May
16
Playing First Base – Footwork and Catching the Ball
ByFundamentals of playing first base
- Footwork and receiving the throw
- First baseman should move to the base as soon as the ball is put in play.
- He should then face the fielder making the throw over to first.
- He should have his knees slightly bent with his heels touching the edge of the base closest to the field.
- He is now waiting for the throw from the fielder.
- As the ball comes toward the base the player should wait until the last possible moment before stretching out towards the ball.
- You don’t want to start the stretch too early as that will not allow you to adjust to an errant throw.
- Should the throw be off target it’s the first baseman’s responsibility to move off the base and catch the ball to avoid an overthrow and advancement of the runner.
- Remember, the first baseman will have to leave the base on errant throws. Keep in mind the top priority is to catch the baseball.
- Inexperienced first baseman will keep their feet on the base way too long and allow an errant throw to get away from them allowing the runners to advance.
- First baseman must know where the throw is going before stretching out to catch the baseball.
- The player should stretch out with the leg on the glove side hand. Right handed first baseman stretch out with the left foot and a left handed first baseman stretches with the right foot.
- There are times when throws will come to the outside of first base and the player will be forced to field the ball on the foul side of the base.
- The player must realize in this situation the runner is coming hard down the line and he should not try to reach across the base line to field the ball or there could be a violent collision.
- The player will move across the base to the foul side and receive the baseball from that position. Should it be impossible to get the foot back on the base the first baseman should quickly put the glove out in front of the base runner to get him to run into the tag.
Our next post will cover throwing the baseball from first base.
Until then, play hard and enjoy this great game.
Point 3 says, “He should have his knees slightly bent with his heels touching the edge of the base closest to the field.” This is incorrect. For most throws from the field, the first baseman should place his/her throwing-side foot’s TOE on the edge of the base (so the heel will actually be closer to the center of the base). That way, when the player stretches towards the throw, the toe will maintain contact with the base. This gives significantly greater reach than would trying to keep the heel on the edge of the base.
You make a great point and I don’t completly disagree with you especially at the younger level. As with all fundamental baseball skills there are many different ways to teach the same thing. The way I discribe it is how I learned it and how it was being taught at the Triple A level. I’ve seen it taught the way you discribe as well. Thanks for your comments and suggestions as it helps me improve the content.