Aside from going out and taking hundreds of ground balls, and hudreds of throws in the dirt (which we already do), I was wondering about some general tips on playing first base - things like:

the best body angle for fielding those throws from 3rd baseman in the dirt, do you try to get your head (eyes) low so you're more on the same plane as the ball and aren't looking down on it?

Things like that. Anything you've found helpful would be welcome. Thanks.

practice body position when making double plays.. Practice hot shots, practice range and fielding/throwing with a pitcher. Im a 1st basemen and i drill these all the time. I've only comitted 1 error through 21 games this season.

Footwork around the bag is very important.

Make sure you understand the footwork and the ability to reach much farther in all directions with opposite glove side foot on the bag.

Playing 1B is probably the easiest position to learn in baseball. The most important thing is to work on your hitting and power. If you can't hit... you're a terrible first baseman.

Are you left handed or right handed? How old are you? What is your running speed in the 60 yard?

Do you hit for average or with power? How tall are you? Can you do the "splits"?

Is your 2b quicker to his right or left?
What is your arm strength? Have you read the information on playing 1b by Keith Hernandez?

Bob Williams

PG,

I have heard this for years, but seriously do you beleive that learning to play the outfield is more difficult than 1B ?

It easy to underestimate the importance of a good defensive firstbaseman....until you dont have one.

The 1B handles the ball more than anyone other than the pitcher/catcher. So he had better be very good.

While rather obvious, its very easy to underestimate how important it is to learn the art of digging out throw both on the forehand and backhand sides as well was the throw that is straight on.

He must be able to range into the outfield and charge bunts the same as a 3rd baseman.

He has two cutoff responsibilities.

He is also expected to carry out all these defensive duties from his normal position as well as the position of holding a runner on.

He must be able to make the throw to second when a runner is between him and 2nd base.

He also has responsibilities on rundowns.

He also needs to know all his pitchers capabilities when it comes to having the pitcher cover first.

It is not as simple a position to master as people imply at times.

While it is true many players move to that position later in their careers, its not a lock that they will be good at it.

Thanks every one for the responses. I'm actually asking for my 14 y/o son's benefit, so I'll know what to work on with him. He's primarily a pitcher who plays 1B and OF when he's not pitching since the coach wants his bat in the line-up (hits for average and power, had a granny yesterday!).

He's played alot of each of those positions for many years, he's on a very good select team, he knows he has more to learn so we're always looking to learn the little things to improve his game. The Red Sox 2004 DVDs have been good to watch because it's good to watch Doug Mienkewicz at first and how he positions himself, etc. But I knew there would be people here like you guys who have played or otherwise know alot more than I do about it.


Consultant,

I'd be very interested in the Keith Hernandez stuff. Is it in a book or is it online somewhere? I have a book by him somewhere (Pure Baseball), I hadn't thought about that - I should go back and check that book out. Thanks for jarring my memory bank. Is there another source for his or other first basemens comments?


Kisling,

Can you give some examples of body positioning on the double play? This is the sort of thing we're looking for.

Thanks all!

Dad10,

Have to agree with NHFund.Dad, it really is an important position. The 1B can make other infielders look good. My point (though maybe a gruff one) is you have to hit to play that position! The major tools of a good1B are hitting and power.

I suggest getting a hold of Ron Polk’s Playbook. It has some real good stuff for first baseman. It would take a long time to copy it all here and I doubt if that would even be legal.

Regarding the DP, are you asking about starting the double play or receiving the ball at the end of a DP?

Thanks PG. As always, good info from you. About the hitting, I think he does well at hitting, has good bat speed, hits the ball well to the opposite field and has the power to go with it. Has always had a high average playing a high level of baseball at each age. Having said that, he still can get better, and will continue to improve his hitting.

About the double play, Kisling put it out there as a general item to work on, so I would want to know about both the receiving and starting of it. Body positioning, movements . .

Also, and I don't know if there's even a right answer, but handling throws in the dirt for instance, how 'low' do you want your head (EYES) to be? Do you get right down close so you're looking more directly from a low angle at it as opposed to staying up, looking downwards and then reaching for it? These are some of the finer points I'd like to better understand.

My son has been playing first base (when he isn't pitching) from LL on up, mainly because of the very reason you mention: a good one can make the infield look good. It doesn't make much difference if a SS makes a great play if the first baseman can't handle it when it comes his way. Consequently, he never needed to be the 'star' at SS, he wanted to be the one to make sure the play got completed properly and the out was recorded.

