Question about when 2B moved to present position

TheTalkingWalnut · May 4, 2012 4:38AM

I have an old photo of a baseball squad and in it the 2B is standing right on top of second, not where he is now. I'm trying to figure out possible dates for this photo and it got me wondering when the 2B moved to where he usually stands now. Does anybody know?

I've checked wikipedia but I haven't called the HOF yet. There appears to be a 1931 rule change prohibiting someone in the line of the batter's sight from distracting him intentionally, but I can't come up with anything more concrete than that.

No, I haven't scanned the photo yet, as it's still in an old-timey frame.

alifaxwa2 · May 4, 2012 4:45AM

That doesnt make sense. Where was the shortstop?

72skywalker · May 4, 2012 4:52AM

<< That doesnt make sense. Where was the shortstop? >>

No, Where was the first baseman, What was the shortstop and I think who was on third. But then again, I could be wrong.

mlbfan2 · May 4, 2012 4:53AM

There used to be 4 outfielders and 3 infielders.

One website says this...
"In 1849, D.L. Adams (1814-1899) realized that three men could cover fly balls in the outfield. By moving one of these outfield players to the infield he could keep a lot of ground balls from getting through by “stopping them short,” thus giving the new position its name of shortstop."

Dboneesq · May 4, 2012 4:59AM

<< 

<< That doesnt make sense. Where was the shortstop? >>

No, Where was the first baseman, What was the shortstop and I think who was on third. But then again, I could be wrong. >>

Yes ... you are a little confused. Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know is on third.

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TheTalkingWalnut · May 4, 2012 6:56AM

Ok: this is the cover of a book I have about old timey baseball. It is not the photo that I'm talking about, however, it shows what I'm trying to explain. The second baseman is standing on second, not 1/3 of the way to first like they do now.

When did most 2B move from standing like in this image to where they stand today? That's the question...

Ironmanfan · May 4, 2012 7:01AM

<< Ok: this is the cover of a book I have about old timey baseball. It is not the photo that I'm talking about, however, it shows what I'm trying to explain. The second baseman is standing on second, not 1/3 of the way to first like they do now.

When did most 2B move from standing like in this image to where they stand today? That's the question...

>>

maybe that's just a defensive shift....lol

why not just show the picture you have (it could be just a posed one).

TheTalkingWalnut · May 4, 2012 7:14AM

As I said in my OP, my photo is in an old timey frame and will not scan unless I take it out, which I don't plan to at this point.

perkdog · May 4, 2012 7:41AM

Judging by that pic, it looks like the 2nd Baseman is standing on the bag because the man on first is taking a lead, perhaps thats the way they played it when a guy took a big lead back then?

cwazzy · May 4, 2012 7:57AM

I think TheTalkingWalnut is right. I'm reading a book on Cardinal history and it talk about Charles Commisky being the first 1st baseman to actually play off the bag. This would have been in the 1880s and I wouldn't be surprised if that was about the time the 2nd baseman moved to it's current position.

johnny1976 · May 4, 2012 8:03AM

Unless my eyes are going bad, which they could be, isn't all the players that are fielding standing on their base?

TheTalkingWalnut · May 4, 2012 8:45AM

Thank you! I was starting to feel like a character in The Twilight Zone. I too noticed that all 3 basemen in that book cover appear to be standing on their bases. Runners on first and third. And the ump is standing at an angle to the catcher, not right behind him.