Science and Strategies of Winning Baseball

by John "Hi" Simmons:

The following manuscript was written by former Missouri Baseball coach John "Hi" Simmons.

I found the manuscript among several other items of MU Baseball memorabilia at a local antique mall, and quickly paid the small price being asked.

The manuscript itself does not bear Simmons' name, and it does not carry a date. It is hand-typed on an old manual typewriter, using a cloth ribbon. A label was on the outside of the protective plastic sheath containing the papers. It said simply, Article by John "Hi" Simmons.

As to the date of this manuscript, a few clues are available from the text.

Simmons refers to two books on baseball coaching in his summary. Baseball Play and Strategy, by Ethan Allen, was first published in 1959. It is still in print, in its third edition. The other book mentioned, Jack Coomb's Baseball, was initially published in 1938, but Simmons refers to the Prentice-Hall edition, revised and edited by Danny Litwhiler, which was published in 1966. This book is not still in print, but out-of-print copies are available.

Based upon a brief reference to "controversies in the professional game between management and players", and the "reserve clause", it might be logical to conclude the date of writing was sometime in the late '60's or in the '70's. This time-frame would tend to be backed up by the publishing dates of the books previously mentioned.

The manuscript appears to be Simmons' review of a book written by some other person. I have so far found no record of any publication by this title, but many minor publications about baeball and baseball coaching have come and gone over the years.

What makes this manuscript of interest, however, is not the specifics of the book being reviewed, but John Simmons' personal comments about the ideas put forth in the book. Simmons agrees and disagrees with a number of details, expressing definite opinions about various details involving the game of baseball and coaching players in the various skills of baseball.

I have copied the mauscript in full, as follows:


A Review of Manuscript Entitled
SCIENCE AND STRATEGIES OF WINNING BASEBALL



My qualifications as a reviewer of this work is limited to the technical accuracy of playing the game of baseball. This being true I will not attempt to review the physical or psychological material in this manuscript even though I have had some experience with both. I propose to take the contents chapter by chapter and give you my impression.

The introduction chapter giving the history of the game of baseball is very good. However, I believe the authors should not become involved in the controversies in the professional game between management and players. My sympathy is with the player and against the "reserve clause" in the professional baseball contract. This place in the introduction would cause definite dissatisfaction with the powerful professional people.

Chapter 1

Throwing and Catching Baseballs

The principles of throwing and catching a baseball are sound and proper in this chapter. I take exception to principles 6 and 9. Principle 6 states: "The ball should be thrown with a cross-seam grip at all times except pitching."

The cross-seam grip is desirable, but I feel it is unrealistic. To complete the defensive play does not allow time for the fielder to sort the seams.

Principle 9 states: "The difference among the side-arm, three quarters, and overhand throw is in body lean and not in arm position."

I do not take issue with this statement, but feel the authors should tell the dangers that follow the making of certain throws. The contents of this book places great emphasis on the accurate throw, therefore, it should state the dangers of making the improper throw in certain situations that might cause inaccuracy. The side-arm throw that travels farther than sixty feet will sink making it very difficult to handle.

Chapter 2

Fielding the Ground Ball and Fly Ball

This chapter could be placed in Chapter 6 "Coaching the Infielders". There seems to be considerable overlap of these two chapters.

Principle 7 states: "The ground ball should be fielded on the short hop or the long hop, but should never be fielded in between those two points."

This principle is quite true in statement, but in actual play there are many occasions when you will need to field the ball after the short hop and before the long hop. This occurs when the infielder charges the ball hopefully to play the proper hop. This chapter assumes the player will not charge the ball, but does not mention this fact which is essential to good infiled play.

In both chapter 2 and chapter 6 failed to clarify fly ball priority. To em this is a must for good play. Fly ball priority for the nine men on the team with a breakdown for the infielders on short fly balls.

Chapter 3

Hitting

It is my feeling that chapter 3, chapter 4 "Bunting", and chapter 9 "Coaching the Hitters" should be combined in one chapter. Since all the chapters pertain to the exceptional skill required in hitting the baseball why make it necessary to refer to another chapter.

My first reading of these chapters did not impress me, but a second reading changed my thinking. This discussion on hitting in these three chapters is very well done. Some techniques advanced in this writing I do not agree with but every coach has definite ideas about the proper methods to employ in helping a hitter improve. I was somewhat disappointed that the authors did not explain the position of the feet. Certain comfortable stances taken by a hitter can be detrimental to hitting. To give you an illustration: if the toe of the back foot is pointed toward the catcher, he cannot pull the ball because he has locked his hips.

