball players was of greater value to a club than the handling of the players on the field. And it is true, or has been, that more players have been developed in the minors than have been brought round to major league form after they have come up. My advice, therefore, to a manager, is to be his own scout, wherever it is possible; especially if he feels confi- dence in his own judgment. Summing it all up, I rate the factors which contribute to a winning ball club in the following order: 1. Topnotch pitching. 2. Extraordinary hitting ability. 3. A fighting team spirit. 4. Support of the fans. 5. A good manager. 82 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBKARY. How to Captain a Team The word "captain/'' as applied to professional base ball teams, is a hold-over from bygone days. Time was when the captain was the director-general of a team's policy and the man to whom the players looked for advice, counsel, encouragement and, not infrequently, condemnation; and it was SOME condemnation in the early days of the game. In the past we liad our Captain Comiskeys and Ansons, who were both leaders and managers. But the captain as the czar of the team is a bygone institution. To-clay, in professional circles, he is just a lieutenant — not a chief — carrying out the orders of his superior officer, the manager. Occasionally, on the field, the initiative is put up to him and he acts out of the ripeness of his own experience. Those moments occur when the unforeseen happens and the team's scheme of defensive play is faltering, and events are transpiring too rapidly for the needed consultation with the manager, on the bench. And it is here when the mod- ern captain has the opportunity to exercise his leadership and quick wit. In the minor leagues there still remain playing managers whose presence in the game renders the appointment of anything more than an acting-captain unnecessary; but in the major leagues they are all bench mentors. It is there- fore with the captain as a lieutenant to the manager that this article chiefly deals. Of course there are captains in the major leagues to-day who are entirely competent to be managers — some who have SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 8S been, in fact. Where a club has such an asset it is indeed fortunate, especially if he is of the right kind. In general, however, when a manager is casting about for a field assistant, he analyzes his squad in quest of a man with the following characteristics : 1. Proven high qualities as a player. 2. Quick thinking. 3. Even disposition ; dispassionate mind. 4. Complete knowledge of the rules and tricks of the game. 5. Personal magnetism. G. Fighting spirit. Preferably the captain should l)e an infielder, although outfielders both captain and manage clubs. The ideal per- son for captain would be the catcher, before whose eye the game progresses from inning to inning. It is he, who, to a certain extent, directs the defense through his signals to the pitcher and to the basemen for throws. Unfor- tunately the catcher may not be able to participate in more than a part of the season's games. It is not good policy to have one player a^t as captain one day and another player to act in like capacity the next. An infielder, therefore, is the logical selection. Prefer- ably he should be a second baseman or a shortstop, the keystone of the diamond. Either of these men is at the hub of the defense, within talking distance of all players and able to signal any one of them at any time. He is also close at hand when a protest on the rules is necessary or when an infield conference becomes imperative to devise new signals or impart special information to the pitcher. A captain is not captain if his manager does not give him a certain amount of latitude, as well as implicit confi- 34 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. dence. When he names his deputy he should inform him exactly as to what sphere of action he expects his deputy to fill and just what are to be the limitations of his functions. Not the least of these responsibilities should be the keeping up of the morale of his players when the "breaks*' go the way of the enemy, as they inevitably will, at times. It is his duty to keep the wavering pitcher up to his top efficiency, when the manager signifies that he is not yet ready to bench him. He should employ all the tactics permissible within the rules to enable his club to regain its poise, and should be quick to see and take up any over- sight in the finer points of the game that may redound to his team's advantage. One little point gained here and there at critical times serves to hearten the defense. A thorough knovv^ledge of the rules, quickness to take advan- tage of them and courage to battle for the team's rights, are features that tend to make the players respect and look to the captain. And the team that has confidence in its field captain is very quick to regain its equilibrium when this has been upset by some untoward event in the contest. For the most part it is the captain's duty to address the umpire; but there are instances when the impulsiveness of the men is bound to break out into objections against the umpire's rulings. This occurs when the player feels that he has been offended against. No manager should call down a player of this sort — the mere evidence of his out- break tells him that here is one player whose heart is in the fray and who is tkying. The captain, however, should step into the breach, before recrimination leads to the benching or fining of the player by the umpire, and argue the question coolly and on its merits. The captain, how- SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 35 ever, as well as the manager, should discourage nagging of umpires on mere questions of the latter's judgment, from which there is seldom any successful appeal. The captain, being just a player himself, can serve his manager in an important way. Frequently the manager is unable to sense quickly the cause of a jarring note in his organization. The men are naturally secretive and protect each other when it's necessary. But the captain is one of them and it his duty not only to find out the little rifts in the lute, but to try to repair them. In case it is of a nature he cannot handle, he can properly advise the man- agement of the difficulty and let the"liigher ups" iron out the wrinkle. The captain's great function, therefore, relates to one of the most important features of a team's success — that of keeping the men in good spirits, eager for success and in sympathy with the management. His functions do not end there. The captain should be the man to size up the enemy's capabilities and to assist in the placing of the men to the best advantage. He should know the peculiarities of the men batting, their base running abilities, to what field they hit, on what pitched ball they are weak, and other such details as might be helpful ; for example, waving the outfielder further back or drawing him in, pulling the right fielder up behind the first baseman, or sending the center fielder back toward the fence. In the old days the captain made out the batting order and, in some cases, was responsible for the signing of players. In the smaller leagues this condition still prevails. When the club is at bat the captain's place, where no special coaches have been hired for the occasion, is on the S6 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. coaching lines, as the coaching position is one that must be filled by a player who has the entire confidence of his men. A popular captain is the ideal coacher, although the necessity of his taking his turn at bat interferes with much of his work in this department. The captain to-day, in other words, may be either an important factor in the building of the team or he may be a mere figure-head. In the latter case he probably will be dominated by a bench manager of the type that wants to run the game in all its minute detail, even to ordering the defensive moves. It might be suggested that the manager who undertakes this is building against his own success. For his players become mere automatons, without thinking ability, and develop wry necks ^^rubbering" to the bench for instruc- tions, fearful to make moves in their own behalf on their own initiative. Few managers have made this plan suc- cessful; most of them delegate some authority to the captain. In this way, when the manager is absent, there remains a capable director w^ho enjoys the confidence of the team almost as much as does the paid bench leader. For the minor professional team there is no manager and the captain is the factor. Here is where the qualities of leadership should be paramount — when the choice is made. There is no rule that can be followed in the selection of a leader for an amateur team. Unless there is a player of outstanding ability, the organizers of the club would do well to put the choice of the leader to a team vote. Usually the right man will be chosen. Ball players sense a leader. However, popularity sometimes figures in the naming of a captain, and right here mistakes of considerable magni- tude develop — mistakes that may put a team on the down- SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 37 ward path. Even major league managers sometimes cater to a player's popularity with his teammates in selecting him as a leader. Managers in doing this forget that popularity is not always ability — or leadership ability, particularly. Some players thus chosen, not being naturally of the quality that makes commanding captains, are so weighted down by a feeling of responsibility that they are not able to help their own men and lose much of their efficiency through worry. Such happenings are the exception, however. As a general rule the man chosen as leader by a squad of twelve men is apt to have the qualities of leadership as well as of popularity. Captaios chosen from the ranks sometimes have to combat the jealousy of at least part of their teammates who envy them the publicity and the advancement. And right here is where a little diplomacy will make the ob- jectors forget their grievance and work hard for the club's interest and, in the end, for the captain. 38 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. Duties of Manager and Captain In many independent teams^ amateur teams, and teams which are made up of boys, the organization includes both a manager and a captain. Scores of letters have been re- ceived from time to time asking for information as to how the duties of manager and captain on those teams are to be defined and separated. The manager on such teams usually does not exercise any authority on the field in placing or controlling the players. It is his duty to look after the business arrange- ments of the team. When it goes to another city to play a game or to a strange field where transportation is to be arranged for, he should see that everything is provided in advance. If there are any funds to be raised it is part of his work to attend to that. He should also see that the players are taken care of at a hotel, if that is necessary. Any items for sundry ex- penses are to be paid by him out of the club funds, and to be accounted for. He should also arrange games for the team and should be sure that suitable umpires are provided. If a game is to be played for gate receipts he must supervise the taking of tickets and must account with the manager of the home club for all of the admissions after the sixth inning has been played. He is to receive his share of his club's receipts and acknowledge its payment to the home club. If it is in the form of check or cash, he must transmit the returns to the treasurer of the club if there is one. Sometimes in the smaller clubs the manager acts as treasurer and he should see that each item of cash SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 39 received is properly entered in his books and he should also obtain whenever possible a voucher for each item of cash expended. There are occasional petty sums in travel for which it is not possible to obtain a voucher. These should be itemized and entered in his cash account. In general the manager looks after the welfare of the players concerning their uniforms, if club funds take care of the uniforms. He provides base balls with which to play and practise, and notes that the catcher's mask and protector and the bats are in good condition, and are trans- ferred from railroads to grounds and back again in case of travel on the steam or trolley lines. "When his team is to travel it is always best to arrange for everything in ad- vance, many annoyances being obviated in that way. Ar- rangements which are made beforehand result in more comfort as provision has been entered into for accommoda- tion at the proper time. The captain has charge of the players on the field. He selects his pitchers and catcher, directs his men where to station themselves during the progress of play, takes care of their preliminary practise, consults with the umpire and with the other captain as to ground rules, provides the batting order for the umpire and the home team or visiting team, and names his coachers. If a player is to be substituted for another it falls to the lot of the captain to make the selection. In case of any discussion with the umpire over a point of play which involves a rule the captain alone has the right to enter into the discussion. The manager cannot appear on the field and argue with the umpire. The captain may stand on the field in the coacher's box and coach his players, but he must not coach from the 40 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. bench. Of course, lie can call directions occasionally to his players from the bench, but even this is better arranged by his appearance in the coacher's box. The captain does not bother with the business arrange- ments. The manager is appointed or elected to take that work from his shoulders. It is enough for the captain to take care of the "playing end'' of the game. Managers must not assume that they have authority over their captains about calling games or interrupting play, unless it is distinctly understood in the club organization that the authority of the manager exceeds that of the cap- tain in such respect. A manager must not order the captain of the team to make a change in his players unless the club rules permit that. In the larger and more important teams there are both playing managers and bench managers. This is specially true of the major leagues and is true in some of the minor leagues. In these instances the manager is in control of the players and of the game, the captain acting as his field lieutenant in carrying out the manager's instructions. It is not often that this is the case in independent and amateur teams, and if there is any disposition to make such an arrangement it must be distinctly understood when the club is organized and there must be a written declaration in the by-laws defining to what extent the manager may exercise his authority as opposed to that of the captain. Unless this is done there will be frequent disagreements and the disputes which arise may jeopardize the peace of the club and its success both on the field and away from it. In the smaller clubs where a great deal of the executive work falls to the part of the manager, almost all of it in fact, he should know how to lay out a ball field properly. