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the face of the effectual fire from a first-class club 'battery,' backed up by good support in the field; but it is still more difficult when the base is safely reached, to secure the other three bases. The fact is, a greater degree of intelligence is required in the player who would excel in base running than is needed either in fielding or in batting. Any soft-brained heavy weight can occasionally hit a ball for a home run, but it requires a shrewd, intelligent player, with his wits about him, to make a successful base runner. Indeed, base running is the most difficult work a player has to do in the game. To cover infield positions properly, a degree of intelligence in the players is required which the majority do not, as a general rule, possess; but to excel in base running such mental qualifications are required as only a small minority are found to possess. Presence of mind, prompt action on the spur of the moment; quickness of perception, and coolness and nerve are among the requisites of a successful base runner. Players habitually accustomed to hesitate to do this, that, or the other, in attending to the varied points of a game, can never become good base runners. There is so little time allowed to judge of the situation that prompt action becomes a necessity with the base runner. He must 'hurry up' all the time. Then, too, he must be daring in taking risks, while at the same time avoiding recklessness in his running. Though fast running is an important aid in base running, a fast runner who lacks judgment, coolness, and, in fact, 'headwork' in his running, will not equal a poor runner who possesses the nerve and intelligence required for the work. The great point in the art of base running is to know when to start, and to start promptly when the favorable opportunity is offered. One difficulty a base runner, trying to steal to second, invariably encounters, is his having to watch either the pitcher or catcher closely. He cannot watch both carefully, and therefore he must make his selection as to which player he will look after. If the catcher is an accurate and swift thrower to the bases, he is the man to be attended to. But if the pitcher is one who has a method of delivery which includes a number of special movements which occupy more than the ordinary time in delivering the ball, then he is the man to watch, for he will surely afford the runner the required opportunity to steal a base or to secure a balk, if the runner only plays his part properly. A sharp base runner can bother a pitcher exceedingly by skillful dodging. It requires no small amount of nerve and coolness for a pitcher to watch a runner closely and yet to play the strategical points of his pitching with full effect."

John Ward, who excelled all others in stealing bases in 1893, in outlining his method of base running, says:

"Having reached first I signal to the next batter when I am going to steal. Then, standing near the base, well upright, and with my feet together, I try to get a running start on the pitcher; that is, when I think he is about to pitch, though he has yet made no motion, I make my start. If he does pitch I get all the ground that I would have had by playing off the base in the first place, and I have, besides, the advantage of being on the move. Everyone who knows anything of sprinting will appreciate the advantages of such a start. If the pitcher does not pitch I usually manage to return to the base in safety. Having secured my start, I expect that the batter will hit the ball, if it is a good one, into right field, in which case I will keep right on to third base; or, if it is a bad ball, the batter will at least hit at it, in order, if possible, to blind the catcher, and help me out. In any event, I put down my head and run direct for the base, and in no case do I attempt to watch the ball. It is a foolish and often fatal mistake for a runner to keep his head turned toward the catcher while running in another direction. If the ball is hit I listen for the coacher's direction, but if it is not I keep my eye on the baseman, and by watching his movements, the expression of his face, and the direction he is looking, I can tell as certainly just where the throw is going as though I saw the ball. If he stands in front of the line I run back of him, and if he is back of the line I slide in front. In every case, and whether I go in head or feet foremost, I throw