This book was first published in 1915, back when the Spit Ball (or Moist Ball as some preferred to call it) was still a legal pitch. Innovations in equipment used in the game of baseball have come a long way since this book was first published. Back then, there were no aluminum bats, gloves were not webbed as they are today, catcher's equipment offered little protection and the ball was not as "lively" as today's baseballs. However, there is one thing that has not changed and that is the basic principles and strategy of the game. Bill "Boileryard" Clarke spent 13 years playing in the Majors with Baltimore, Boston, Washington D.C. and with the Giants in New York. He also coached the Princeton University Tigers to 499 victories. He, with his great understanding of the game and Fred Dawson, coach at Union College put together this book to share their knowledge with other coaches and players. This book contains information on each position and how a person should play that position. The defensive strategies they cover are still in use today, from Little League to the Pros. This book is not only a good source of information for new players, but is also a valuable tool for new coaches, especially those coaching young people in youth sports programs. This book is part of the Historical Collection of Badgley Publishing Company and has been transcribed from the original. The original contents have been edited and corrections have been made to original printing, spelling and grammatical errors when not in conflict with the author's intent to portray a particular event or interaction. Annotations have been made and additional contents have been added by Badgley Publishing Company in order to clarify certain historical events or interactions and to enhance the author's content. Photos and illustrations from the original have been touched up, enhanced and sometimes enlarged for better viewing. Additional illustrations and photos have been added by Badgley Publishing Company.