Clipping:An argument for batting average; proto-fielders choice; base on balls an error
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| Date | Saturday, February 20, 1869 |
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| Text | It is argued by some that the only correct estimate of a batsman’s skill is that made up from the record of the number of times he secures his first base by “clean hits,” and the total number of bases he similarly obtains, together with the number of times he is left on bases after clean hits, and the number of times he secures his first base by positive errors on the part of the fielders, or by their failure to avail themselves of fair chances for outs through errors of judgment. In regard to the record of outs and runs, as a criterion of skill, one illustration, among others, is advanced to show that it is not always reliable. For instance, a batsman hits a sharp ground ball to the out field, on which he easily secures his first base, and also enables the base runner previously occupying it to easily secure his second. The next striker, however, by a poor hit to short stop, enables that fielder to easily pass the ball to second base and to put out the occupant of the first base by his being forced off. In this instance the batsman who has secured his base by a good hit is charged with an out, while the poor hitter has his base given him, though, of course, he is not credited with a base earned. And if a good hitter follows him he is credited with a run scored, though, by right, he ought to have been charges with an out; and he would have been had it not been the point of play to have put out the player running to second base. This style of play has been known to occur in a match to the extent of giving a man five runs and one out, who had not earned a solitary base by a good hit, and of charging another with five out and one run who had made his base every time by sharp hits, which no fielder could have put him out on... ... ...In addition there is, of course, the data of the total number of bases so made [on clean hits]; but inasmuch as scorers are apt to be mistaken in their estimate of the total bases scored on hits, this is record not as reliable as that of the number fo times the first base is so made, for there is but slight chance of mistakes being made in a record of how a batsman makes his first base... ... The instances in which batsmen are not entitled to bases on hits are as follows:–Firstly, when a ball from the bat is dropped by the fielder. Secondly, when, if well stopped, it be wildly thrown to the base. Thirdly, if it be muffed by the fielder. Fourthly, if it be muffed by the baseman when thrown to him; and fifthly, when the base runner, occupying any of the bases, is put out by being “forced” to vacate his base, for in this latter case any ball hit to a fielder so as to enable him to put out a base runner, who is forced to vacate his base, would have put out the striker if it had been thrown to the first base instead of the second or third... ... In making up a score at the close of the match the record should be as follows:–Name of player, total number of times the first base was made by clean hits, total bases so made, left on bases after clean hits, and the number of times the first base has been made on errors, which include called balls, wild throws, dropped fly balls, muffed balls and bases made by the ball thrown to other bases to put out players forced off by poor hits. |
| Source | New York Clipper |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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