Right-handed first baseman: Place your right foot against the bag, both heels parallel to the base line. Your knees should be bent in an athletic position. Position your right foot against the bag as a left-handed first baseman. You will now have access to all of the pitches used by baseball's pitchers.
Left-handed first baseman: Same as right-handed first baseman, except that you'll need to lead with your left foot instead of your right. This is necessary because left-handers throw right-handed and vice versa so that they can beat out an infield hit.
Both feet: Some batters prefer to put pressure on both feet when reaching first base, while others place weight on one foot at a time. Either way, you must make sure that you're using the proper technique for hitting and fielding. It's best not to guess which method your opponent uses, but rather go with what works for you. If you feel like you can handle more than one thing at a time, then by all means, do so!
Here are some helpful hints if you're having trouble deciding which foot to use first when going for a ball: The batter will usually take his lead from the first baseman. So, if he uses both feet, then do the same.
The second baseman is normally positioned between the first and second base bags (closer to second base), at the back of the infield dirt. To reach balls hit to their right and left, second basemen must make rapid lateral movements. Because they are usually the only infielder who plays this position, second basemen often have long careers in baseball. There are several examples of players who have played more than 20 years in the major leagues at this position. Although many shortstops also play second base, those positions are usually treated as separate jobs for insurance purposes.
In addition to being able to cover ground quickly, modern second basemen can also throw out runners from either side of the bag with relative ease. This enables them to participate in potential double plays without risk of injury from hard collisions. Because many other things equal, teams prefer that their second basemen not be injured. A second baseman who is unable to continue playing should be replaced by a player who will not cause further harm if allowed to continue.
During World War II, many women entered professional baseball as part of the "Rosie the Riveter" movement. Some of these women played second base, including Jean Geisel (the creator of Dr. Seuss's characters) and his wife Helen Kasper. After the war ended, more women withdrew from sports activities, including baseball, and returned to work.
When an infield ground ball is hit to a player other than the first baseman, the first baseman must: Get to first base as soon as possible. Don't keep an eye on the ball to see what occurs. Your first task is to reach first base. Place one foot on top of the sack. It should be the opposite foot as your glove hand. Hold your arm straight out from your body with the elbow bent so that the ball won't go into your pocket.
The first baseman's role is to direct play for his team. This includes fielding balls in the outfield or at third base and hitting balls in order to get people home. There are two ways to do this: by throwing or by running. If the ball is in the outfield, the first baseman will throw it to one of the players there; if it's at third, he'll signal for a run anyway he can (by waving his arms, for example).
In addition to these duties, the first baseman will often run down foul balls that have been hit into the area where he's playing. This helps him win more balls games. He also might run down a foul tip if there's nobody available to catch it off the bat of the hitter.
Finally, when the batter steps out of the box, the first baseman will check to make sure that he has a good grip on his mitts before he begins his motion towards the ball.
You are not permitted to stand in the base path or in the route of the runner. One foot is on the bag's edge, while the other is slightly inside the baseline, toward the catcher. Shuffle towards second base as soon as the pitcher fires a pitch and prepare to field any ball hit your way.
If the batter hits the ball over the fence you have no control over (such as when a home run is hit by a pitcher or hitter), you go after it. Otherwise, you would be left behind if the runner were to return to first base. Since this happens very rarely, we will assume that if you don't catch the ball you will get back to first safely.
However, if you do leave the line of play you can be called for an illegal action. This includes balls hit into the stands or into the dugouts; any kind of force out at any time during the course of an inning; and hit-by-pitches. An illegal action does not score anyone, although it may result in a loss of momentum for the batter. If this occurs then they will usually be forced out by the third baseman.
Since this situation so rarely occurs, we will simply say that if you don't catch the ball you will get back to first base safely.
To intercept a ball hit down the line by a known left-handed pull hitter, the first baseman will position himself closer to the foul line. The first baseman will position himself in front of the base and move towards the hitter when the pitch is delivered to guard against a bunt on the first base side of the infield.
According to baseball writer and historian Bill James, good defensive first basemen may play off first base and field ground balls hit to the fair side of first base. The first baseman then depends on the pitcher to cover first base and finish the out.
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