The stroke itself is not explained to my satisfaction. You have wrist hitters and sweep hitters. I advocate wrist hitting. This simply means throwing the fat end of the bat at the top of the ball with enough bat control to stop the descent of the bat as you reach the height of the ball. The follow through will be level and through the ball. If the hands are tightened as the bat reaches the ball it will cause the ball to fly with good velocity.

Chapter 5

Base Running and Sliding

This chapter covers the subject material very well.

Chapter 6

Coaching the Infielders

This chapter should be broken down into five chapters. First Base Play, Second Base Play, Shortstop Play, Third Base Play, and The Double Play.

The play of the infielders as described is excellent and fundamentally sound. I felt hat the use of pictures or diagrams of the pivot at second base on the double play would be helpful.

In chapter 2, I suggested that "Fielding the Ground Ball and Fly Ball" and chapter 6 "Coaching the Infielders" be combined into one chapter.

Chapter 7

Coaching the Outfielders

This chapter seems to be sound in most respects. There a few items that I feel are extremely important that have been omitted from this discussion.

The ball hit to dead center field (fly ball or line drive) does not slice or hook toward the foul lines.

All throws made by outfielders must be made with the over-hand throw for accuracy. Any deviation from the over-hand throw will cause a break, its size depending on how long the throw.

If the outfielder needs to make a throw following the catch he should keep the ball in front of him taking one or two steps in to make the catch and then he has established his body momentum toward the base he intends to throw.

To cut down on the time element which is so important in making the close play in baseball, the outfielder should catch the ball with two hands in front of the shoulder of his throwing arm to load the throw.

Chapter 8

Coaching the Catchers

This is good coverage on catching. In this discussion of catching, much emphasis was placed on blocking the pitch in the dirt. I heartedly agree this is a must in good catching. The technique is not quite clear. On the pitch in the dirt inside or outside the plate is the difficult one. On the pitch outside, the catcher should step lightly toward the pitch with his right foot dropping to his knees with the trunk of his body tilted forward from the hips up to cup the ball and prevent it from bouncing off his breast-protector and over his shoulder. The inside pitch operates the same way with the exception that he steps with the left foot.

Chapter 9

Coaching the Hitters

I previous stated this chapter should be a part of chapter 3.

Chapter 10

Coaching the Pitchers

This chapter should be included with chapter 14 "Pitching Strategy". In chapter 10, all techniques described are good but not clear on the variouis grips on the ball to get the fast ball, curve, slider and change. Most baseball books have pictures or diagrams explaining these grips. To the young and inexperienced coach this is very important.

A very interesting addition to this chapter is the general material by the fine pitching coach Johny Sain.

Chapter 11

Preparing for the Game

This material should be very helpful for the young or beginning coach at the high school or college level.

Chapter 12

Offensive Strategy

I agree with the contents in this chapter with one exception. This exception is:

A base runner at third base and less than two down tagging up with the intention of attempting to score following the outfield catch. The author utilizes the third base coach as the starter. To me this delays the start. I prefer the baserunner place his left foot on the base and observe the catch in the outfield then break for the plate. It is my feeling that this is a much quicker method.

Chapter 13

Defensive Strategy

This chapter appears to be sound except there is no method of run-down procedure. Many times during the season your team will pick men off the bases. It becomes necessary to have a set procedure between first and second, second and third, and between third and home.

Chapter 15

How to Teach Baseball Skills

No two men teach baseball the same way, however there are many fine ideas discussed in this chapter.

Chapter 16

Conducting Indoor Practices

This chapter could be very beneficial to cold weather teams, particularly those schools north of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Chapter 17

Conducting Outdoor Practices

Chapter 18

Training for Baseball

Chapter 19

Purchase and Care of Equipment

These last three chapters would be very helpful to the young or beginning coach.

Summary

In making a summary of the manuscript, it is my feeling that it possibly could be of more interest to the high school coach or the beginning coach.

This book places great emphasis on the scientific approach to playing baseball. It is possible this book might be used at the college level for the under-graduate who is majoring in physical education. It would be taught in a major sports class of upper-classmen. Many of these students have not had previous baseball experience. From my chapter-by-chapter report, you have noticed that many techniques have not been spelled out to my satisfaction. Therefore, this book could be used as a supplementary text in a course. It is my feeling that the text for this type course in major sports would need to be more technical in its approach.

Should this book be used as a text in a baseball course it would be competing with such fine technical books as "Baseball Play and Strategy" by Ethan Allen and publish by Ronald Press Company, and Jack Coomb's "Baseball" revised 4th edition by Danny Litwiler and printed by Prentice-Hall. These two books are very technical and excellent textbooks.

In most instances the writers have been accurate in their coverage of baseball. It is my feeling that the material would be improved with pictures or diagrams showing the proper methods of making the play.