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 41 It is necessary information, not only because the diamond dimensions on his own ground area must l)e right, but also because he must take note of other diamonds where his team plays to be sure that there is no serious fault in the outline and measurement of the grounds. It is well to be certain that home plate is placed right, that the pitcher's plate is correctly located on the infield and that the bases are adjusted in the right manner. In Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide, which contains the official rules of base ball, the exact measurements are given for every point on a base ball field. Elsewhere in this publication will be found authoritative information as to how to lay out a field. The infield must be accurate. If it is, the out- field will take care of itself. All managers of the younger teams, and captains, too, whether the team has both manager or captain, or simply a captain, should post themselves thoroughly on every point that has to do with base ball. "How to Pitch," "How to Bat," "How to Catch and How to Run Bases," "How to Play the Infield and How to Play the Outfield" are chock full of information for the younger players. It is little matter whether a manager and captain play only one of these positions, or perhaps — especially the manager — none of them. They should know how they should be played. When they are placed in charge of the playing end of the team they are supposed to have abundance of general in- formation in regard to base ball, and there is no better source of information than that which has been named, because all of it is based upon long and intimate talks with the best of professional ball players about the right way to do things. It is just as important that the manager of the team, or its captain, knows whether the pitcher is doing well as 42 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. it is for the pitcher to do well. There may come a time in the game when it will be necessary to make a change and if the head of the team, even though he be a baseman, is not versed in pitching, he will not be willing to take the initiative because he has not made himself familiar with the right way to effect a cure. Most pitchers do not wish to leave the plate even when they are not going very well. They are too proud to cease pitching voluntarily. If a change is ordered frequently they leave the field under protest but, of course, are relieved of responsibility if the captain or manager has decided to make a change, and that is why both manager and captain must know effective pitch- ing from ineffective pitching. Sometimes a pitcher who is really pitching well from the standpoint of good pitching is being hit freely in^spite of every effort that he makes and the question of making a change must be given considera- tion from the standpoint of knowledge. No one knows infallibly when to take out a pitcher. Sometimes the manager or the captain waits too long. Sometimes he acts too hurriedly. Sometimes he substi- tutes another pitcher who is not the right man. To try to do the right thing, both manager and captain must make a study of pitching and of their pitchers, just as either would expect to make a study of his own position if he were an active player. In taking a pitcher out of the game, that which works splendidly at one time works very badly at another. How- ever, when a right-handed pitcher is being batted freely by left-handed batters it is usually good policy to change for a good left-handed pitcher, if the team has one. On the other hand, when a left-handed pitcher is being batted freely and shows a tendency to become nervous, it is ad- SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. visable to place a right-handed pitcher in the game. When a pitcher with much speed is not doing well it is good policy to change him for a pitcher with a good slow ball, if the team has one. On the other hand, when the oppos- ing team shows an inclination to bat slow pitching change for a speedy pitcher. Unless compelled to do so it is never good policy to supplant a pitcher who is wild by another who has a ten- dency to be wild. The new pitcher will feel that he is going into the game under a handicap, and if he loses control on the first two or three batters is apt to be worse than the pitcher who has been taken out. In making a change of pitchers where the first pitcher has become so wild that he cannot get the ball to break properly over home plate, it is good policy to put in a pitcher who has excellent control, even if he is not the highest rated pitcher on the team and even if he does not pitch more than an inning. A steady fellow like that who begins to get the ball over the plate the moment that he steps in as relief pitcher, will ^^brace up" the whole team. When they see strikes going over, instead of balls, even if the batter hits the ball, you will notice an expression of relief on the part of the other players. They believe they have a chance to do better if they can field the ball, instead of seeing one batter after another reach first base safely because the pitcher could not get the ball near the plate. If there is a captain on the field, who has charge of the players, he can make all the changes and give all the information. If the team has a bench manager who is in charge he can give signals if he wishes to do so, but most of the signaling from the bench has gone out of date. So many misunderstandings arose because the fielders did not 44 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. get the signals right;, or failed to get them at all, that the managers in the big teams and the more important minor league teams now communicate with their players on the field by motioning to the field captain to stop play when they wish to make changes. As a rule most of the signaling in the larger clubs, is confined to communication between the manager and the field captain. If the manager had a lot of signals for every player on his team he could not remember all of them himself, and it is certain that the opposing team would shortly become acquainted with some of the signs because the coaches at the base lines have only to turn their eyes to the bench of the opposing team to see what is going on. The manager frequently has some simple way of telling the captain to ask for "time" and after that he conveys his information direct to the men on the field through a substitute player. Some managers use signals from the bench to direct their plays when their team is at bat. Most of these signals con- cern whether the batter shall play for the hit-and-run, or whether the base-runner shall make an effort to steal a base. However, the risk of these signs is great, because some one of the other team may gather their significance and then the play is before their eyes. The team at bat becomes easy prey for the fielders. On most of the major league teams which have the greatest success the play to be tried is agreed upon at the bench before the batter goes to the plate. For instance, Smith, the first batter, will be told that if he gets to first base, Jones, the second batter, is to try a hit-and-run with him, and that Smith must watch for Jones to give the sign on the ball which he will try to hit. Ordinarily it is not the first ball, and if the SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 45 batter gets two balls, with a chance of going to first base by a base on balls, he may never give the sign. Jones, however, must keep a watch on Smith every minute. If he receives a sign he must not immediately take a big and unusual lead from first base because the players on the other side, if they are sharp eyed, will guess at once that ' a hit-and-run is to be tried on the next pitched ball. Players always have to be cautioned not to betray a signal by showing over-eagerness to make the play. When a manager for a minor league team or a semi-pro team is about to engage a player on contract he should possess himself of all the records regarding the player which are obtainable. These can be had in Spalding's Official Base Ball Record. It is not always the player with the most wonderful record who proves to be the most valuable for a certain team, but it has been proved that records have their great worth, because if they do not tell the exact truth about a player— his temperament and his personal disposition— they will tell approximately what he can do on the field and with the bat, for they tell what he has done. Of course, there are no records for amateurs, and usually records are never taken into consideration in putting together amateur teams, but, by the way, it is a very fine finish to an amateur season if some friend to the club has kept the scores and makes up the records in order that the boys may see how well they did. There are two books which every captain and manager are advised to obtain and study, no matter whether the team is an amateur team or a professional team. These books are "Knotty Problems," published by the Americgm Sports Publishing Company, New York, and Spalding^s Official Base Ball Guide. Read every "Knotty Problem." 46 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. Each of them is a report of some play which has come up on a ball field and for which the correct ruling is given. You will be astonished to think that so many novel situa- tions can arise in base ball and every day there are new ones. Study the base ball rules in the Official Guide from the first to the last. The technical description of how to' lay out a field may not require so much care as the rule? upon batting, base-running and fielding. However, go over all of them, and particularly over those which have to do with base-running, for that is the part of the game which confuses so many who are not familiar with the rules. There are explanations for the rules in Spalding's Official Guide. It is the only rule manual published which explains the code of the game in full, and in such a manner that the boys can grasp fully what the rules mean. Sometimes rules have to be worded in rather an involved manner, because so much is dependent upon some other play or result. In the explanations of the rules all of these de- pendent points are taken up and managers, captains and players are given a clear insight into those points of base ball which occasionally appear to be a little intricate. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 47 How to Coach Properly, the coach should be the manager, who knows best his own policies and scheme of play and who is most familiar with the possibilities of all his players. His mind is divorced from all playing responsibility and is not ren- dered timorous by fear of advising the wrong tactics. But frequently the manager is not able to take the coacher's stand. In the major leagues the custom is growing of hiring a paid coach. This was the function of Jimmy Burke, when he was with the Detroit club, and of Kid Gleason with the White Sox, before he became manager of the team. The presence of such a factor on a base ball outfit relieves the manager of an additional strain and enables him to take a view of the contest as a whole and devote his attention to other features. A coach of this type is the ideal for all ball clubs, although the lesser organizations can hardly afford such a luxury. Nevertheless, these paid specialists embody to the highest degree the qualities that any man attempting to coach should cultivate. All will agree that the prime requisites are: Thorough knowledge of the rules. Experience. Alertness of mind. Confidence of the players. It has been the custom of most base ball clubs to send ANY player to the coaching line. In some cases this is excusable. It tends to develop coaching qualities in all the players. However, only a few coaches of this sort will 48 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRAPwY. have the confidence of the base-runners and the batters, and they are therefore a detriment rather than a help. The most important coaching position is at third base, since from this point the run is either made or lost. Runs depend on eyelash decisions at the plate and lightning quickness of mind on the part of the coach. Good base-runners are desirable coaches. Men on base then have regard for the superior knowledge of their adviser and will not be constantly watching the ball instead of the signal. The manager of the club should instruct all his players in this matter, and issue positive orders to follow coaching instructions and not the course of the ball hit. Time is lost and fatal indecision created when a player has to diagnose the play and make up his own mind as to the advisability of proceeding or turning back. The coach is of valuable assistance in instructing players as to the "leads" to be taken. He must be able to foresee the psychology of a tense situation ; to tell when the oppos- ing pitcher is losing his morale and "grooving them" in order to regain control. His decisions frequently are matters of base ball intuition and are therefore not guided by rules. In general, however, a thorough knowledge of his players and of all angles of the game will beget this quick decision in the matter of ordering base-runners. Players are quick to sense indecision. Whenever a team's base-runners are observed to hesitate or turn their heads toward the play, set it down right there that base ball games are going to be lost by that club, through infe- rior coaching. A coach not infrequently profits through a ready ability to "chatter," to keep up a steady banter under cover of SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 49 which he not iiiirequently, through a simple code, gives in- structions to the various participants in the attack. As a rule players should not be burdened with complex signals ; but a few simple ones occasionally are useful in tipping oH plays or battery weaknesses which will enable the runners to progress a base. Working in conjunction with the coaches, men on the bases are not infrequently able to detect the opposing team's signals. While signal-stealing in base ball or any other games is not sportsmanlike, it is practised and occasionally wins a ball game, though not often. The utility of the signal to the side at bat is greatly exag- gerated, and in any case the code is quickly and easily changed by the defending side. Few coaches therefore waste time or permit their attention to the game to be diverted by efforts to gain the knowledge when the "fast one" or the curve is coming. The coach's knowledge of the batting peculiarities of his own side enables him to render aid to the batsmen on many occasions when he observes tactical weaknesses in the positions of the defensive players. His alertness of ob- servation may also lead to the detection of the enemy's plans for covering second base; i.e., whether the shortstop or the second baseman is expected to cover in case of an infield drive. This information is of occasional value to the batsman, especially on the hit-and-run play. Coaching at first base is seldom necessary with players of experience. His conversation and fake instructions to the runner occasionally distract the pitcher's attention and make him waste his strength in futile throws to first to catch the runner napping. However, an alert big leaguer is seldom assisted by the coaching at first, although there 50 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. are occasions, of course, when the player cannot waste time in watching a hit along the right field line, and the man giving instructions at first can guide the runner to some advantage. Jimmy Collins, one of the greatest and brainiest in- fielders the game has ever known, formerly manager of a great major league club, once summed up a coach's work as follows: "The base-runner never should be obliged, on a safe hit, to turn his head toward the play, but should come on at top speed, looking for his cue from the man on the coaching line. He should be always in a position to turn for the home plate under full head of steam, and simply watch the coach for the signal to keep on going for home, or to stop altogether. "The loss of a fraction of a second will lose runs, games and championships, and all depends on the coaches on the lines if the players are trained right. "Some fine players make the poorest kind of coaches, as they have failed to calculate the speed of their own runners as well as the fielding and throwing ability of their opponents. "Good base-runners make the best coaches, and the best I ever saw, worked with signals and made little fuss or noise during their performances. "There should be as much time given to perfecting the^ coaching department of the game as to any other phase of team base ball. "When a man is running from first base, he should keep in touch Yvdth the coach at third, instead of being on the lookout for something his opponents are going to do with the ball. Moreover, he always should move exactly as he is instructed to move by the man on the lines. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 51 "Men often will remain close to second base, fearing the infielders who are playing far away from the sack. Slow runners must get a good start and take more advantage of their opportunities to score on safe liits handled by clever outfielders, and the men on the coaching lines should be obliged not to yell out instructions, but to work entirely through signals. "It is a mistake to send up some one to coach who is not alive to the inside working of the game, simply because the regular coach is indifferent. A first-class coach at third base strengthens a team three to five per cent, and good men do not average two to a club in professional base baU.'^ 52 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBEAni. Techmcal Terms ol Base Eall Since the very inception of the game, base ball has been prolific of technical terms and phrases, but tliey have never been so numerous and distinct as they now are. Indeed, many of these base ball terms have become part and parcel of the phraseology of the joeriod to quite a notable extent. For instance, the familiar term, "Play Ball," is now recog- nized as the synonym of a special effort to give earnestness to one's work, and to stop trifling with anything we under- take to do — "No more nonsense; Play Ball." In writing up this chapter on "The Technical Terms of Base Ball,'' we do not present it as a mere vocabulary of the slang terms used in the game, as it is, in reality, a special chapter of instruction in all the points of play in base ball, besides which it includes explanations of the rules of the game. In fact, no one can read this chapter care- fully and studiously without becoming well posted in the important points of strategic play in the game. We have divided up the technical terms of Base Ball into the following classes: Technical Terms Applicable to — PITCHING (Page 53). BATTING (Page 58). FIELDING (Page 65). BASE RUNNING (Page 68). UMPIRING (Page 71). and GENERAL TECHNICAL TERMS (Page 73). SPALDlNdS ATHLETIC LIBRARY. Technical Terms Applicable to Pitching Balk. — This is a failure to deliver the ball to the bat legally, and there are eleven different ways of committing a balk, as follows : 1. Any motion made by the pitcher while in position to deliver the ball to the bat without delivering it, or to throw to first base when occupied by a base-runner without completin.::| the throw. 