Chapter 9 - Outfield Play

Some young players and some not-so-young have the idea that outfielders can take a vacation while watching their teammates perform during much of the time involved in playing most games. Although it is true that outfielders seldom get involved in as much action as most infielders, Lefty Gomez was close to the truth when he stated that he owed his success to good physical condition and "a fast outfield."

Even one fast outfielder who has a strong desire to be involved in the game can make a difference in its result. An example was the all-star high school game in Torrington, Connecticut, in which Jim Piersall was playing center field for the Connecticut team. The ball was hit to the shortstop, who made an overthrow to first base. Piersall had charged in to back up the shortstop in case the ball got through him, but reversed his direction as the ball was fielded and thrown. He kept on running as the right fielder remained rooted to the ground as an observer, and it was Piersall who retrieved the wild throw as the ball rebounded off the fence, whirled, and threw a strike to third base to retire the runner.

In addition to backing up the infielders, there are times when an outfielder can help his team by racing in to cover a base on a run-down play or even by "sneaking" in on a pre-arranged play to take a throw on a pick-off play.

ADJUST TO THE SITUATION. Great outfielders like Piersall, Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, Jim Landis, and Al Kaline check the wind every inning, glancing at flags, tossing grass into the air, wetting a finger, or using other methods to help them judge how far and in what direction a ball will travel.

Their action isn't all physical either. Thinking about the game situation and what to expect of an opponent is most helpful to the player and his team. If he is a good observer, he can discover where the batter is likely to hit the ball, how fast he can run, and whether he can be expected to take chances;and by keeping in mind the score and the inning of play he will be able to anticipate the strategy of the opposing team.

An excellent example of observation occurred in a Little League tournament game at Goshen, New York, several years ago when the center fielder for Kingston noted that the clean-up hitter for the other team was a hard hitter and a slow runner. Thus, when this hitter hammered a hard grounder to center field, the outfielder threw him out at first base. This also required alert play on the part of the first baseman.

Observation and execution entered the picture in a game which decided the championship of the National League. It was the ninth inning. Cal Abrams, a good runner, was at second base and Duke Snider was the batter. Richie Ashburn realized that an extra base hit by the powerful Snider would win the game and that a long single would get the same results with Abrams on second. Under the circumstances the best strategy would be for Ashburn to play closer to the infield and for the Philadelphia shortstop to keep Abrams from taking a big lead.

Snider blasted a low line drive over second base, and the Dodger coach at third assumed that the speedy Abrams could score as the ball was sure to hit the ground before reaching Ashburn, who didn't have a strong throwing arm. However, the power with which Snider hit the ball, the short lead by Abrams, and Ashburn's shallow position enabled Richie to charge the ball, field it on the first bounce, and make an accurate and instantaneous throw to catch Abrams by several feet at home plate. This preplanning permitted the Phillies to win the pennant on Dick Sisler's home run in the tenth inning.

There will be days with a Carl Erskine setting a strike-out record in the major league World Series, or with an Art Deras doing the same in a Little League World Series, when the outfielders won't have much of an opportunity to participate in the defensive action. But this is no reason for the fielders to lose interest or to "loaf on the job."

Just to watch Enos Slaughter run off and on to the diamond is to feel the pep he puts into the game and the lift that he gives to his teammates. There are outfielders who compete with their teammates to see who can reach the dugout first after the third out of the inning. This keeps them alert, speeds up play, and helps them to stay physically fit.

Outfielders can participate in the game vocally, too. In a national high school tournament in Japan the center fielder for a Tokyo team sounded like a tobacco auctioneer as he kept up a steady stream of chatter to encourage his teammates. The remarkable thing about his cheering was the fact that he was shouting as loudly and enthusiastically with his team behind 8 to 1 in the ninth inning as he was when the first pitch was delivered.
 
Outfield Fundamentals

Outfielders should be poised on the balls of their feet, with the toes pointed slightly outward, ready to move in any direction as the ball is pitched. They should keep their bodies low and arms loose to get a quick jump on the ball.

FIG. 27. Harvey Kuenn, outfielder for the Tigers and Indians, assumes "ready" position which makes it possible for him to move quickly in any direction to field a batted ball. He keeps his body low and bent forward, with weight on the balls of the feet, arms relaxed, and hands low. Feet are close enough together to give him quick movement sideways.

CATCHING FLIES. They should try to get under fly balls at the earliest possible time. Then they may have a chance to catch the ball if they have misjudged the distance or if the wind blows it in a different direction. If they are playing the "sun" field, they must learn how to shade their eyes with the glove if they don't wear sun glasses.

They should attempt to catch fly balls chest high. This gets them into position to throw instantly, and if the ball is juggled they still might be able to trap it against the body before it touches the ground. The basket catch has been popularized by Willie Mays, but most major leaguers catch fly balls with the fingers of the glove up and palm toward the batter when they have time to get set for the catch.

THROWING. All outfield throws should be made with the overhand motion and backspin on the ball. As the fielder catches the ball, he should step with the foot of his throwing hand and push off it to throw, stepping in the direction he is throwing with the opposite foot as he releases the ball. The throwing hand should grasp the ball as soon as possible after the ball reaches the glove, and both hands should be moving toward the throwing position to speed the throwing process.

He should be sure to follow through with his whole body as he throws. To be sure that he has followed through properly, he should bend his back and touch the ground with his throwing hand as he completes his throwing motion.
TRAFFIC CONTROL. The center fielder has the right-of-way on all balls he can catch, but to avoid collisions, he should call for the ball. He should shout "I've got it" several times and even wave his arms if he has time and the noise of the crowd might keep a teammate from hearing him. When one fielder calls for the ball, the fielder nearest him should back up the play in case of an error or misjudgment.

