- An 'Out-curve' - the beginning
An 'Out-curve' - the beginning - An 'Out-curve' - the end
An 'Out-curve' - the end - Articles of a base-ball outfit
Articles of a base-ball outfit - Base-runner keeping on to third
Base-runner keeping on to third - Batting for fielders' practice
Batting for fielders' practice - Catcher running for a 'Foul Fly'
Batting for fielders' practice - Catcher signalling to pitcher
Catcher signalling to pitcher - Catcher throwing down to second
Catcher throwing down to second - Diagram of pitcher's curves
Diagram of pitcher's curves - Diagram of the field
Diagram of the field - 'Jump in front of the ball'
'Jump in front of the ball' - Fielder catching a fly
Fielder catching a fly - First baseman catching a high ball
First baseman catching a high ball - First baseman taking a low throw by reaching forward
First baseman taking a low throw by reaching forward - First baseman taking a low throw on the long bound
First baseman taking a low throw on the long bound - First baseman throwing to second for a double-play
First baseman throwing to second for a double-play - Laying out an amateur field
Laying out an amateur field - Making sure of a catch - left-fielder catching
Making sure of a catch - left-fielder catching - On the alert
On the alert - Out!
Out! - Pitcher at practice in the 'Cage'
Pitcher at practice in the 'Cage' - Pitching a 'Drop' Ball
Pitching a 'Drop' Ball - Playing a trick on the base-runner
Playing a trick on the base-runner - Practising throwing with the 'spool'
Practising throwing with the 'spool' - Running to first base
Running to first base - A pitcher's victim. Out on strikes
A pitcher's victim. Out on strikes - A runner caught between third base and the home plate
- A wild throw and a safe slide to second
A wild throw and a safe slide to second - The Catcher
The Catcher - The body protector and Catcher's mask
The body protector and Catcher's mask - Short-Arm throw, the beginning
Short-Arm throw, the beginning - Short-Arm throw, the end
Short-Arm throw, the end - Shutting off a runner at the Home-plate
Shutting off a runner at the Home-plate - Sliding to base
- Stopping a grounder
- The umpire did not see Gardner at all
The umpire did not see Gardner at all - Third baseman intercepting the slide of a runner from second
Third baseman intercepting the slide of a runner from second - We crossed the home-plate within three feet of each other
We crossed the home-plate within three feet of each other - Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth - Throw to first
Throw to first - The Umpire
The Umpire - The Manager of the team
The Manager of the team - The Crowd went wild
The Crowd went wild - Swing and a miss
Swing and a miss - Signaling from the dugout
Signaling from the dugout - Misjudged the ball
Misjudged the ball - Looks like a home run
Looks like a home run - Waiting to bat
Waiting to bat - Turning an error into an out
Turning an error into an out - Trying to steal home
Trying to steal home - He missed the catch
He missed the catch - He caught the ball
He caught the ball - Good catch
Good catch - Climbing the fence to catch the ball
Climbing the fence to catch the ball - Caught Out
Caught Out - Another great catch
Another great catch - Another good catch
Another good catch - A perfect slide
A perfect slide - A One-hand catch
A One-hand catch - 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.