2. Throwing the ball by the pitcher to any base to catch the base-runner without stepping directly toward such base in the act of making such throw. 3. Any delivery of the ball to the bat by the pitcher while either foot is back of and not in contact with the pitcher's plate. 4. Any delivery of the ball to the bat by the pitcher while he is not facing the batsman. 5. Any motion in delivering the ball to the bat by the pitcher while not in the position defined by Rule 30. 6. Holding of the ball by the pitcher so long as, in the opin- ion of the umpire, to unnecessarily delay the game. 7. Making any motion to pitch while standing in his position without having the ball in his possession. 8. Making any motion of the arm, shoulder, hip or body the pitcher habitually makes in his method of delivery, without immediately delivering the ball to the bat. 9. Delivery of the ball to the bat when the catcher is stand- ing outside the lines of the catcher's position as defined in Rule 3. 10. Taking either hand off the ball, except in the act of delivering the ball to the batsman or in throwing to bases. after the pitcher has taken position with both hands holding the ball in front of him. 11. If the pitcher drops the ball either intentionally or acci- dentally in the act of delivering it to the batsman or throwing to first base with one or more runners on the bases. 54 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. If the pitcher shall fail to comply with the requirements of any section of this rule, the umpire shall call a "balk." Battery. — The pitcher and catcher of the nine in the field are called the "battery" of the team. Battery Errors. — This class of errors is confined to wild pitches, bases on balls, and hitting batsmen with pitched balls, and to passed balls by the catcher. Called Balls.— The umpire is required by the rules to call a "ball" on every ball which the pitcher either fails to send in over the home base, or not within the legal range of the bats- man's knee and shoulder. The ball must bo over the base and within range, or it becomes a called ball, and four such called balls give the batsman his base. To be within legal range the ball must pass below the line of the batsman's shoulder and above the line of his knee. Change of Pace. — ^This is done whenever the pitcher changes the speed of his delivery from fast to slow, or vice versa. But the change, to be useful, as a strategic point of play, must be thoroughly disguised from the batsman or all its effect is lost. Change of Pitchers. — This is done when the captain of the team finds that the delivery of his pitcher is being badly "pun- ished." Changing pitchers requires considerable judgment on the part of the captain, who should be quite sure that the bats- men are really "punishing" the pitcher, and that the fault is not that of poor field support of the pitching. In making a change, the succeeding pitcher should be one with a distinctly different method of delivery to that of his predecessor. When the umpire announces the pitcher prior to commence- ment of game, the player announced must pitch until the first batsman has either been put out or has reached first base. Chances Offered. — A chance for an "out" is offered the field side by the batsman whenever he hits the ball in the air, or on the ground within fair reach of the fielder. If the chance is accepted the fielder either gets the credit of a catch, or for assisting to put out a runner at a base, or for actually putting out such runner. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 55 Control. — ^This term refers to one of the essential points of first-class pitching, viz., thorough control of the ball in delivery, especially in giving direction to curved balls so as to send them over the plate. Curving the Ball— To be able to curve the ball in its delivery is one of the peculiarities of base ball pitching. The curves are produced by imparting a rotary motion to the ball as it leaves the hand. Cutting the Corners. — This term applies to the delivery of the ball by the pitcher in such way that it just passes over the corner of the home-plate. It is a difficult ball for the umpire to judge correctly, and a ball that it is impossible for the bats- man to judge. Drop Ball. — ^This is one of the most effective balls of a stra- tegic pitcher's delivery, and it is the most difficult curve to make ; the rotary motion given the ball causes it to fall, in the line of its delivery, just before reaching the base. Fair Ball. — Rule 31 of the code says that "A fairly delivered hall is a ball pitched or thrown to the bat by the pitcher while standing in his position and facing the batsman that passes over any portion of the home base, before touching the ground, not lower than the batsman's knee, nor higher than his shoul- der. For every such fairly delivered ball the umpire shall call one strike." Head Work. — This is a very comprehensive term and means a great deal in all field sports, but especially in base ball. Without "head work" in a player's methods, team work by the nine is out of the question. In pitching, "head work" means skill in strategic play in the position. In-shoot. — ^This is a ball which curves in towards the bats- man as he stands in his position. It is a more difficult ball to judge than the out-curve. Out-curve.— This is a ball which curves outward from the batsman, and it is the least difficult of any of the curves to pitch. When an out-curve ball is hit it generally goes to right field or right short. 5S SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. Pace. — This term applies solely to the speed of the ball in delivery, viz., a fast pace or a slow pace. Pitcher's Position. — ^This is defined by a rubber plate 24 inches in length by 6 inches in width, with its front line dis- tant 60 feet 6 inches from the home plate. The pitcher, when in his legal position, must stand in accordance with the follow- ing rule (No. 30 of the Code of 1921) : "Preliminary to pitching, the pitcher shall take his position facing the batsman with both feet squarely on the ground and in front of the pitcher's plate or on top of the pitcher's plate ; and in the act of delivering the ball to the bat he must keep one foot in contact with the pitcher's plate defined in Rule 9. He shall not raise either foot until in the act of delivering the ball to the bat, nor make more than one step in such delivery." Pitching. — This term applies to the work of delivering the ball to the bat by the player appointed to fill the pitcher's posi- tion, and it includes the throwing of the ball to the bat, though the ball is not pitched, but thrown. Punishing the Pitching. — The pitching is said to be "pun- ished" whenever the batsmen make base hits off it; but it is not punished when the field support fails to accept chances for outs off the pitching. Raise Ball. — ^This is another of the various curves used in pitching due to the motion given the ball as it leaves the pitcher's hand, which causes the ball to rise just before reaching the batsman. Runs Earned Off the Pitching. — A run is earned off the pitcher every time a player reaches home base by the aid of safe hits, sacrifice hits, stolen bases, bases on balls, hit bats- men, wild pitches and balks, before fielding chances have been offered to retire the side. The pitcher shall be given the benefit of doubt whenever fielding errors are made and in determining the base to which a runner should have been held with perfect support on part of fielders. A fielding error made by the pitcher shall be considered the same as any other fielding error. Slow Ball. — Tills term applies to slowly delivered curves. No ball is more effective than a well-controlled slow "drop" ball. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 57 Spit Ball — Now forbidden. A method of imparting a rotary motion to the ball when delivering it to the bat in pitching by the use of saliva. The ball takes an eccentric motion as it passes through the air at about the time it reaches the bats- man. It is difficult to control and severe on the arm. Straight Ball. — ^This term applies to balls which are delivered to the bat without any rotary motion having been given to the ball, and which are sent in over the base and within legal range. StriJcinff Out Opponents. — A pitcher is credited with striking out an opposing batsman whenever the latter is retired on called strikes, whether by being caught out on the fly after the third called strike, or thrown out at first base after such called strike. Unfair Ball. — This is a ball which is the reverse of a fair ball ; that is, a ball which is not sent in over the home base, or within the legal range ; and "balls" must be called on all unfair balls. Underhand Throw. — This is a ball thrown to the bat with the arm and hand swinging forward below the line of the pitcher's hip. Wild Pitch. — A ball thrown wildly out of the fair reach of the batsman, either to the right or left of his position, over his head, or close to the ground, and out of the reach of the catcher, is a wild pitch and a battery error, and no passed ball can be charged to the catcher on such wild pitched ball. For additional technical terms relating more closely to pitch- ing, see glossary in Spalding's Athletic Library No. 79R, "How to Pitch," price 25 cents. 58 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. Technical Terms Applicable to Batting Base Hit. — A base is earned by a hit whenever the batsman hits the ball to the infield or outfield out of the legitimate reach of a fielder. A base is also earned by a hit ball which goes to the infielder so swiftly that he is unable to field it to the base player in time for an out ; also, in the case of a swift line ball from the bat which the fielder is unable to hold on account of its speed. All such hits are base hits and earn bases. Bases hy Errors. — More bases are secured by the various errors of the field side than by any other means. The list of errors which yield bases are those known as fielding errors and those classed as "battery" errors. The former include dropped fly balls, wild throws — either overhead or on the bound — muffed and fumbled balls, and plain failures to judge balls offering easy chances for catches. The latter errors include wild pitches, bases on balls, pitched ball hitting batsmen, and balls passing the catcher on which bases are run. Bases on Balls. — ^The batsman is entitled to take one base every time the umpire calls "four balls," and also every base- runner who is thereby forced to leave the base he occupies. Batting for the Team. — This term applies whenever the bats- man strives by his hit to forward a base-runner, regardless of his individual record ; such, for instance, as in the case of mak- ing a "sacrifice" hit. Batsman's Position. — Rule 38, governing this position, is as follows : "Each player of the side at bat shall become the batsman and must take his position within the batsman's lines (as defined in Rule 8) in the order that his name appears in his team's batting list." Batting in Runners. — ^This is a marked feature of "team work at the bat." To forward base-runners is the object aimed at by every batsman who "plays for his side*' in batting. He does this by striving his utmost for a base hit, and next to that his effort is to hit the ball so that, if it fails to earn a SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 59 base, it wiii oblige the fielder to throw the striker out at first base, and thereby enable the runner on first to reach second base safely, this constituting a "sacrifice" hit. Bases on Balks. — Whenever the umpire calls a "balk," every occupant of a base — except the batsman — is entitled to take a base without being put out, whether the runner be forced off or not. Hit ly Pitched Ball. — The batsman is entitled to take a base whenever he is hit by a pitched ball, provided that he has tried to avoid being hit It matters not where the ball hits him, or if it only touches his clothing. Batsman a Base Runner. — The batsman becomes a base- runner: 1, instantly after he makes a fair hit; 2, instantly after "four balls" have been called by the umpire ; 3, instantly after "three strikes" have been declared by the umpire; 4, if, without making any attempt U strike at the ball, his person or clothing be hit by a pitched ball unless, in the opinion of the umpire, he plainly makes no effort to get out of the way of the pitched ball ; 5, if the catcher interfere with him in or prevent him from striking at a pitched ball ; 6, if a fair hit ball strike the person or clothing of the umpire or a base-runner on fair ground. Bounder. — This term applies to a ball sent from the bat to the field on the bound ; also, to a ball thrown on the bound by a fielder to a base player, in which latter case it is a wild throw and an error. Bunting the Ball. — A "bunt" hit is made when the batsman simply holds the bat up to meet the thrown ball, thereby allow- ing the ball to rebound from the bat to the ground. Rule 47 thus describes a bunted ball: "A bunt hit is a legally batted ball, not swung at, but met with the bat and tapped slowly within the infield by the bats- man. If the attempt to bunt result in a foul not legally caught, a strike shall be called by the umpire." Clean Hits. — A clean hit is made when there is no possible chance offered the fielders either for a catch or otherwise to retire the batsman, after he has hit the ball. so SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. Clean Home Run. — Tliis is made only when the ball is hit outside the legal boundaries of the field so far to deep outfield as to prevent its being fielded to the infield before the runner reaches the home base. Confidence in Hitting. — No batsman can achieve success in his position who lacks confidence in facing the opposing pitcher. Confidence is half the battle in a contest. If he goes in to the bat feeling doubtful of his ability to punish the pitching, or is likely to be intimidated by the mere speed of the delivery he faces, he will fail in his batting nine times out of ten. Grass Cutter. — This term is applied to a ball hit along the ground without bounding, cutting the grass, as it were, as it proceeds. Earned Runs. — See Rule 85, section 11. Fair Hit Ball. — Rule 44 thus defines a fair hit ball : "A fair hit is a legally batted ball that settles on fair ground between home and first base or between home and third base or that is on fair ground when bounding to the outfield past first or third base or that first falls on fair territory beyond first or third base, or that, while on or over fair ground, touches the person of the umpire or a player." Failing to Take Position. — Every batsman should remember the order of batting, and be in readiness, bat in hand, to take his position at the bat when called upon by the umpire, prior to which he must be seated on the bench. Should he forget the order and allow a succeeding batsman to take his place, and the error be not discovered before a ball has been struck at, the batsman who failed to bat in his turn is out. A Foul Hit Ball— Rule 45 thus defines a foul hit ball: "A foul hit is a legally batted ball that settles on foul terri- tory between home and first base or home and third base, or that bounds past first or third base on foul territory or that falls on foul territory beyond first or third base or, while on or over foul ground, touches the person of the umpire or a player." Rule 46 states that a "foul tip" is a ball batted by the bats- man while standing within the lines of his position, that goes SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 61 sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher's hands and is legally caught. Foul Strike. — This strike is made whenever the batsman strikes at the ball while he is standing outside the lines of his position, if only with one foot. But there is a "foul strike" included in the list of "called strikes" which is of exceptional character, and it will be found in Rule 49, Sec. 3, as follows : "Sec. 3. A foul hit ball not caught on the fly unless the bats- man has two strikes." Force Hit. — A "force hit" is made when the batted ball is sent to the field in such a way as to enable a fielder to put out the runner who is forced to leave the base he occupied at the time the ball was hit, and who, by the hit of the batsman, has been obliged to vacate his base. It is possible to make a triple play on three force-outs when a fair hit is made while all three of the bases are occupied. Fungo Hits. — The weakest batting is shown when the bats- man indulges in "fungo" hitting, or hitting the ball in the air to the outfield and giving easy chances for catches. "Fungo" hitting, too, is done when the bastman takes a ball in hand, and tossing it up, hits it to the outfield as it falls. It is the worst kind of batting practice on that account, as it is the reverse of hitting at a ball thrown to the bat horizontally. Homer. — This is the term applied to a "home run" hit. It is the best hit made. High Ball. — Balls hit high in the air. A "high ball," too, is one pitched above the batsman's shoulder. Hit and Run. — (See technical terms applicable to base run- ning.) Hot Ball. — A ball is said to be a "hot one" which Is hit to a fielder, either on the fly or on the bound, so swiftly that it is next to impossible to hold it. Hence the scoring vernacular: "Too hot to