Clipping:Defining an error; playing for the record

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19C Clippings
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Date Wednesday, January 26, 1887
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[from a letter from Nick Young] I have been asked where the line of demarcation lies between a base hit for a batsman and an error for a fielder. I am free to say that the distinction is frequently so fine as to be simply a matter of personal opinion, though a few general considerations should govern the majority of cases. In the first place, I would adopt the player’s standing in scoring a hit. It is, of course, impossible for the scorer to accurately estimate the ability of each particular fielder, nor can he tell whether the players are in good form. While these important points cannot weigh with the reporter, he can just as to the honesty and sincerity of the effort made, and the result obtained should be considered in that light. “Record players” are soon recognized, and should be unsparingly dealt with. The fielder of the future is the man who tries for everything, and allows his “average” to look out for itself.

Hot drives to the infield should be held or handled if they go directly to a player. A first baseman is sometimes to be excused for failing to hold a liner from a left-handed batsman, for those hitters certainly screw a ball around to first with terrific force, but balls batted directly to a fielder should not go through him.

There is a certain bound in the outfield, between the short boudns, which is easily picked up by the skillful player, and the long bound, which can be judged with little difficutly. It strikes a few feet in front of a fielder and is liable to carom at any angle, usually leaving the ground sharply and going over the fielder’s shoulder. If the player stops it he is assisted by chance to a great degree, and should not be given an error if he fails to do so.

To score an error against a fielder who makes a long, ahrd run for a fly, the ball should strike his hands fairly and constitute a palpable muff. These catches are brillian points in fielding, and attempts at them should be encouraged in every legitimate way.

Source Sporting Life
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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