Salt Lake Tribune | 1911-03-12 | Page 38 | Lajoie Invents Play

LAJOIE INVENTS PLAyIJ Lnrry Lajolc of tho Cleveland club is credited with Inventing n play which greatly reduced tho crfectlvonefls of the hit-and-run and which limits tliat stylo of play to bntters who can hit to rltfht Mold. A bluff start by iho runner on first, when tho hit-and-run wns to be played, Hhowcd whether tho second baseman or shortstop would cover hocqiuI to take the throw, and thu batter tried to hit through the position io bo left unguarded. Larry snw that this could bo broken up by .switching' orders on eoverlug second. It was a Hlmple play, but, had long been overlooked. The batter, instead of hitting hit-ting through an unguarded position, hit Intii a aura double plnv If he mndo u grounder. That w.-i the ondoTiTJHi start io see who v.fould cover. 'SH Tho necessity of both thn sccoini'lH man and the shortstop bolnc ah&' il out rimnern wns another reiuili nKH rys play. It nnturnlly followed. thtJH bettor Inneldor at putting th ljallo?H runner would taltc most of tho iEH The batter tried to hit thniilRB mrong players territory, lalclnc9' ttH granted that lie would cover EccSrwittlH inileldcrs at second begnn to dlvttldH work according to. the batters bcln?vH nr loft field hitlers. DCnS.ra Tho hit-and-run has com" te hail aldercd a nnd play only when th&'vH lor can hit thu ball between tlia Arlfl second busman. As fetv can do thuHI hit-and-run has ceasod to be thoyl of any one train.