handle." In all such cases a "base hit" should be credited to the batsman. Low Ball. — This is a ball sent to the bat below the line of the batsman's knee, and every such ball must be called a "ball." 62 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. One, Two, Three Out. — This term applies to the retirement of three batsmen in the order of their going to the bat. It is sometimes done on three or four pitched balls. Out of Form. — A batsman is said to be "out of form" for hitting when, after waiting impatiently for a good ball within fair reach, he temporarily fails to be ready to hit a good ball when it comes over the plate and within legal range. In such a case he becomes an easy victim for a strategic pitcher. Order of Batting. — Before a game begins, the order of the players of each side going to the bat is written down in the score book of the official scorer of the home club, and also printed or written on the score card, and it includes the names of the nine players of each side, who are to go to the bat in the order named. The order is thus named in Rule 39, as follows : "The batting order of each team must be on the score card and must be delivered before the game by its captain to the umpire at the home plate, who shall submit it to the inspection of the captain of the other side. The batting order delivered to the umpire must be followed throughout the game unless a player be substituted for another, in which case the substitute must take the place in the batting order of the retired player." After the first inning, the first striker in each inning shall be the batsman whose name follows that of the last man who had completed his turn — time at bat — in the preceding inning. The order of batting cannot be changed after the umpire has called "play." If a batsman is injured so as to necessitate his retirement from play, or if he be ordered out of the game by the umpire and he is replaced by a substitute player, his suc- cessor in the game must bat in the order of the retiring player. Placing a Ball. — This is one of the most difficult things a batsman has to do. Any mere novice at the bat can make a chance hit, but to hit the ball so as to send it to any desired part of the field — in other words, to "place the ball" — is the most skillful hit a batsman can make, as it requires keen sight, coolness and nerve in judging the swiftly thrown ball, together with lots of practice, to excel in place hitting. It can SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 33 be done, however, and against good pitching, too ; but no mere chance hitter can do it. Popping Tip. — ^There is a great difference between "a popped- up fly ball" from the bat, which affords an easy chance for a catch, and a ball hit in the air by a tap from the bat, which goes safely over the heads of the infielders, and yet is too short for the outfielders to give them a chance for a catch. The for- mer is a weak chance hit, while the latter is a luckily-placed ball, always yielding an earned base. Record Batting. — A batsman who devotes his whole atten- tion to batting for a high average of base hits, regardless of any efforts to forward base-runners by his batting, is a mere record batsman, who knows or cares nothing of doing "team work at the bat." On the other hand, the batsman who goes in for "batting for the side," and who leads by forwarding run- ners by his hits, is a batsman of championship type. Scratch Hit. — This is a term applied to an accidental hit which unexpectedly yields a base. It is a term, too, which is often applied to an effort by the batsman to make "a place hit" by a bunt or short safe hit. A ball batted in the air which drops safely between two fielders, who are each afforded an easy chance for a catch but who both hesitate to accept it, is an undoubted scratch hit. Striker. — Tliis is the old time title given the batsman, a term used in the code of playing rules of the decade of the sixties. Striking Out. — This is the act of being put out on "called strikes." and, as a rule, it shows weak batting ; but it is also a result of skillful, strategic pitching. Sacrifice Hit. — A sacrifice hit is credited to the batsman who, when no one is out or when but one man is out, advances a runner a base by a bunt hit, which results in the batsman being put out before reaching first, or would so result if it were handled without error. A sacrifice hit also should be credited to a batsman who, when no one is out or when but one man is out, hits a fly ball that is caught but results in a run being scored on the catch, or would in the judgment of the scorer so result if caught. 64 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. Time at Bat. — Under Rule 82 "a time at bat" is thus defined : " 'A time at bat' is the term at bat of a batsman. It begins when he takes his position, and continues until he is put out or becomes a base-runner. But a time at bat shall not be charged against a batsman who is awarded first base by the umpire for being hit by a pitched ball, or on 'called balls,' or when he makes a sacrifice hit or for interference by the catcher." Timing the Ball. — This is a term applicable to the act of so timing the forward swing of the bat to meet the ball that it may meet it either back of the home base line — thereby hitting the ball to right field — or forward of the line, in which case the ball would be hit to the left. It requires perfect command of the bat, and coolness and nerve in judging the pace of the pitched ball. "Timing the ball" is the fundamental rule of scientific bat- ting in base ball, and it requires brain work, with plenty of study and practice to excel in it. Waiting for Good Balls. — This is a feature of skillful work by the batsman and requires keen sight and considerable nerve to excel in it. It is essential that the batsman should con- stantly keep himself in readiness — that is, "in good form" — to strike at the first ball that comes over the plate and within legal range, in order to fully benefit by "waiting for good balls." For additional technical terms relating more closely to bat- ting, see glossary in back of Spalding's Athletic Library No. 80R, "How to Bat," price 25 cents. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 66 Technical Terms Applicable to Fielding Assist. — One assist and no more shall be given to each player who handles the ball in aiding in a run-out or any other play of the kind. If he makes the put-out that also should be scored in his favor. An assist should be given to a player who makes a play in time to put a runner out, even if the player who could complete the play fails, through no fault of the assisting player. And, generally, an assist should be given to each player who handles or assists in any manner in handUng the ball from the time it leaves the bat until it reaches thfe player who makes the put-out, or in case of a thrown ball, to each player who throws or handles it cleanly, and in such a way that a put-out results, or would result if no error were made by a team mate. Assists should be credited to every player who handles the ball in the play which results in a base-runner being called "out" for interference or for running out of line. Deep Field. — This term is applied to the far outfield, whether to the left, center or right field. Double Play. — A double play is made whenever the fielders put out two opponents of the batting side between the time the ball is delivered to the bat and its being again in the hands of the pitcher ready for re-delivery. Dropped Fly Ball. — A fly ball, dropped out of the hands of a fielder before being "momentarily held," as the rule requires, is a fielding error. Under the enforcement of the rule governing an "infield hit," if the hit fly ball be touched by an infielder— whether dropped in the effort to catch it or not — the batsman is out. In such case no error is to be charged on the dropped fiy ball. Fair Catch. — Any catch of a fair hit ball which is momen- tarily held by a fielder before touching the ground or any object other than a fielder; provided, it be not caught in a fielder's hat, cap, protector, pocket or other part of his uniform. 66 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. Foul-Tip Catch. — This is a catch of a foul ball which goes to the catcher sharp from the bat. The penalty of a fly-tip foul ball which is caught is the call of a strike by the umpire. (Rule 49, Sec. 6.) Forced Off. — A base-runner is said to be "forced off" a base whenever he is followed in the base running by a runner who has made a fair hit, or been sent to his base on balls and who has thereby forced a runner off, which latter forces off the runner who preceded him. Fumble. — A fumbled ball is a fielding error. It occurs when the ball, having been stopped but not held by the fielder, is fumbled in the effort to pick it up, thus preventing the retire- ment of the runner. Infielders. — The infielders.. as a team, comprise the three base players and the shortstop. The Infield. — ^The infield of a ball ground comprises the ter- ritory within the base lines. Juggling the Ball. — A ball is said to be "juggled" when it is partially caught and rebounds from a fielder's hands before being "momentarily held." Passed Ball. — A passed ball is recorded whenever a runner advances from a dropped or muffed ball by the catcher, or from his allowing any ball to pass him which is not a wild pitch or a base on balls. No passed ball can be charged unless a base Is run on the error. Pick-Vp. — This term is applied to a clean handling of a sharply hit ball. It is a piece of fine, shap fielding. Quick Return. — ^This term applies to the quick return of the pitched ball to the pitcher by the catcher, so as to enable the pitcher to catch the batsman napping. Run Down. — A base-runner is said to be "run down" when he is caught between the bases and runs backward and forward to avoid being touched out while off a base. Runners from first to second, when a runner is on third base, and only one hand out, frequently run the risk of being run out in order to afford the runner on third a chance to get home on the play. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 67 Running Catch. — This is a catch which is one of the most attractive features of fme fieldins, but it requires sound judg- ment and sure catching ability to excel in it. Short Field. — This is the space of ground occupied by the shortstop, who, by the way, is the roving player of the infield, who stands ready to cover second base, or that of any other infield position when occasion may require. Triple Play. — This is another fielding play peculiar to base ball, like that of a "double play." There are several ways of making a triple play, but the most familiar method is that of forcing out players. For instance, suppose all three bases are occupied and the batsman hits a ball down in front of him which the catcher fields at once, and, first touching the home base with his foot, throws the ball to the third baseman, who similarly touches his base and forwards the ball to second base, and if the ball is held on each base before each forced-ofiC runner retouches it, a triple play is made. Another form of a "triple play" is made when a fly ball is hit, apparently safe, to short outfield, when first and second bases are occupied, and the base-runners are tempted to leave their bases on the chance of the hit being safe. The ball being caught, however, and promptly forwarded in time to second base, and by the baseman to first base, before the runners can retouch the bases they left when the hit was made, a triple play is the result. Wild Throw. — This fielding error is made whenever a fielder throws a ball beyond the fair reach of a base player, either over his head, to the right or left of him, or on the bound or along the ground. When such a throw is made to the batsman by the pitcher it becomes "a wild pitch." SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. Technical Terms Applicable to Base Running Base-Runner. — A batsman becomes a base-runner in six dif- ferent ways: 1, instantly after he makes a fair bit; 2, in- stantly after "four balls" have been called by the umpire ; 3, in- stantly after "three strikes" have been declared by the umpire ; 4, if, without making any attempt to strike at the ball, his per- son or clothing be hit by a pitched ball unless, in the opinion of the umpire, he plainly makes no effort to get out of the way of the pitched ball ; 5, if the catcher interfere with him in or prevent him from striking at a pitched ball ; 6, if a fair hit ball strike the person or clothing of the umpire or a base-runner on fair ground. Base Stealing. — A stolen base shall be credited to the base- runner whenever he advances a base unaided by a base hit, a put-out, a fielding or a battery error, subject to the following exceptions ; In event of a double or triple steal being attempted, where either runner is thrown out, the other or others shall not be credited with a stolen base. In event of a base-runner being touched out after sliding over a base, he shall not be regarded as having stolen the base in question. In event of a base-runner making his start to steal a base prior to a battery error, he shall be credited with a stolen base and the battery error shall also be charged. In event of a base-runner being touched out after sliding when the base-runner is clearly blocked, the infielder making the muff shall be charged with an error and the base-runner shall not be credited with a stolen base. Clean Steal. — This is a base stolen without the catcher hav- ing attempted to throw out the runner. Coaching. — This is the term applied to the method of aiding base-runners to steal bases, through verbal directions from the SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 69 player appointed to stand back of first or third base to "coach" runners. It does not, however, include noisy demonstrations and personal remarks to opposing fielders. Rule 58 states that: "A coacher may address words of assistance and direction to the base-runners or to the batsman. He shall not, by words or signs, incite or try to incite the spec- tators to demonstrations, and shall not use language which will in any manner refer to or reflect upon a player of the opposite club, the umpire or the spectators. Not more than two coach- ers, who must be players in the uniform of the team at bat, shall be allowed to occupy the space between the players' and the eoachers' lines, one near first and the other near third base, to coach base-runners. If there be more than the legal number of eoachers or this rule be violated in any respect the umpire must order the illegal coacher or eoachers to the bench, and if his order be not obeyed within one minute the umpire shall assess a fine of $5.00 against each offending player, and upon a repetition of the offense the offending player or players shall be debarred from further participation in the game, and shall leave the playing field forthwith." Overrunning Bases. — The base-runner in running to first base may overrun said base after touching it in passing without incurring liability to be out for being off said base, provided he return at once and retouch the base, after which he may be put out as at any other base. If, after overrunning first base, he attempts to run to second base, before returning to first base, he shall forfeit such exemption from liability to be put out. At all other bases the runner may be put out for overrunning the base. Players Running Bases. — All base-runners run the risk of being put out when not standing on a base, except in the case of overruning first base. Players running bases are obliged to return to the base they left when the ball is hit foul, and also when a fly catch is made. But the moment the catch is made, either from a fair or foul hit ball, they can leave the base they occupied and try to reach the next base safely. If, when run- ning from base to base — except in the case of making a home run — they must keep as near to the line between the bases as 70 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. they can, for if, in order to avoid being touched by the ball in the hands of a fielder, they run three feet beyond the line of the base they are out. This rule applies only in the case of trying to avoid a fielder with the ball in hand, not otherwise. Sliding to Bases. — There are two ways of sliding to bases, viz., head first and feet foremost. The former method is almost obsolete. Stolen Base. — Base stealing Is an art in itself, and it requires head work by the runner all the time. He has not only to watch the "battery" players, especially the pitcher, but he must be on the alert to get a good start for a steal. If a pitcher is at all slow in his movements or uses too many motions in his delivery, the runner can get a start from him without much difliculty. If the runner steals a base by reaching it before he is put out, but afterwards is put out through overrunning the base, the failure to stop in time nullifies the steal. Squeeze Play. — ^This is a peculiar point of play in the game. It is only attempted when a base-runner is on third, with none or one out. Then, too, it requires a brainy batsman to be fa- cing the pitcher when the play is attempted, and also an expert runner at third base. The play is made as follows: As the pitcher moves to deliver the ball to the bat, the runner starts as if to steal home. The batsman then bunts, and if he suc- ceeds, the runner has a good, chance to reach home safely on the hit. But if he fails, the runner becomes an easy victim of the play. Bases on Balls. — A base on balls is a "battery" error, though there are times when it becomes a point of play to give a skill- ful batsman his base on balls. Taking Bases on Balks. — All base-runners are entitled to advance one base on a balk. (See Rule 54, Sec. 3.) SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 7I Technical Terms Applicable to Umpiring ''Play Ball r— This is the call of the umpire when he opens a contest or when starting play after a temporary suspension. Time. — The umpire calls "Time" only when he suspends play for the time being, and the moment the call is made the ball ceases to be in play. Inning. — An "inning" is the term at bat of the nine players representing a club in a game, and is completed when three of such players of a batting side have been put out. No Game.