Even though the center fielder has the right of way in the outfield, there are times when another fielder will be in a better position to make the throw after a catch. For instance, the ball is hit about halfway between the center and right fielder with a base-runner in position to advance to third base. Probably the right fielder would be in a better position to field the ball and make the throw to the third baseman. Fielders should decide in advance who will make the play depending on their respective skills and the game situation.

GROUND BALLS. When the game is close and a run may score on a base hit to the outfield, the outfielder must field ground balls on the run the way infielders do. However, when there is little chance of making a putout with a quick throw and the fielder wants to make sure that the grounder doesn't get past him for extra bases, he should be taught to drop down on one knee to block the ball. He drops down on the right knee if he throws right-handed, catches the ball, springs up, pushing off with the right foot and striding with the left foot as he throws. He drops to the left knee if he is left-handed and uses the opposite foot and leg action.

Some outfielders prefer to make the "safety first" play on ground balls by keeping the feet close together and crouching to "surround the ball" with the body.

POSITION PLAY. Most outfielders play too deep. While it is true that it is easier to catch a fly ball in front of you than one behind you, players will find by checking that about ten balls fall in front of fielders for every one that they might have caught by playing farther from home plate. They can always move back when a power hitter comes to the plate.

LEARNING HOW. Since it is difficult for youngsters to learn the distance a ball will travel when hit by a batter, start out in the spring by tossing fly balls to your fielders. When they get to the point where they can catch those to the side and in front of them regularly, toss balls so they will have to field them over their left shoulders and then over their right shoulders while running away from you. Then begin to bat fly balls to them from home plate.

FIG. 28(a). Since this right-handed outfielder has plenty of time to get under a high fly, he times his catch so that he is striding forward with his right foot as he catches the ball. He keeps his glove up and eyes on the ball until it is in the glove. A left-handed thrower would try to catch the ball as he strides forward with left foot. This action puts him in throwing position in quickest possible time.

FIG. 28(b). He completes the catch and his throwing hand moves up to grasp the ball as his glove brings it down.

FIG. 28(c). He pivots his body into throwing position as he grips the ball

FIG. 28(d). . . . and hops forward on right foot to put more power behind his throw.

FIG. 28(e). He pushes off on his right foot as he throws with overhand motion . . .

FIG. 28(f). . . . and brings arm forward with good elbow and wrist snap.

FIG. 28(g). Note position of right shoulder and arm as he completes follow-through to get maximum power behind his throw

On balls hit over him, teach each boy to pivot on the foot farther from the ball and take his first step with the foot closer to it. If the ball is hit directly behind him, he should make his turn to the left if the wind is blowing from the right, and to the right if the wind is blowing from the left, because the wind will blow the ball in that direction. He should try to keep his eyes on the ball as he turns and runs to make the catch.

Also give your fielders practice in fielding balls which rebound off the outfield fence by throwing balls against the fence so that they can field them, whirl, and throw the ball to second, third, or home base.
Norman Larker's skill in retrieving balls hit against the left-field screen in the Los Angeles Coliseum was an important factor in the Dodgers' triumph over the Chicago White Sox in the 1959 World Series. It took hours of practice, but this practice paid dividends on such plays as the one he made in fielding Luis Aparicio's drive off the fence and in a continuous motion, pivoting and throwing so that Jim Gilliam could cut off the throw and snap the ball to Charlie Neal in time to put out Aparicio at second base, thus snuffing out a rally. By comparison with most major league outfielders, Larker possessed inferior talents, but constant practice enabled him to make the most of his ability and to become a valuable member of a championship team.

BACKING UP THE INFIELD. Outfielders should be reminded frequently to back up the play on every ball thrown or hit to the infielders and bases in front of them (left fielder should back up third base, the third baseman, and shortstop; center fielder should back up the shortstop, second baseman, and second base; and right fielder should back up the second baseman, first baseman, and first base).

WHERE TO THROW. Each fielder should know where and how to throw the ball, too. With the third baseman lining up as cut-off man on throws from left field to home plate, the fielder should aim his throw for the third baseman's head. On throws from right and center fields to third base, the shortstop is cut-off man, and throws should be aimed at his head. However, fielders with strong arms should be taught to throw the ball on the fly to the base, if the tying or winning run has a chance to score. The ball will get there faster traveling all the way in the air.

Young fielders should be shown that balls lose speed if thrown too high in the air. The lower the ball travels without touching the ground, the faster will arrive at its destination. The ball should never be thrown at higher than a 45-degree arc and generally not that high at Little League distances. Finally, outfielders should be alert. Have them "talk it up" with words of encouragement to their pitcher and reminders of the game situation—how many outs, where the ball should be thrown if hit to them on the ground or in the air, etc. While the pitcher is taking his warm-up tosses and the first baseman is tossing grounders to the other infielders, have your outfielders throw fly balls to each other.

Drills

Among the most helpful special drills are those duplicating play situations, in which runners are placed on various bases, the fielders told the score and number of outs, and then the ball is batted or thrown to them. This gives them a chance to make the proper play and to be corrected if they fail to do so.
A very important drill for young players involves catching balls in the sun field. A boy never knows when he may be required to play the "sun field," so it is important for him to learn how to shade his eyes while following the ball.

All fielders can be placed in the sun field, with the coach tossing balls about 75 to 100 feet to them, with the players shielding the sun with the gloved hand and following the ball into the glove with the eyes. Later, balls can be batted from a longer distance as the boys learn to follow the ball.

It is a good idea for all outfielders to take turns fielding ground balls in the infield from time to time so that they will become familiar with the proper way to field grounders in the outfield.

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