BASEBALL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8553, 22 May 1895, Page 4

BASEBALL.

Hints on the Bnties of FJeldegiepi(Continued.), XHH OAIOHBJfc AKS PITOKIB. The oatoher and pitcher of abMeball nine are technically known as the " battery " o! the team, and on the skill displayed by these two players, in playing well together,largely depends the SQcceu of the. nine. Of course it is necessary that the,in«fj«ld and oni-field support of the pitoher snould, be good, bnt half the battle lies in haiong excellent support behind the bat. The oatoher and pitoher should always hare a perfect understanding ..with eitoh other in regard to their? respective movementsStrategy is as important ait element of iuoceas on a baseball field at on the field of battle. The pitohar and oatoher should have a code of signals between them, and , they should practice these signs until they csn rend them as easily as their letters. Thus, when the oatohor sees an opportunity for the pitoher to oatoh a base runner napping off his bate, a signa| should be given by whioh the pitoher may understand, that he is to throw to the base promptly.' Again if the pitoher is familiar witfe, a certain habit of the batsman before him of hitting, at a favorite ball, he should give the cstotie? a sign informing him that he 4 is going to send in a slower or swifter ball or a higher or lower one than ordinarily is pitched. \ THB OATOHBB, Much of the success of a nine depends on the ability of the oatoher, and it is, therefore, requisite that he should be an exoellent player in his position, and to exoel as catcher ho thould be able to throw with great aocuraoy end speed a line ball a distance of 50yds, and be able to stop swiftly phoned balls and low grounders and be especially on the alert in judging of foulbound balls, besides having the nerve to face sharply-tipped balls direofc from the bat. The ordinary rule is, when the striker has made his first base, for the oatoher to come olose up behind the bat, in order to be in a position to take the ball from the pitcher quick enough to send it to second base, in oase the base runner tries to steal a base on the pitoher. When bo men are running bases, then the catoher retires further baok. " THI PXXOHIB. The pitoher oootqpies the most important position of the nine, and the one most difficult and responsible to fill. His posi* is within the limes of a space of 6ft fay 4ft. The rules require him to deliver the ball while standing in his position, and when in the act of delivering, or making any preliminary notion to deliver the ball, he must have both feet within' the lines of his position, and he oannot take a steD ontside the lines until the ball has left his hands. Should ha go io be inours the penalty for baulking. ' He is allowed to deliver the ball to the bat in any way except by an over* hand throw or by any round arm movement, as in bowling in orioket} therefore he can send in the ball by an underhand throw, provided in so doing, he swings his arm perpendicularly to the side of his body and orward below the waisti He should .bear in mind the important fact tb»t this (rue art in pitching is to deoeive/the eye of the batsman— that is to send the ball ia to the bat in suoh a manner as to lead the striker to believe that it is lust coming in where he wants it—while, in fact, it is either too high oc too low, or is too swift or too' slow for the purpose. Moreover, h

•oonld bare.rte^pliMtJftfaoe hot Mb dinotfrom thX^bWMu,' iadeed, ia «> eMentiaL that nnlesf-fae o»n do it without the tlighiMt hetitation, he wiEFnerer aitoh with judgment for h« will be to imprMMd wi^h tlj* idea of aroidiog being hit with