— This term is applied to an interrupted game in which less than five innings have been played. The rule says : " *No game' shall be declared by the umpire if he terminates play in accordance with Rule 22, Sec. 3, before five innings are completed by eacJi team. Provided, however, that if the club second at bat shall have made more runs at the end of its fourth inning or before the completion of its fifth inning than the club first at bat has made in five completed innings of a game so terminated, the umpire shall award the game to the club having made the greater number of runs, and it shall count as a legal game in the championship record." Suspension of Play. — ^The rule (74) governing the suspension of play in a game is as follows: "Tlie umpire shall suspend play for the following causes : "1. If rain fall so heavily that in the judgment of the umpire play should be suspended he shall note the time of suspension, and if, at the end of thirty minutes, rain shall continue to fall, the umpire shall then be the sole judge of whether or not resumption of play will be possible, and he alone shall have authority to prolong the suspension or terminate the game. "2. In case of an accident which incapacitates him or a player from service in the field, or in order to remove from the grounds any player or spectator who has violated the rules, or in case of fire, panic or other extraordinary circumstances. "3. In suspending play from any legal cause the umpire shall call 'Time'; when he calls 'Time,' play shall be sus- 72 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. pended until he calls 'Play' again, and during the interim no player shall be put out, base be run or run be scored. 'Time' shall not be called by the umpire until the ball be held by the pitcher while standing in his position, except that this does not apply to Section 3, Rule 37, nor does it apply in case of fire, panic or storm." Reversing Decisions. — No decision rendered by the umpire shall be reversed by him in which the question of an error of judgment is alone involved. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 78 General Technical Teriaais Amateurs. — It is time a better understanding of the meaning of "amateur" was known. An amateur is not an inefficient player at any sport — indeed, many amateur players are indi- vidually much better than many professionals. There is noth- ing derogatory in being a professional. He is to be com- mended, as he does not sail under false colors. The player, however, who takes money while pretending to be playing for the love of sport only is the cheater. Colleges and governing athletic organizations are getting very strict about the matter of amateurism and professionalism and no boy can hope to make his college team if he has ever received money for play- ing at any sport. An amateur ball player is one who does not play ball for "money, place or emolument." No player who accepts money or its equivalent for his services can rank as an amateur in any sport. Battery. — This is a term applied to the pitcher and catcher of a team. It is the main attacking force of the little army of nine players in the field in a contest. Base Lines. — ^These are the lines defining the location of the four bases on the diamond field. Blanked. — A term used to indicate the retirement of a side in a game without their being able to score a single run. Block Ball. — Rule 37, Sec. 1, says: "A block is a batted or thrown ball that is touched, stopped or handled by a person not engaged in the game. "Sec. 2. Whenever a block occurs the umpire shall declare it, and base-runners may run the bases without liability to be put out until the ball has been returned to and held by the pitcher in his position. "Sec. 3. If a person not engaged in the game should retain possession of a blocked ball, or throw or kick it beyond the reach of the fielders, the umpire should call 'Time' and require each base-runner to stop at the last base touched by him until the ball be returned to the pitcher in his position and the umpire shall have called 'Play.' " Mound or Slab.— This is the term given the pitcher's posi- tion. 74 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. Captain of the Team. — Each nine in a contest is governed by a captain, who is supposed to have the entire control of the movements of every player of his team during a game, the captain placing his men in such positions as he deems best, and changing the pitchers as he thinks most advisable, etc. Of course, the captain himself, as v^ell as the players, are supposed to be governed by the club manager. jPan. — ^This is a term applied to a patron of the game whose partisanship is so pronounced as to amount to fanaticism, hence the word fan. Hit and Run. — This is a term applicable to a point of play in the game in which a combination of team work at the bat and brainy base running is brought into play with telling effect John M. Ward thus described how it was practically exempli- fied in 1893 by Nash, Duffy and McCarthy, of the champion Boston team of that year: "Say, for instance, that they have a man on first and nobody out. Under the old style of play a sacrifice would be the proper thing. Then the man on first would reach second while the batsman was put out. Tlie Bostons, however, work this scheme : The man on first makes a bluff to steal second, but runs back to first. By this it becomes known whether the second baseman or the shortstop is going to cover second for the throw from the catcher. Then the batsman gets a signal from the man on first that he is going to steal on a certain pitched ball. The moment he starts for second the batsman just pushes the ball for the place occupied only a moment before by the infielder who has gone to cover second base. That is, if the second baseman covers the bag, the batter pushes the ball slowly to right field ; if it is the shortstop, the l;all is pushed to left field. Of course, it takes a skillful player to do this, but they have such hitters on the Boston nine. Now, when that ball is pushed to the outfield, the man who has already started to steal second just keeps right on to third, \Yhile the batsman is safe at first. Then the trick is tried over again, and in most cases successfully. The man on first makes another bluff to steal, and when the l)atsman learns who is to cover second base he pushes the ball out again, the man on SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 76 third scoring, the man on first reaching third, and the batsman gaining first." Kicking. — ^This is a generic term, used in the case of players disputing decisions by the umpire. A kicker is a nuisance on a ball field, and a costly enemy to team work in the game. Tlic Nine. — This was a term applied to the players of each side engaged in a match game. It has been replaced by the term "team." One Old Cat. — In the early period of the decade of the '40s, when the old Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York used to play their practice matches at the Elysian Fields, Hoboken, N. J. — then a suburban resort of New Yorkers in the summer — the members used to meet on their ball field twice a week. They usually arrived in twos and threes, and as soon as they had a sufllcient number of players present to toss up for sides, in a practice match, their game would begin; but prior to this they would bat "fungoes" to the outfielders, and the first to catch a ball on the fly would go in and take the bat. When more players arrived they would play "One Old Cat," that is, one player would toss the ball to the catcher behind the bats- man, and when the latter was put out the catcher would go in to bat, and the pitcher go behind to catch, the first baseman going in to pitch, and each player moving up nearer in his turn. But "One Old Cat" was simply a mere practice game, preliminary to beginning the regular base ball match. ''Play Ball." — ^Tliis is now one of the most familiar terms of the whole code of technical terms used in the game. It simply means that the players at once throw aside mere "playing ball for the fun of it," and devote themselves to earnest work in the game. Sudstitutes. — "Many years ago," when the game "was young and charming," substitute players were used in the game when members of the nine were unable to be punctual in attendance on match days. But when professional base ball came into vogue, this loose way of playing the game was done away with, and now a substitute player is only allowed to take part in a game under fixed rules. Whitewash. — This is another term applied to the retirement of a nine in a game without their scoring a run. 76 SPALDING S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. Base Ball Scoring Methods Almost every scorer of base ball games has his own sten- ographical peculiarities of recording the details of base ball play. They are all, however, based on the old system devised for A. G. Spalding & Bros, more than half a cen- tury ago by Henry Chadwick, known as the "Father of Base Ball." The novel feature of the Chadwick system consisted in the numbering of the players from 1 to 9, the pitcher being usually designated as 1, the catcher 2, first baseman 3, sec- ond baseman 4, shortstop 5, third baseman 6, left fielder 7, centerfield 8 and right fielder 9. These numerals apply throughout the game to the posi- tion ; and where changes are made in the player, the fact, together with the exact moment of his substitution, should be made in the batting order. In connection with the numbering of the players, the Chadwick plan included a system of lettering to designate ^cts that would require a written phrase to describe, thus : H — Hit batsman. LK — Out on foul strikes. BB — Bases on balls. S — Stolen base. WP— Wild pitch. P— Out on infield pop. FC— Fielder's choice. WT— Wild throw. E— Error. L — Foul. LF— Out on foul fly. T— Safe bunt. K— Strike out. Etc. These abbreviations may be readily extended and improved by the ingenuity of the scorer. As with steno- graphic reporters, one reporter's score book is not always clear to another, each devising many unique signs or abbreviations. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBEART. 77 In addition, the scorer must have adopted a code of bat- ting signs by means of which he can record briefly the nature, direction and effect of hits. To this day many scorers employ the signs introduced half a century ago and which are as follows: In indicating base hits, use a cross+f or a one-base hit, a double crossifor a two-base hit, and a triple cross ± for a three-base hit; and to show where the ball was hit, we add a dot to the cross so as to indicate the part of the field the ball was batted to. Thus a hit to left field for one base is marked y"; a hit to right field for two bases thus it ; a hit to center field for three bases thus ^ A ground ball to either position yielding two basesiii The signs, more rarely used, for fielding movements are as given below: A high thrown wide ball is indicated thus .Jl^ , the line being fol* the throw and the dot above for the high ball. The low throwm wide ball is similarly indicated, only the ball is placed under the line, thus "T" , Occasionally scorers employ a combination of dots and lines to record hitting performances. In such instances the recorder relies on his memory, to some extent, for the more intimate details as to the nature of the drive. For example, under the dot-and-line plan: A single to center would be noted down as ; A single to right / A single to left % A double to right % A triple to left 5 1 A home run to center | 78 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. In other words, the number of dots indicates the number of bases, and the inclination of the dash shows the direc- tion of the drive. This system is not as complete as could be desired, but is satisfactory for the average fan recording a game. Still another plan for keeping track of the hits is the use of the square, to indicate a home run. One side of it indi- cates a single; two sides a double; three sides a triple and the complete square a homer. Siius: Single I Double ^ Triple fl Home run LJ It can be used in connection with dots to be more spe- cific a8 to direction, as : Single to left 1 Double to right P Triple to center I * I Homer to center Q Formerly fans were content to set down the "outs'^ and "runs" for each man up, leaving hits, errors and fielding details out of the record entirely. But to-day scoring is more common and fans like to keep their own records to compare them with the official box scores published the following day, to see wherein their own judgment coin- cided with or differed from that of the official scorer. These real fans provide themselves with official score books, which contain carefully arranged spaces designed to aid the scorer in his recording of details. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRAEY. 79 This will be laid out after the following plan, preferably : fir m rg-i 1-3- pg-i [-7-] pR"'' "iri rp^ nri rT?i iiH p Ml xn ] [j^/J ^i^ -<> - - ^ ^ mju^ 55 <> <> <> <> <> <> i <> r f AijL^j tt -<> <> -<> <> -<> ^ ^ <> T L>-J UJ^ :S^ u^ U-L_J L^ [^ ^^ :iJ U J U- . The central diamond in the above arrangement is usually reserved for recording the run, if one is scored. Many scorers merely blacken this square so that it stands out from the page and indicates prominently the most vital feature of the score. Other scorers use this square in which to record the final fate of the batsmen, whether it is an out at bat, a run scored, or left on base. For simple scor- ing, it is best to reserve it solely for recording runs. Let us trace an example of stenographic scoring. Sup- pose, in the above batting order, that Jones starts out with a single to right; that Brown's bunt sacrifices him to sec- ond and that another single to center scores him. The score sheet would then appear as follows: The usefulness of the numerals may readily be seen, as they embrace the entire play in themselves, as far as its nature and the persons involved are concerned. 80 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. In the above record it is presumed that the scorer has agreed on C as the symbol indicating a "bunt-sacrifice." The record on the play, C 1-3, then reads to the mind of the scorer : "Brown bunted to the pitcher, who threw him out at first base, Jones advancing to second base." Thus three characters do the work of 17 words. But, supposing the play had resulted differently. Let us presume that the pitcher had fumbled the bunt and that the runner had gained his base thereby. It would then be scored C, E-1. This would indicate that the batsman had bunted with the intention of sacrificing, had advanced the runner as planned, but had gained first through an error of the pitcher, and that the batsman was therefore entitled to the credit of a sacrifice without being charged with a time at bat. Had the bunt rolled clear of the pitcher's reach and been safe, a still new situation would arise. A new symbol would be required — that for a safe bunt, sometimes recorded T. In that case Brown would be charged with a time at bat and credited with a hit, with no charges against the fielding records of the defending team. Other examples of the use of numerals might be men- tioned, as — double play, short, second, first: 5-4-3. Out, third to first— 6-3. Flied to center— F8, etc. The simpler batting signs were used above for the rea- son that on first attempts at scoring it is inadvisable to attempt too much. In fact, the scorer will find arising con- stantly puzzling situations that will require more specific information as to scoring plays and the signs to designate them. When the scorer has set down details of the batting, he must not forget that, if he is to keep a complete record, he SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 81 must similarly set down the marks in the box score col- umns. Thus, in the Jones-Browoi-Green example above, on the sheet score of the attacking team he would have to credit (use a dot, or a vertical mark for each) under the AB (at bat) columns both Jones and Green. Brown would not receive one because his effort at the plate proved a sac- rifice. Both Jones and Green would also receive one dot, under the H (hit) column for a single ; while Jones would make it a clean sweep for this inning by adding one mark to his R (run) column. On the other scoring page, that of the defending team, the scorer must credit the pitcher with an assist and the first baseman with an out, recording the manner in which the sacrifice man was retired. At the close of each inning the scorer should record, at the bottom of the inning colunms, the total hits and the total runs scored in that period, for the sake of keeping up the score by innings and the hits for ready reference. All scoring systems are mere elaborations on the forego- ing plan. Certain managers of base ball teams, for the statistical purposes, keep very elaborate score in order to be able to analyze the work of their teams against certain opponents and various forms of pitching. The classifica- tion or tabulation of results from this system has yielded valuable information to observing leaders. