Clipping:Scoring base hits and errors; range factor
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| Date | Tuesday, October 18, 1881 |
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| Text | The question of base hits is a knotty one, and probably no definite rules can be framed for it. The sharp bounder between first and second base, that Gerhardt or Dunlap would field in a majority of cases, would be a safe hit were some other player on second base. The question then arises whether it is justice to Gerhardt or Dunlap to charge them with an error when they fail to stop such balls, while a lazy or indifferent second baseman allowed them to be scored as base hits by making no effort to stop them. The same is true of every other in-field position. A hard hit grounder past third base may, by the exercise of great agility, be stopped and thrown to first base in time to retire the batsman. The fielder gets credit for an assist only, no matter though he make the brilliant play a half dozen consecutive times. The seventh time he fails and is charged with an error, while a less agile baseman would fail to make an error, even, and the seven batsmen would score base hits. This is a manifest injustice. Base hits should depend upon the merits of the batsman; not upon the demerits of the fielder. If the league managers can frame any rule to rectify this error, they should do so. |
| Source | Detroit Free Press |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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