And now we want to learn everything we can. So keep the info coming folks!

I'll definitely check out Ron Polk's playbook. Thanks for the tip!

Just as all infielders on balls in the dirt 1B will start with glove low and work up. Balls thrown in the dirt need to be fielded on the shortest possible hop if possible. This means you might have to stretch to receive the ball on the shortest possible hop. Obviously when this happens your eyes will end up closer to the line of the throw. The key is, as in all positions, to watch the ball into the glove. You can not commit to the stretch too early or you will find yourself tied up at times. You will normally have your throwing side foot making contact with the bag when you need to stretch (allows for longer reach in all directions).

Regarding starting the DP, it depends if you are L or R handed. Most of the time (not always) you will start by holding the runner. This will necessitate fielding the ball and creating a throwing path to 2B. (It’s important that the shortstop knows what he’s doing to help you create a good throwing lane) Right handed throwers have by far the more difficult play (one of the several advantages in LH 1B) Most RH 1B like to pivot toward the left when ball is hit directly at them or if hit to the left of them. That’s not always possible on balls hit to your right. LH have it much easier. Practice the wrist throw on the run because it will come into play once in awhile on balls hit far to your right. Also work on getting back to the bag and setting up for a return throw. 3-6-3 DP. You need to know which plays allow you to cover the return throw and which you can’t.

These are just a few things, there’s obviously much much more! Polk’s Playbook is really good, you should get it. I can tell already that you would like it.

NHFund.Dad, is correct… There is a lot involved with playing a good first base. If your son can hit, I suggest he learn as much as possible about the position.

Dad 10;

The book is "Nine sides of the Diamond"
author is David Falkner Publish by Fireside 20 March 1992. E-Bay no copies.
"Pure Baseball" is a very good read as is the book Sahuaro Oh. Go to the web site and <www.ask.com> regarding playing 1b.

Joe Morgan at a clinic 12 years ago told the audience "I can talk base running and base stealing" for 10 minutes or 10 hours.

My point is a player learns by playing and talking with professional players. As PG and others has stated this is not an easy position to play. Of course, I was a 1b and slow, but could hit, especially in the "light air" of New Mexico and Arizona.

Another great book is "Camp Ford". Civil War baseball in a Texas prison. A game between the convicts and guards.


Bob Williams

Dad10,

Another little tip to help your son out.

During the pregame & occassionally during the warmups on each inning have his other infielders make an occassional throw in the dirt...and on the grass. Every field is different and the conditons of the day ( wet, windy...etc) will also affect how the ball will react on less than perfect throws.

Wow! You guys are great, thanks so much. Exactly what I'm looking for! Little things -not-so-obvious things.

I'll check all those sources out, it's my passion reading, studying, learning new things. This will be good.

I appreciate you all taking the time to help out. If anything else comes to mind then I'm all ears (and eyes) Thanks!

PGStaff and Consultant,

I have to take a moment and Thank You both for the book recommendations. I sent you emails, but figured I’d reiterate here my thanks and to give everyone out there a heads up if they’re interested in the two books you mentioned.

PGStaff mentioned Ron Polk’s Playbook. This is an excellent book! I wish I had it years ago. Great info on just about everything you’d want to know. There really is a wealth of info here for those, like me, who love to read and study this stuff and use it to help a boy play baseball the way he wants to play it. I have barely scratched the surface with this book, there is so much there, but presented in a good straightforward manner. Outstanding.

Consultant mentioned “Nine Sides of the Diamond” and that’s another very good book in a different way. It looks at fielding through the eyes, routines and skills of several players who were very good at their positions. It devotes a chapter to each position and if you only pick up one or two key aspects of each position it could be just the thing to make a difference in your level of play. Chances are you’ll get more than just a couple aspects as there really is alot of good info here.


So,

For those of you interested in these books, read on: As mentioned or alluded to above, these books are both out of print and hard to get. Or so I thought. They ARE out of print (and in the case of Polk’s Playbook I have no idea why in the world this is not in it’s hundredth printing), but you can still get them if you look around. I hit the jackpot with just a couple of keystrokes. Amazon has them listed, and Amazon has associated Used Booksellers, essentially bookdealers who they’ve made arrangements with and you just go thru Amazon like you would with new books, the billing goes thru Amazon, they just get shipped from the Used bookseller. Go to Amazon.com, Do a search for the books, and then click on the Used Copies link. You should be directed to a list of all available copies and the bookseller info.