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. Sidoai Systems for Base Ball One of the points to which a b^se ball club manager must give earlj^ attention when j^reparing his club for a season's campaign is a system of signals whereby he may convey to his men on the field his choice of a play or stra- tegic policy, to meet a situation that has developed along different lines than had been anticipated. Signals, in the earlier days of base ball, were of the crudest sort, involving merely an understanding between the batter and the man in front and behind him in the batting order. Players were left very much to their own devices then, for the manager — then the captain — being himself an active participant in the contest, usually had his own hands and mind occupied with the duties of his position. At the present time, however, when tactical shifts become frequent to meet the strategic moves of the oppos- ing manager, it is imperative that players have a definite code of signs sufficiently apparent to themselves to avoid mistake and yet sufficiently camouflaged to prevent their penetration by the 023posing side. It may be pertinent to remark at this point that the fewer signals employed and the simpler, the better. Many major league managers, am_ong them the astute Connie Mack of Philadelphia, still believe that signals should be limited to three or four. It is the prevailing view that smart players don't need them and boneheads won't grasp them; hence the fewer employed, the less chance of con- fusion at some critical stage of the game. On the other SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 83 hand, one or two major league leaders have more or less complex codes. Most clubs, however, seldom have more than half a dozen signs, if we exclude battery signals, which may be included under defensive signs. For offensive purposes it is absolutely necessary to have signals for the hit-and-run play, bunt, steal, squeeze, etc. These signals are usually of two kinds, the "flash" or sign signal, and word signals. Most up-to-date teams have both varieties, in order to meet all requirements ; and, of course, they have change-off signals, in case there is reason to believe the enemy has discovered the key to the code being used. The "flash" signals are most frequently employed by the batsman to signal a man on base. They are also employed by the manager on the bench when out of conversation range of the man whose attention he desires to attract. For example, with a runner on first, the batsman (perhaps himself instructed from the bench) wants to give the hit- and-run signal. According to the code agreed upon, this sign is given when the batsman touches his hand to the visor of his cap. But such a simple signal would be detected, after its first trial, by the eagle-eyed watchers on the enemy's bench, whose optics are riveted on both bats- man and runner to note when a possible signal is given and when accepted — for a signal acknowledging or reject- ing an order also must be arranged. The cap-touching motion being too obvious, it becomes necessary to combine it with a "key" sign, which will tell the runner when the cap-touching is vital and when incon- sequential. Any number of ways of guarding the sign are possible, the simplest being to join it with another act. 84 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. For example, it might be agreed that the hit-and-run sign was operative only when the batsman's foot, as he stood at the plate, was pointed toward the pitcher. The combination signal will serve to confuse the observ- ers in the enemy trench, who, seeing the hit-and-run tried when the batsman's cap was touched, think that this is the real and complete sign. However, the next batter up, with a man on, may touch his cap and the enemy play for a hit-and-run, when none is intended. Thus the opposed pitcher wastes a ball on a pitchout. The same sort of signals may be devised for the other essential attacking plays — a hitch of the belt, a wiggle of the bat, any motion used in combination with a "key" sign, is sufficiently protected for ordinary purposes. The beauty of this system is that there is only one sig- nal for the entire team, manager and coaches included, for each play. In the old systems, where the batsman had an imderstanding with the man ahead of him, many signs are necessary, adding confusion. Some managers order changes from day to day, using alternately the regular and the reserve systems, in order to confuse opponents, as well as to keep the change set of sig- nals fresh in the minds of the players. All of these signs are employed by the manager on the bench and by the coach, as well as by the players. How- ever, these executives more frequently employ a word code which is just as simple as the "flash" system. This is merely the use of a single word, buried in a sentence or |»hrase, to indicate each play. For example, it might be agreed that the word "he" meant hit-and-run. The manager on the bench could shout: "Make him be good. Jack, make him he good!" SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY, Apparently a meaningless remark and sufficiently involved to confuse the signal-stealers as to the vital word, espe- cially since the next time "be" were used it would be in an entirely different expression, such as : "He ought to he easy for you. Bill." A similar word for each play could be agreed on, and a system almost certain to defy detection thus developed. The coaching signals, both word and flash, may be simi- larly devised. They may be further protected by making them active or inoperative, dependent upon the position of the coacher in the box, or his posture at the time of making or shouting the sign. Thus, if the coach signed the flash signal for the hit-and- run, when the batsman was in doubt, it might be agreed that he touch his cap, in the customary way, with the understanding that it would not be effective unless he were standing in that end of the coacher's box nearest the bat- ter. Or it might be agreed that it would be effective only when he touched his cap while standing with his left hand on his hip. Or, to still further safeguard it, all three pre- cautions might be taken. The number of attacking signs or signals used is entirely up to the manager. But the mind of the base ball player would be better off for not burdening him with too many signals to be used under changing conditions. Somebody is sure to fall down. Wherever such signals are used, it is absolutely necessary that a sign acknowledging the accept- ance of the signal be made. And right here caution is needed. It must be borne in mind that the efforts of the opposing team, including the bench warmers, is focused on the principal actors of the enemy, the batsmen and base- runners, in an effort to anticipate the attacking strategy. 86 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. Any move that may be construed as a signal, whether inter- preted rightly or not, has the effect of making the opposi- tion more keenly alert. The accepting signal, therefore, ought to be camouflaged, as are the others, with a check sign. When a set of signals is to be changed during the game, there should be no less than three separate notifications of this change, made to the players by the manager, the cap- tain and the coach. Thus it is unlikely that any player will miss being notified. If he should, an unpleasant tangle of plans might arise at a critical moment. Defensive signals are employed by the battery, of course, and in other ways by some clubs. The battery signals should be known to every member of the team, and to the infield players particularly. It is important for these players to know whether a fast or curve ball is to be pitched; for the direction of the resulting drive, and its force as well, may to some extent be anticipated there- from. Occasionally, when the pitch is apt to influence the direction of an outfield drive, it is important that the infielders signal the outfielder as to the nature of the play coming, in order to enable him to play in the best possible position to intercept the drive. Battery signals almost invariably are given by the catcher from a squatting position, in which they may be protected from the view of opposing coachers. They are simple movements which anybody may devise, with addi- tional meaningless motions to confuse the observer who may happen to be on second base, watching to catch the fast ball signal — the aim of all signal-getters. The pitcher, of course, if a veteran, may reject the signal unless ordered by the manager. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 87 There is also a signal, sometimes given by the catcher, naming the pla^-er who is to cover second base with a man on base. The knowledge of this important fact gives the batter a big advantage. He knows that the next ball deliv- ered will be of the sort that wdll make it most difficult to hit through the opening vacated by the base-coverer, and can "step into^' the pitch and perhaps hammer the ball through the opening thus created, for a safe hit. The base covering signal, therefore, ought to be carefully protected and subject to occasional change. Special signals are sometimes devised to meet special occasions. For example, the pitcher, the catcher and the shortstop or second baseman may devise a play to nip a man who takes a big lead off second base. After the signal is given, the players involved, without seeming to notice the base-runner, count four. Then the baseman darts to the bag and the pitcher wheels and throws to the bag. Sig- nals of this sort may be made up on the spur of the moment, between innings, as they do not involve the entire team. One of the fancied dangers of relying too greatly on signals comes when a team trades or sells a player to an enemy club in the same league. Of course he takes the entire signal list with him, when it becomes incumbent on the manager, coach and players to learn all over again. At least that would appear to be the safe plan. However, it is a well-known fact that ten days after a ball player has changed teams he forgets his old club's signs or confuses many of them so badly that it is unsafe to rely upon his tips regarding them. A great deal has been written about signal-stealing, which is considered unsportsmanlike in some circles; yet 88 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. it is part of the every-day efforts of all professional base ball teams. Most of the battery signals are obtained by the co-operation of the man in the coacher's box and the base-runner on second. Every move of the battery is watched and those players on the bench compare notes. The combined observation of all the alert minds on a club occasionally results in the discovery of the fast and curve ball signs. Next to this, the most coveted sign for signal-stealing is the hit-and-run signal, which puts the attacking play at the mercy of the pitcher. He can hurl the ball out of reach of the batter, and the catcher easily can joick off the runner going to second. The discovery of this sign is of occasional occurrence and for that reason some managers make it a "run-and-hit" play. This means that there is no signal given, but the batter has standing instructions to hit whenever the base-runner decides to go down. With alert base ball players this is the preferable tactic. As a general axiom commonly accepted by all man- agers, it may be asserted that "the fewer the signs, the bet- ter the ball club." However, this applies only up to cer- tain limits. Certain signs are absolutely necessary to good base ball. That they have been more freely used, in later years, is evident from a statement made by Walter Maranville, with the Boston Braves the year the team won the championship of the world after being in last place on July 16 of that season. Following is a quotation from an interview at the time: "Signals had a lot to do with our winning the championship. We had signals of our own, of course, and so far as I know they never were SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 89 solved consistently. We were able to get the meaning of the signals of the other team in nearly every city of the league. In St. Louis we knew almost every move that the other fellow was going to make, and that helped a lot. Their signals were very easy. Other teams had harder signals, but we managed to get most of them, while the other side was doing the guessing." The foregoing signals are based primarily on signals to the team. Players who are interested in battery signals should read the chapter on Signals in the new book, "How to Catch and How to Run Bases" (price 25 cents), pub- lished in the Spalding Athletic Library Series. 90 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRART. Equipment of a Base Ball Team The base ball public has been educated to a discrimi- nating taste in other niceties of the national game than mere playing excellence. It has learned to prefer respec- tability to rowdiness in the deportment of the players and of the occupants of the grandstand and bleachers; it has been educated to enjoy the game from up-to-date seating facilities and carefully cleaned chairs; and it has grown to appreciate the spick and span appearance of the players themselves, as to their uniforms and equipment. A major league club to-day could no more afford to send on the field men frowsily clad than it could permit them on the diamond intoxicated. Few in the stands, however, stop to inquire as to the time, forethought and expense devoted to the wearing apparel and the implements used by the players in their daily work. Yet, as a matter of fact, these play an important part in pleasing the fan. The principle of dressing up a base ball club presentably is the same that applies to the fitting up a store or serv- ing food. For example: Two stores may handle the same class of goods ; but one will outsell the other, merely because it has displayed its wares and outfitted its interior more attractively. Its salesmen, too, have much better success if nattily and stylishly dressed than if dowdily or carelessly garbed. The prospective purchaser is sub-con- sciously influenced ]jy appearances in favor of the neater men and the neater establishment, though the price and quality of the goods may be identical. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 91 Also, the same food, which is disgusting when shoved at one in ^''hash-house" style, might be rendered palatable if served on sno^wj linen, in tasteful dishes, with a gar- nishing of parsley on the plate. The dishes, linen and parsley do not help the food ; but they create in the mind of the diner a more favorable impression of what is at)out to be offered him. So the attractively clad ball-player, whose uniform is always clean and neat to start the game, favorably pre- possesses the onlooker, as compared with the carelessly out- fitted star. Slovenly dress is apt to create an impression that slovenly w^ork is to follow. For that reason base ball clubs which are catering to a pay-as-you-enter public can not afford to have other than first-class equipment. A major league player's uniform and laundry bill to-day is a considerable item in the aggre- gate. But it is worth all that can be expended on it. Clubs playing a heavy schedule throughout a long sea- son need at least four uniforms, tw^o for home use and two for trips abroad, the latter, of course, of darker or pat- terned goods, to distinguish them from the inevitable light uniforms used at home. Some teams get along with one road uniform; but where the trips require absences of more than one week, it is stretching the cleanliness feature to the last limit. A club can not be too circumspect in this matter and should see that, whatever its schedule condi- tions, enough equipment is provided to maintain the snappy and presentable appearance of the team. No club should invest in the "just as good" brand of material, because, in the long run, it is not economy. The best pays, as a rule; and Spalding quality is invariably reliable. 