Clipping:Catchers playing close to the bat too often

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Date	Saturday, December 26, 1874
Text	The catchers, as a general thing, made several important mistakes in their position. They too often wasted their time and labor in unnecessary and dangerous work in playing too close up behind the bat, and, moreover, were too fond of making showy throws to the bases, which frequently proved very costly as well as useless. Pluck in a catcher is a quality to be admired, but it does not therefore follow that a player should be constantly seeking for opportunities to show his endurance and courage in facing the music of a swift delivery close up behind the bat, at the cost of a loss of frequent chances to take “foul tips” on the bound, which are not possible catches except when standing at full distance from the home base. When the striker has made his first base, or any of the bases are occupied, it may be necessary to stand up behind the bat; but when there is no one on the bases, it is poor play. The majority of chances for catches from foul tips are afforded at the full distance from the base, and not when the catcher is near the bat. Besides, the pitcher cannot deliver with his best speed while his catcher is close up, except at the risk of passed balls. It is not at all necessary for balls from “strikes” to be taken on the fly. It looks very pretty to take them short from the bat, but the wear and tear of an unnecessary amount of the “playing up close” is indulged by catcher, the incentive generally being because it is plucky, and the spectators applaud it. Catchers should “play for the side” more, and for the crowd’s applause less; and they would then help to win more games than was done last season.
Source	New York Clipper
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Submitted by	Richard Hershberger
Origin	Initial Hershberger Clippings

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