- The Catcher
In catching a high ball the hands should be held in the position shown in the following cut of Bushong, the fingers all pointing upward. Some players catch with the fingers pointing toward the ball, but such men are continually being hurt. A slight foul-tip diverts the course of the ball just enough to carry it against the ends of the fingers, and on account of their position the necessary result is a break or dislocation. But with the hands held as in this cut there is a "give" to the fingers and the chances of injury are much reduced. For a low ball the hands should be held so that the fingers point downward, and for a waist ball, by crouching slightly it may be taken in the same manner as a high ball. - William Ewing
The accompanying cut of Ewing is an excellent representation of a batter, in the act of hitting. He not only swings the bat with the arms, but pushes it with the weight of the shoulders. The position is a picture of strength. In hitting at a high ball the bat should be swung overhand, in an almost perpendicular plane, and so, also, for a low ball, the batter should stand erect and cut underhand. If the bat is swung in a horizontal plane the least miscalculation in the height of the ball will be fatal. If it strikes above or below the centre line of the bat, it will be driven either up into the air or down to the ground. Whereas, if the bat is swung perpendicularly, the same mistake will only cause it to strike a little farther up or down on the bat, but still on the centre line, and if it misses the centre line it will be thrown off toward first or third, instead of up or down. - Ball hit high to the in-field
By far the most difficult catch on a ball field is that of a ball hit high to the in-field, because of the great "twist" to the ball. The slightest failure to get the ball fairly in the hands will result in a miss, and yet this is always greeted by derisive howls from certain among the spectators. There are various styles of catching these hits, but the position of the hands shown in the accompanying cut is believed to be the best. The hands should be reached well up to meet the ball and then brought down easily in the line of its course. If the hands and arms are held stiff, the ball will rebound from them as though it had struck a stone. The use of a glove on one hand may be found helpful in counteracting the effect of the twist. The short-stop is expected to try for all such hits falling in his own position, and also all falling back of the third baseman and in short left-field. - Catching a ground ball
In fielding ground hits the short-stop should observe the general principles for such plays. He should, if possible, get directly and squarely in front of every hit, making his feet, legs, and body assist in stopping the ball, in case it gets through his hands. If the ball comes on a "short bound," he should not push the hands forward to meet it, hut, having reached forward, "give" with the ball by drawing back the hands in the direction the ball should bound. In this way if the ball does not strike the hands fairly, its force will at least be deadened so that it will fall to the ground within reach of the player; whereas, if he pushes his hands forward and the ball does not strike fairly, it will be driven too far away. - John Clarkson
The next point is to acquire a correct position in the "box," and an easy, yet deceptive, style of delivery. The position is, to a great extent, prescribed by the rules, and so much of it as is not can be learned by observing the different pitchers. The position which seems most natural should be chosen. The ball should be held in exactly the same way, no matter what kind of curve is to be pitched. Being obliged by rule to keep the ball before the body, in sight of the umpire, any difference in the manlier of holding it will be quickly noticed by a clever batter, and if for a particular curve it is always held in a certain way, he will be forewarned of the kind of ball to expect. Some batters pay no attention to these little indications; but the majority are looking for them all the time, and once they detect any peculiarities, they will be able to face the pitcher with much greater confidence. The correct manner of holding the ball for every kind of delivery is between the thumb and the first and middle fingers, as shown in the accompanying cut of Clarkson. - John Montgomery Ward
John Montgomery Ward of the New York Base-Ball Club - Hyde Park
Hyde Park - The Good Intent - Chelsea
The Good Intent - Chelsea - Private View - the A.A.A
Private View - the A.A.A - Beasts at the zoo
Beasts at the zoo - An absent desert - the Cromwell Road
An absent desert - the Cromwell Road - The Tube
The Tube - Shepherd's Market
Shepherd's Market - The Chelsea Arts Ball
The Chelsea Arts Ball - Shopping
Shopping - The Savoy
The Savoy - Soho Market
Soho Market - The Heart of the City
The Heart of the City - Flower Girl
Flower Girl - The Pub
The Pub - Cumberland Hay-market
Cumberland Hay-market - The Regent Canal at Maida Hill
The Regent Canal at Maida Hill - The Cafe Royal
- Boy looking out window
- Fireside scene
- Four children walking wih two women
- Frame 1
- frontispiece
- Girl in a tree
- Man and woman travelling with a girl
- Man talking to two girls
- Mother reading to two girls
- Mother with two girls
- Mother, child and cat sitting at the table
- Picking flowers
- Seven children
- Showing doll to mother
- Six children
- Three children sitting in the grass
- Two girls and a boy skipping in the garden
- Two girls kneeling
- Two ladies talking
- Two old ladies preparing a cup of tea
- Young boy eyeing fruit on a tree
- Young boy picking an apple
- Young boy sitting on a gate
- Young children playing outside
- Young girl carrying a bag
- Young girl in bed
- Young girl in winter coat
- Young girl looking in a mirror
- Young girl looking in mirror by candelight
- Young girl taking a cookie
- Young girl with a fan
- Young girl
- Boy eating an apple
- Mother kissing young girl
- Putting a wreath on a animal
- Reading
- Three children listening to old lady