92 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. The matter of club appearance should not be overlooked by any team — large or small, professional or amateur — if its games are to be viewed by any considerable number of persons. Especially should this apply to "town" teams. Civic pride, if no other motive, should induce the backers of such clubs to provide adequate equipment to make the "front" of the club a "hit" with the fans. But the matter does not end with uniforms — it extends to the implements of the player. It has been said that a workman may be judged by his tools — meaning their qual- ity and the condition in which he keeps them. No good workman ever permits the implements with which he earns a living to deteriorate, knowing that his own efficiency depends upon theirs. Major league players acquire tastes in gloves, bats, etc., that amount to superstition, almost. If they happen to have met with success with it, the first glove or bat they use remains, for them, the only glove and the only bat on the market. Some go to the extent of having gloves privately made and bats modeled according to their per- sonal views. But this is apt to be mere fancy; for all sorts, shapes, sizes and weights of base ball tools may be had — ready made — tools that have been tested and not found wanting. In the major leagues the boys are not a bit backward in ordering bats, as the management foots the bills. One major league club's list one year, as turned in for only twelve players, included fifty-eight bats — an average of nearly five per man. "Weight and wood are matters of moment to some play- ers. In this respect all should be guided by their own experience and convictions on the subject. Bats that suit SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 93 one player by no means suit the next man. The Spalding line offers an unlimited range of selection. It is well to have as great a variety, of the kind that each player fancies, as the club resources permit. Whether it be fancy or fact, a player's preference may psychologi- cally affect his batting prowess, if he is balked in getting what he wants. He goes into the game thinking he can't do as well with the other bat ; hence he is mentally injur- ing his own effectiveness, right there. Spalding's will duplicate any model to order, and their factory carries numerous specifications of various models made up spe- cially to suit the ideas of leading batters. Shoes are an important item to the base ball star. They must fit, but must be comfortable and strong. The play- er's preference in spikes can be left to himself; although, like almost every other article of base ball equipment, these have been standardized. Many players have preferences in gloves and, once suited in this respect, dislike to "break in" a new one. For this reason they frequently cling too long to a patched and mended article when a new one is not only desirable but necessary. No manager should permit his men to use a glove that is not in perfect repair, no matter how reluctant he may be to surrender his time-worn relic. Players acquire a positive affection for some of the paraphernalia of the game which they have had with them for a long time and are frequently stubborn about giving it up. In the end they must retire the decrepit old friend for good, so they might as well break in the new one early as late. Gloves, shoes and other equipment should all be given a certain amount of "breaking in" before being used in championship contests, not merely to render them more 94 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. pliable but chiefly to familiarize the player, so that he will not even think of the fact that he has on a different or new glove. However, if the glove is of high grade, very little "breaking in" will be necessary, and the player who blames a misplay on a new tool is usually seeking an alibi. That managers are not indifferent to the appearance and the precise equipment of their base ball teams may be gleaned from the following remarks of one who has been in the game many years: ^^1 have always found that it pays to get the best equip- ment that can be bought. The implements used by the players I leave to their individual preferences, as to gloves and bats. I never attempt to suggest, unless I think a player has not had experience enough to make a proper choice, suitable to his special abilities. The principal idea in developing a winning team is to satisfy the player in every way possible — then he delivers his best. "It has been my experience that the ^cockiness' of a club is materially aided by the consciousness of its mem- bers that they present an attractive appearance on the field ; so I never haggle over incidentals, if they please the player. Dress a man up well and you may be certain that he will FEEL many per cent better and play accordingly. Nothing contributes more to slovenly work and feelings than the consciousness of being ill-clad, or equipped worse than your opponent. A player always feels an interest in his club proportionate to the interest his management takes in him." SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 95 m Quick Method of Laying Out a Base Ball Diamond By H. B. Monroe. At outings and on other occasions when it is desired to lay out a base ball field, a great deal of time may be saved by the following method : First — Get a piece of rope or cord, with not too much stretch in it. Second — Measure off following distances and make a knot at each distance: 60 feet 6 inches— 90 feet— 127 feet 33/8 inches— 180 feet. Third — Decide upon the location of home plate (north and south is preferable, to avoid the sun in the fielders' eyes) ; place the rope end at home and go out straight to full length of rope; 60 feet 6 inches will be the pitcher's slab; 127 feet 3% inches will be second base; put in spikes to mark same. Now fasten the knot which was tied at 180 feet at second base; take knot tied at 90 feet out to right of home until the rope is tight at all points; this will be location of first base; go to the left in same manner for third base. This method is absolutely correct and can be done in less than ten minutes. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 97 How to Lay Out a Base Ball Diamond By Heney Fabian, Expert Ground Builder, in Charge of the Polo Grounds, New York. For a good base ball diamond the first requirement is a roomy, level piece of ground. If there is any slope, it should always be from the infield to the outfield — never from the outfield to the infield. If there is a natural, springy turf it will be greatly superior to a hard, unyield- ing surface which dries rocklike under the sun. Playing fields for league clubs should always be enclosed. They are, ordinarily, where there are paid admissions. It is better to have them enclosed, if possible, where there are city leagues and independent amateur leagues. It is impos- sible to maintain a good playing field where it can be crossed at the will of the public. To lay out the diamond, first of all drive a peg at the apex of the spot where home plate is to be located. Turn home plate, if possible, so that the batter may face south by east. The nearer that the batter can turn direct to the south and still leave plenty of playing room, the better for the players in all seasons of the playing year. Having driven the peg into the ground, run a cord straight out to the south, presuming that the peg can be located on the north side of the projected field. Bear to the east rather than to the west, if there must be a choice. Measure off 127 feet 3% inches on the cord, and drive a peg at this point for second base. Now measure along the cord a distance of 60 feet G inches. Drive a peg here for the front of the pitcher's 98 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. plate. Measure another six inches and drive a peg for the back of the pitcher's plate. Measure 2 feet 7 11/16 inches further, and drive a peg for the exact center of the dia- mond. From this center to second base will be 63 feet 7 11/16 inches. Fasten the cord firmly to the peg at the center of the diamond and extend each end exactly at right angles to the previous measuremxent across this peg. At one end of the cord thus extended, drive a peg for first base; at the other end, drive a peg for third base. To prove the exact- ness of the location of the pegs at first base and third base, test them with a cord ninety feet in length, measur- ing from the home plate peg to the first base peg, thence to the second base peg, thence to the third base peg, and thence to the peg at home plate. If you follow these directions it is impossible to be wrong in laying out the diamond. If the pegs at first base and third base should be an inch or two out of align- ment when measuring, the ninety-foot test will bring them exactly to position. To lay out the boys' official diamond, follow the general plan of the directions given. After driving in the peg for home plate, measure a distance of 115 feet 11^ inches straightaway with your cord. Measure fifty feet straight- away for the front line of the pitcher's plate. Measure six inches further for the back line of the pitcher's plate. Now measure 7 feet 5% inches further for the exact center of the diamond. This will be 57 feet 11% inches from the home plate peg and the same distance from the second base peg. Fasten the cord at the stake which marks the center of the field, and extend it at right angles to the direction from which you have been measuring to locate SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 99 the pegs for first base and third base. To test their loca- tion, take a cord 82 feet in length and measure from home plate peg to first base peg, thence to second base peg, thence to third base peg, and thence to home plate peg. It is simple and will be accurate. For smaller diamonds reduce your measuring cord cor- respondingly in length, always remembering that the front line of the pitcher's plate is never in the center of the field, but nearer home plate than second base. The rules stipulate that the backstop shall be ninety feet from the home plate, but this is not absolutely necessary. It is better for amateur and college fields, and for all fields where there is no particular desire to have base ball as a paid exhibition, to have the backstop nearer than the pre- scribed ninety feet, even if a runner does come in occa- sionally on a passed ball that hits the backstop when it is so located. Almost all of the major league clubs have their stands within the ninet3^-foot limit, and the front of the stand is the backstop. If the backstop is distant the spec- tators complain that they are too far removed from the action of the game. Fabian's "Turtle-Back" or ''Spider Web" Ball Field. To make an oval-shaped turtle-back diamond, what I call a spider web, take a piece of string and fasten one end al: home plate. Extend the string directly toward center field for a distance of 180 feet. Then measure along the string from home plate toward the center of the diamond a distance of 90 feet. This point will be the absolute cen- ter of the general playing field. Take another string and cross the center at 90 feet exactly at right angles. The four corners, where the ends of the string terminate, will 100 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. ' 1 N ^^ , \ / i ^N f ■k ^ / * N / \ s '^ i: i> /^ :; '>\ / « / .! N /• 1 \ • 1 N / / 1 V V y^ .^^J^fe -' X N ^S • / 1 /' > 1 r ^v* 1 ^fy' ^ ! f> V 1 / V J X \ • • ^ 1 / ^ 1 ^ ^ I ' \ 1 • V 1 ^ \ /" tr^Ki TURTLE BACK DIAMOND PEG^ SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 101 enclose the general infield and make a perfect square. Within this square you again cross the center with two ether cords of 180 feet each, running diagonally, which give you a hectagon outline that will assist you in equally grading the field from the center to the outside limits. The center of the diamond must not be more than fifteen inches above the ground level of each base, and I have drawn circles at a distance of ten feet each from the center of the field showing how the surface of the ground is grad- 15 ally graded down from the peak of the pitcher's box to the outfield. Each ten feet should mark a uniform de- crease in height. This method makes an excellent water- shed, provides an excellent playing surface, and makes the ball bound more accurately. Some very ornamental designs — ^geometrical figures, etc. — have been laid out by Mr. Fabian during his long career as superintendent of major league ball parks, and he will be pleased to give information on the subject, or answer any question concerning the care of a base ball diamond, to readers of this book. Inquiries should be addressed to Mr. Fabian, care of the American Sports Publishing Com- pany, 45 Rose Street, New York, accompanied by a two- cent self-addressed stamped envelope. 102 SPALDING'S ATKLBTIC LIBRARY. How a Bi^ League Keeps Its Records By Ernest J. Lanigan^ Statistician. There is more work to the keeping of averages than the ordinary fan realizes and they are kept with the same scrupulous attention to accuracy that a bank clerk displays when he is posting the debits and credits in a depositors' ledger. Using the National League as an example, the work begins with the arrival of the official scores, which come to National League headquarters by series. If an official scorer does not send his scores promptly it holds the work up. Before the scores are passed on to the man who enters them on sheets that are specially printed, the services of an adding machine are requisitioned and all the totals are proved, the pitchers' summary having to agree with the team total. After this the National League secretary, if more than one pitcher has been used by a club, proves that the scorer has given the victory or charged the defeat to the proper person, this act taking up quite a lot of time on occasions when a group of boxmen figure in a game. The rules for crediting pitchers with victories and charging them with defeats are very explicit, but at times it happens that prob- lems appear that require deep thinking. The first thing that is done in the National League offices each morning of the playing season is to cut out and paste up the previous day's scores, a scrapbook being used for this purpose. The club standing is kept by means of a large wall schedule, with a sheet-steel backing. The SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 103 date is punched for the club winning the game. This card shows at a glance the club's won and lost games, as well as the tie and postponed games. When the scores for a series are 0. K.'d for entering they are checked off in the scrapbook and when they are not 0. K. they are returned to the official scorer for correction. Before the man who enters the scores receives them from the National League secretary, the team totals for the game are entered on a specially prepared sheet, every detail being shown. There are eight of these sheets — one for each club. There are two kinds of record sheets — one for the bat- ters and fielders and another for the pitchers. These are of the loose leaf ledger kind, the last season the National League having kept its averages in a book having been 1907. Each player who participates in a game, even for one inning of one contest all year as a pinch runner, has set aside for him one ledger sheet. It is headed up with his full name and contains information as to how he bats and throws, what club he came from, whether he was purchased or drafted or a free agent. Should the player be trans- ferred to another National League club his performances with his old team are totalled up and the information as to what club he went to written on the sheet and the date of his transfer. The same procedure is followed in the case of a player returned to a minor league club, only, of course, another ledger sheet is not opened for him unless he returns to the National League in the fall. The ledger sheets for the players contain places for the dates of the game, the name of the club it is against, for the number of the game and for all the details of the 104 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. official score. These are totalled up every month and balanced. The pitching records are kept in the same way and the record sheet shows whether the man started and fin- ished the game, who relieved him if he didn't finish tlio game and who he relieved if he didn't start it. At the end of the season each ledger sheet contains a full history of the player's performances on the diamond. At one time the entering of players' records at home and abroad was done in two different colored inks, black for the games at home and red for those abroad. Once the totals of the ledger sheets balance with the totals of the team sheets, the work of getting out the National League averages does not end with the computing of the percentages. There are in the United States two news bureaus that furnish the newspaper with averages and their figures are checked against the official National League figures. This proves that the scores have been properly entered to the right accounts. After this comes the computing of the averages, which afterwards are all proved, and after this comes the arrang- ing of the figures for publication. SPALDINGS ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 105 How to Arrange a Base Ball Schedule Many factors enter into the making of schedules, such as the number of teams, number of available fields, number of days that the teams can play, etc., but certain funda- mental rules must be followed and are explained here to assist the beginner who is called on to arrange one HOME-AND-HOME SCHEDULE FOR 8 TEAMS First Series EAST WEST NORTH SOUTH FIELD FIELD FIELD FIELD 1—4 3—2 5—8 7—6 1—3 4—2 5—7 8—6 1—6 3—8 5—2 7—4 1—5 3—7 e— 2 8 4 1—8 4—5 6—3 7—2 1—7 4—6 5—3 8—2 1—2 3—4 5—6 7—8 Return" Series EAST WEST NORTH SOUTH FIELD FIELD FIELD FIELD 2—3 4—1 6—7 8—5 2—4 3—1 6—8 7 5 2—5 4—7 6—1 8—3 2—6 4—8 5—1 7—3 2—7 3—6 5—4 8—1 2—8 3—5 6—4 7—1 2—1 4—3 6—5 8—7 As eight-team leagues appear to be most popular, the diagram herewith has been prepared to show how a sched- ule of home-and-home games for such a league may be log SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. arranged. Playing one day a week, it would take four- teen weeks to complete the schedule. Numbers have been used in place of names for teams. This simplifies matters and helps to prevent duplication, as the figures from 1 to 8 must appear once only across each line. It is assumed that fields are available in four sections of the circuit. East Field being the home grounds for 1 and 2, West Field for 3 and 4, North Field for 5 and 6, South Field for 7 and 8. The first thing to do is to arrange your sections so that two of them will be playing against each other, as follows : East West Noeth South vs. vs. vs. vs. West East South North North South East West South North West East This will bring together East vs. West and North vs. South in the first series. Two days will be required to finish the series between these sections. On the first day, have the odd teams play the even teams, always putting the home teams first. Your first day's play then would be : 1 vs. 4 3 vs. 2 5 vs. 8 7 vs. 6 On the second day, have the odd meet odd and even meet even: 1 vs. 3 4 vs. 2 5 vs. 7 8 vs. 6 Continue this plan until each section has met all of the other sections. As the meeting between the two teams which play on the same field usually creates the most rivalry, especially if the race is close, it is advisable to defer these games SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. 