Clipping:Scoring stolen bases; earned runs

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Date Wednesday, May 4, 1887
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[Nick Young's circular to scorers] In reviewing the new code with a view to ascertaining if there are any points to which the attention of the official scorers should be drawn, I have come upon the provision crediting a stolen base to a runner where the same is secured through the assistance of a misplay other than a battery error—an overthrown or fumble, for example. The philosophy of this credit is perfectly logical. The runner earns a base by making a daring attempt to secure it, and if successful, even though assisted by an error, deserves the point. These credits will, of course, be included in your official returns of stolen bases.

We now come, however, to the point which I desire to emphasize. This query has been propounded to me:--”Suppose a player reaches first on a hit, steals second on a fumble of the baseman, and is bated home, is the run earned?” I answer no. the reason is obvious, but the point should be carefully borne in mind in filling out the earned run blank in your score sheets. Earned runs, it should be remembered, are not credited to individual, nor do they have any particular bearing upon the status of a club in making up the averages which constitute the monthly and annual records. They are important factors, however, in gauging the effectiveness of a pitcher, and it is in this light alone that they should be regarded. It is then manifestly unfair to charge a pitcher with a run earned off his delivery when bases secured by fielding errors are essential factors in it. Obviously the pitcher can in no way be responsible for a muff by the baseman or overthrow by the catcher. In computing earned runs, therefore, you will scan your scores carefully and omit tallies in which the stolen base, assisted by an error, is a necessary element.

Source Sporting Life
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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