Anyway, they had both books. “Nine Sides . . . .” was easily to be had for – get ready for this . . . 53 cents! (Plus $4 shipping, but hey, still a great deal!) “Ron Polk’s Playbook” was a bit different, they had copies available for . . .gulp . . $212 (ouch!) but in looking through all the available ones there, I found one for $45. Not a bad deal, and having now gotten it, it is well worth it.

One of the great things about the whole thing was that both books arrived at my house on the same day, about one week after I ordered them. So now my summer reading has just been altered big time.

So, to wrap up a long post, THANKS AGAIN to PGStaff and Consultant, these books will be put to good use.

The Ron Polk book is in print - search Amazon with the title

The Baseball Play Book ... 34.95....

I don't know if this will help but I hope it does. What I teach my guys is to walk into the throw (also stretch into the throw if possible). Let's go with a right handed 1B - non holding situation I teach that they watch where the ball is going while they head to the bag. Once they are comfortable in knowing where to look when they find the bag then turn head to find bag.

Take the left foot and hit the bag to "find" it then put the left foot just beside the inside / infield side of the bag while the right foot sets up on the bag. Big thing is to stay square to the person throwing the ball (keep his front shoulder inside your shoulders).

Track the flight of the ball and extend the left foot (still balanced if a good throw) and you should be able to use this stride to leave the bag just after you catch it.

Basically you are walking with a big stride to catch the ball.

Left handed 1B is basically the same thing except the left foot goes on the bag and stays.

In my opinion never catch a ball cross footed (RH 1B the left foot stays on bag and extend with right foot) I have never thought that all the footwork some people teach is really that much beneficial. I would rather have them set up comfortably and come completely off the bag to catch it than try to do all that footwork and catch a ball in a difficult spot. Better the runner safe at first with a chance at a doubleplay than try to do fancy stuff and lose the ball and he end up on 2B.

On a ball inside the mound or something from the catcher then place the left foot on the bag (either handed 1B) and keep the thrower between your shoulders. This way you are able to shift inside / outside on throws. (I guess I contradicted myself on the cross footed stuff but I hope you understand)

I hope this helps.

heres a simple tip, i'm surprised no ones mentioned it. If you see its going to be an overthrow, but one you might get, this is what many fb do. when they are standing on the ground waiting for the ball they jump. to get a few more inches simply stand on the base and get a push off it. it'll get you 2-3 inches. the difference between 0ne or two extra bases and an out. just don't get your push from the center of the bag. you could get toasted.

one of your members said to get the ball only on a short hop. i suppose he doesn't want to get an in between hop, but many plays can be made with long hops to. plays esp. in foul territory when you have time where your push into foul territory instead of toward the throw and the other play is when you see a fielder make an unbelievable play and purposefully bounce the ball for a long hop as seen on quick turn and esp. artificial turf.

according to ripkin baseball, not me, start initially to get to the bag in plenty of time to receive the ball by putting the heel of your throwing foot on the bag. practice by having the coach in the middle infield throw fieldable balls and have the fielder stretch at the same time, reaching with the glove and stretching with the glove leg at the same time. the foot should hit the ground the same time as the ball hits the glove. make sure not to stretch until the ball is thrown.

I can't agree more, good first baseman are few and far between Great first baseman like Kieth Hernandez, Mark Grace, Don Mattingly are not the status quo today, they want the big guy who hit bombs, defense is not that important. Look at most college teams they do not have legitimate first sackers, they also are not recruited like other players often not at all. Ask North Carolina a true firstbaseman has that throw no problem it wasn't that bad. Any body can catch the easy ones. Gil Hodges has a book I believe, he was a great first baseman. I prefer the old school approach not done much any more.Do not plant your foot on the bag stradle the bag and learn to shift feet according to where the throw is I.E right field side of bag, left foot on left side of bag the opposite for home plate side , although there are time you can stretch further crossing legs and backhanding , this comes with expertise
learn the dance as they say stay light on your feet and as at any position move those feet

Excellent... First Base is the greatest.... Take tons of scoops man because they will get you noticed and they will help you when you branch to full infield!