107 until the last, when 1 meets 2, 3 meets 4, 5 meets 6, 7 meets 8. If it be desirable to have the home teams appear on alternate days, play the return series immediately after the first game. Thus, the first two days would be : 1 vs. 4 3 vs. 3 5 vs. 8 7 vs. 6 2 vs. 3 4 vs. 1 6 vs. 7 8 vs. 5 There are several ways in which these teams may be shifted about to make an attractive schedule for eight clubs, but the foregoing offers the simplest plan to those who are unfamiliar with the subject. To arrange a schedule for ten teams becomes a more difficult matter, because we have an odd number of sec- tions to deal with. For that reason we will have the home team playing one section, while the traveling team will be playing a different section on the opponents' field. Let us say there are ten teams in the league and five available fields. We will adopt the same sections as were used in the eight-team league and add Central Field to be the home grounds for the additional two teams, which we shall number 9 and 10. Next we decide on how the sections shall meet, but instead of having two meet two, as was done in the eight- team league, we arrange them so that each section will meet every other section, as follows : Fast West NOKTH South Central vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. West North South Central East North South Central East West South Central East West North Central East West North South 108 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. Of course, the visiting sections should be repeated, be- cause it takes two days to complete a series. How to arrange the numbers so that each team will meet every other team once, and so that there will be no doubling up, becomes an interesting problem, and the following table has been prepared to show how this may be done: EAST WEST NOETH SOUTH CENTRAL FIELD FIELD FIELD FIELD FIELD 1— 3 4— 6 5— 7 8—10 9— 2 1— 4 3— 5 6— 8 7— 9 10— 2 1— 5 3— 7 6—10 8— 2 9— 4 1— 6 4— 8 5— 9 7— 2 10— 3 1— 8 3— 9 6— 2 7— 4 10— 5 1— 7 4—10 5— 2 8— 3 9— 6 1— 9 4— 2 6— 3 8— 5 10— 7 1—10 3— 2 5— 4 7— 6 9— 8 1— 2 3— 4 5— 6 7— 8 9—10 Leagues composed of more than eight teams become unwieldy, and it is necessary to devote much time and thought to arrange a suitable schedule when more than one team are to use the same field for home grounds. The better plan would be to divide the league into two divisions and have the winners in each division play off for the championship. A twelve-team league in two sec- tions could be played as follows: FIRST DIVISION SECOND DIVISION 1—4 3—6 5—2 7—10 9—12 11— 8 1—3 4—5 6—2 7— 9 10—11 12— 8 2—3 4—6 5—1 8— 9 10—12 11—7 2—4 3—5 6—1 8—10 9—11 12— 7 1—2 3—4 5—6 7— 8 9—10 11—12 SPALDING'S ATHLETIC LIBRARY. IO9 This would permit each team to meet every other team once. If home-and-home series are preferred, transpose the numbers and place in proper columns, as has been done in "Return Series'^ on eight-team schedule. If there is an odd number of teams in the league, each team would have to lay off one game to permit the odd member to play; otherwise a double-header could be ar- ranged for each team with the odd member. By studying carefully the essential principles as out- lined, it would be possible for one who is conversant with figures to arrange a schedule for almost any number of teams. 110 Spalding's Athletic Library Some New Books on Base Ball How to Catch and Hozv to Run Bases. Compiled by John B. Foster, editor of Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide and Spalding's Official Base Ball Record. Spalding Athetic Library series. No. 96R. Price 25 cents. A new book containing the most complete_ and valuable infor- mation about catching that has ever been published. New develop- ments in modern catching, which have never been touched upon, are elaborated by the author so that the beginner is given a deeper insight than has been afforded before into this important position on a base ball team. The reader is taken through all the phases of a base ball game, including instruction as to how the catcher should stand, how he should throw, how he should watch the bases, how he should control the field generally and how he should hold his hands and use his mitt. In addition, there is a chapter on signs, with illustrations of this particular feature. "How to Run Bases" is included with "How to Catch," because running bases and catching have everything in common. The runner is always out to beat the catcher at his game and the catcher is exactly as keen to get the runner. There are scores of suggestions for beginners in "How to Run Bases." All of the suggestions are simple and practical, and every beginner will "speed up'' if he takes note of them. _ The illustrations in this book are especially good and informa- tive, and in combination with the text should aid the reader greatly in getting a better idea of proficiency in these two depart- ments of the game. How to Pitch. Compiled by J. Ed Wray, sport expert for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Spalding Athletic Library series No. 79R. Price 25 cents. Keeping pace with the changes in the rules, which have read- justed all the theories about pitching, the writer of this most recent work has gone into the subject of serving the ball to the batter from every standpoint. It is a work of instruction and analysis as well as one of sound advice. Explanation is given of the curves and the best use to which they can be put during a ball game. The beginner is told how to effect change of pace and is also given sound advice as to how he should pitch to batters. The matter of control is empha- sized and the author has made a very practical demonstration Spalding^ s Athletic Library 1 1 1 as to one way in which control can be obtained. Of course, it is based on practise, but all of the good points in base ball are brought out by practise. The beginner is told how to keep in condition and what to do to keep in condition. Excellent advice is given him as to what is best for_ the ball player. Even if during the summer season one plays in nothing but amateur games, it is better to follow sound and sane methods of diet and general work than to indulge in foods or dainties which are not the proper thing for the human body. New and original diagrams show many points in base ball which are at the best not well understood by the beginner, but which the diagrams may make more clear. Mention is made of the "freak ball" pitching, but as the day of *'freak"^ pitching is gone in base ball no extended analysis is entered into, and the beginner is advised, as a matter of fact, not to fool with the "freak deliveries," as they are called. They will simply spoil him for better work. There are chapters by the best authorities in base ball on the various points of good pitching. Walter Johnson has something to say, and so have other pitchers who have made reputations for themselves on the base ball field. It is certain that every player who is interested in pitching will find this book so full of valuable information that he is bound to improve his own style. How to Bat. By John B. Foster, editor of Spalding*s Official Base Ball Guide and Spalding's Official Base Ball Record. Spalding Athletic Library series No. 80R. Price 25 cents. It has been demonstrated that the boy who Is a beginner in base ball — and the beginner who may not invariably be a boy — is helped a great deal by the information which he receives from practical instruction about outdoor games. Once there was a time when people were a little inclined to scoff at the idea of instruction. It was their impression that all games were "sort o' acquired second nature." That belief has been well corrected. In any book of instruction which is written by one with prac- tical knowledge there may be one hint or one statement of value which is worth the reading of the book and many times its cost. In his new book, "How to Bat," Mr. Foster, who has been long associated with base ball in all capacities, has obtained his information from the fountain source. One by one the various topics that help to make a good batter are touched upon. In "How to Bat" the value of good batting is emphasized. The "attack" in the strategy of base ball is one of its most inter- esting features. Some think it is the most interesting. For that reason the subject of bunting is taken up, the theory and good n2 Spalding's Athletic Library effect of the sacrifice is discussed, the theory of the hit-and- run play is outlined, the beginner is told a great deal about placing hits, which, by the way, is a sure token of expertness on the part of a player, and the best methods of ''straightout" batting are outlined. How to Play the Infield and How to Play the Outfield. Compiled by John B. Foster, editor of Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide and Spalding's Official Base Ball Record. Spalding Athletic Library series. No. 97R. Price 25 cents. Five volumes in one, and a general and comprehensive dis- cussion of all infield and outfield positions. Gives thorough in- struction how to play each infield position, based on the methods of modern base ball. First base, for instance, and the position of shortstop are no longer played, except in a general way, as they were in the old days. Up-to-date base ball makes first base one of "the" positions on the ball team, and the new book tells why and tells how to play it the new way. The shortstop has become almost as much a second baseman as the second baseman, and the new book tells the beginner all about that, while the duties of his particular position, both individually and in relation to the other players, are clearly set forth for the third baseman. If a boy wishes to become a first baseman this is the book to purchase, because it will tell him how to play first base and also tell him how first base is related to second base, shortstop, third base and all outfield positions. If a boy wishes to play the out- field he finds exactly similar information. The publishers have combined the fielding positions, because it is becoming more and more evident that team work is what counts in base ball, and where the reader can obtain practical instruction on all the fields he is developing team work at the foundation. In the outfield there has been less change than on the infield, but everything new in regard to outfield play has been incorporated in this new volume, and many new points that have not been heretofore brought to the attention of the outfielder who would perfect himself in his position. A most interesting feature of this book on "How to Play the Infield and the Outfield" is the idea of showing by pictorial dia- grams plays that arise on the field and how the order should ho. followed. Nearly every important complication that can arise on the diamond is presented. Base Ball for Boys. Compiled by John B. Sheridan,^ sport expert for the St. Louis Globc-Dcmocrat and the originator of the small size diamond for boys adopted by the National and Spalding's Athletic Library 113 American Leagues at their annual meetings at Chicago, 1920. Spalding Athletic Library series No. 365. Price 10 cents. This is a new book on the game of base ball for the "small boy." It is written simply and plainly from an instructive stand- point. It is of value to the beginner of older years, but its rnain purpose is to encourage the little fellow to develop by right methods his inborn desire to play base ball well. Sound advice is given about pitching. If the learner begins to^ pitch the right way he will get into the thick of base ball with much more interest than if he performs for the better part of his boyhood days as an awkward novice. The author pro- vides helps for batting. He gives points on the right way to play to make runs, and runs are what win ball games. All through the work the aim of the author has been to teach base ball by contrast. That is, to point out the incorrect ways and then cite the correct way, with the testimony of some expert to illustrate the correct way. In connection with the adoption of an "official diamond" and an official base ball for boys, it is assured that all of their matches in the future will take on more of a "real champion- ship" than they have in the past. Mr. Sheridan has labored to make it plain to the boys who will compete in the games on their "own diamond" what policy is best to be pursued when- ever an emergency arises in a game. There are "emergencies" in boys' games exactly as there are in the games of the "grown- ups" and possibly one mistake which has been made in recent years is that of paying too little attention to the small boys' "emergencies." Other books in the Spalding Athletic Library series on the subject of base ball are "How to Play Base Ball," which gives in a general way the duties of the various positions on the field. Price 10 cents. "How to Umpire," as its name indicates, is designed especially for the instruction of the arbiter. Compiled by Billy Evans, the noted American League official, is sufficient to indicate that the information given is first hand and based on actual experience. Mr. Evans' success as an umpire is a guarantee that he is well qualified to pass judgment on the method by which a game should be conducted. Price 25 cents. How many players know the rules, or if they do — or think they do — how many can intelligently interpret the meaning of the code? Although in the past few years a great improvement has been made in the Spalding Guide by the introduction of explana- tory paragraphs in the rules, nevertheless numerous inquiries 114 Spalding's Athletic Library continue to come dail}' during the playing season to the publishers of the Guide. Many of these "knotty problems" are published yearly in the Spalding Guide and are subsequently published in book form with others that have been omitted from the Guide for lack of room. This book is called "Knotty Problems," and has been edited by John B. Foster, editor of the Spalding Guide, and Billy Evans, the American League umpire. Not only is this volume of use to the ball player, but it will furnish much informa- tion to the "fan." Numerous disputed decisions would be instantly cleared up if a reference was made to the Spalding Library on "Knotty Problems." Price 2S cents. For complete list of books of the Spalding Athletic Library series, see front pages. Spalding Base Ball Uniforms Spalding Base Ball Uniforms are made in Spalding factories, which means clean, sanitary conditions. Tailored by com- petent workmen, and have wearing qualities that make them the most economical for the rough usage of the game. Teams owe it to themselves and to their patrons to always look their best. Samples of materials and prices mailed on request. See list of Spalding store addresses on inside front cover. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 005 900 673 3 # every Ainieiic 5pon ana is Official and Standard ^Ii ^^JH ATHLeno are the Standard of the World A.O.Spaldling £rBros. Maintain Wholesale and Retail Stores in the followine Cities London, England Liverpool, England Manchester, England Birmingham, England Bristol, England Edinburgh, Scotland Glasgow, Scotland New York Newark Philadelphi Boston Pittsburgh Buffalo Syracuse Rochester Albany Baltimore Washington Atlanta New Orleans Dallas Cleveland Cincinnati Columbus Indianapolis Chicago St. Louis Detroit Louisville Milwaukee Kansas City Des Moines Minneapolis St. Paul San Frantisco Oakland Los Angeles Denver Salt Lake City Seattle Portland, Ore. Montreal, Canada Sydney, Australia Toronto, Canada Paris, France Factories owned and operated by A. G. Spalding & Bros., and where all of Spalding's Trade-Marked Athletic Goods are made, are located in the following cities New York Chicago San Francisco London, England Brooklyn Philadelphia Leeds, England Boston Chicopee, Mass. Brantford, Canada^