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From: schneider@vlnvax.DEC
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Getting to 1st without a hit
Message-ID: <436@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 1-Feb-85 12:00:39 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.436
Posted: Fri Feb  1 12:00:39 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 3-Feb-85 05:35:12 EST
Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP
Organization: DEC Engineering Network
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 > The "What are 7 ways to get to 1st without getting a hit?"
 > question is great fun at parties, though in my experience
 > it often leads to an argument about whether catcher interference
 > is really distinct from fielder's obstruction.  Imagine my
 > amusement when a friend came up with an entirely new way, which
 > he claims is legal:  Steal 1st from 2nd.  To my immediate query,
 > "Why would anyone do that?", he said, "To run up his statistics.
 > Maybe the guy has a bonus riding on the number of stolen bases.
 > He'll certainly have the element of surprise on his side."
 > Well, *can* you steal 1st from 2nd?


	The story comes from my memory of an old baseball book of
mine.  I think it took place in the late 1800's.
	The last person to steal first from second was Arlie Latham
(or something like that).  He was a renowned basestealer of his error
- obviously dead ball - and the situation in question was Arlie at
first, a teammate at third, and not much happening at the plate.
Arlie was an exciting player, who I believe was once creditted with
leaping over an opposing first baseman to avoid a tag.  After
stealing second in the game in question, and not having much else to
do for a number of pitches (remember the rules provided numbers like
nine balls for a walk and five for a strikeout at different times) he
promptly swiped first and second again.  As the story goes the rule
was soon-after established prohibitting "back-stealing".

			Daniel Schneider
			{...decvax}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-vlnvax!schneider