SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE LIBRARY
MANUSCRIPT THESES ^ .
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Name and Address College Date SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE
OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDY
August 1970
We recommend that the thesis prepared under our direction by
Lowell E, Littaritz
A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE
RELATIONSHIP OF BA5ERUNNER5 SACRIFICED
BY BUNTING TO RUNS SCORED be accepted as fulfilling the research requirement for the degree of
Master of Science A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE RELATIONSHIP OF BA5ERUNNERS
SACRIFICED BY BUNTING TO RUNS SCORED
A Thesis
Presented to
the Faculty of Springfield College
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Master of Science
by
Lowell E. Littaritz
August 1970 ii
This thssis is dsdiestsd to
My iiothsz and fathss
for thsir iovs and aany sacrificas hot^-S»pT7o'»^7“~’j! PREFACE
This study was undertaken to determine the relationship of baserunners sacrificed by bunting to runs scored*
The writer felt that a study of this kind would add objective information about the sacrifice bunt as an offensive tactic in baseball* This should prove helpful to coaches and instructors of baseball*
The writer would like to express his sincere appreciation to Dr* Clayton T. Shay* Mr. Archie P. Allen*
Mr* Charles N. Boys and Dr* James E* Ganasci.
Special appreciation is also expressed to my wife
Pat for her assistance, encouragement and inspiration*
August 1970 L*E*L TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. INTHCDUCTIuN..... 1
Statement of the Problem. 2
Hypotheses 2
Limitations of the Study.. 2
Significance of the Study...... 3
Definition of Terms Used 4
History of Previous and Related
Literature. 4
II. PROCEDURE IN RESEARCH 11
Source of Data. 12
Method of Collecting the Data...... 12
Organization of the Data for Treatment... 12
III. ANALYSIS OF DATA 17
IV. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR FURTHER STUDY 20
Summary 21
Conclusions. 23
Recommendations for Further Study...... 24
BIBLIOGRAPHY 26 V
LIST UF TABLES
TABLE PAGE
I. 1957 Varsity Baseball Season 22 Official
Game Statistics of Individual Games -
Springfield College...... 14
XI.' Six Official Baseball Seasone Reeults of
Individual Seasons and Six Season
Total - Springfield College.. 16 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTIGN
Statement of the Problero
The purpose of this study was to compare and cinalyzE the sacrifice bunt in relation to runs scored in college baseball.
HvDothesBs
There is a positive relationship between runners advanced by sacrifice bunting^ to runs scored. Potential runs are lost because of double plays and force outs.
Limitations of the Study
This study was limited in the following respects»
1, The data was taken from the records of the
Springfield College baseball teams.
2, Records of the varsity teams only were used,
3, The study was limited to the records of the
years 1957, 1950, 1965, 1967, I960 anc 1>69.
4, The study was limited to one-hunored sixty
official games.
5, The study was not concerned with different
methods of scaring runs,
6, No allowance was made for human error by the scorskeepex*
7» The record books do not show the number of
sacrifice bunts that failed because of missed
signals or inability to bunt*
Significance of tke Stu^
Coaches* players* and spectators have mads subjective statements and conclusions regarding the value of the sacrifice bunt as an offensive tactic in baseball*
It is the intent of this study to give something more than subjective reasoning on which to base offensive strategy*
This study should prove helpful to coaches and instructors of baseball who want to improve their knowledge of the game* The study may serve as a means of evaluating existing baseball strategy* It may add scientific data to the game* It may promote more interest in the bunting phase of the game*
The writer has always been interested in strategy used in baseball and in learning more about the game*
This study will benefit the writer in the technical knowledge gained in his profession as a teacher of physical education and coach* Because there was only limited evidence about offensive tactics in baseball this area of study may prove valuable to the game of baseball itself* 4
Definition of Terms Used
Key aituationa. "Key eituations were interpreted as those situations during a baseball game when the score was tied or a team was winning or losing the game by one run,"^
Sacrifice bunt. "The act of bunting the ball so that a runner may advance a base* It is not an attempt 2 to make a base hit*"
Although there has been some research done on bunting there has been no research* to the writer's knowledge* done on the relationship of basarunners sacrificed by bunting to runs scored.
In 1967 Peterson conducted a study and concluded that a large percentage of runners who attempt to steal are successful. He found that many potential runs were
^Arthur N. Peterson* "A Comparative Study of the Stolen Base in College Baseball" (unpublished Master's thesis* Springfield College* Springfield* Massachusetts* 1967)* p. 4.
^Archie P. Allen* ,9l:: Offensive Strategy and Techniques (Englewood Cliffsi Prentice-Hall* Inc.* 1964}* p, 110. lo8t because those runners who were not advanced to scoring positions were forced out.^
In 1959 Lyles conducted a study showing a greater percentage of runs scored with walked batters than without by the Springfield College baseball team and their 4 opponents•
In 1963 Akers conducted a study taking into consideration the total offensive performance of the player as a means of evaluation in Major League baseball.
Akers states that to advance the runner is one of the
5 three major aims in offensive baseball.
In 1966 Bican conducted a study. The results of the study were that bunting with no outs had to succeed almost one-hundred percent of the time in order to gain an advantage and that the sacrifice bunt was not sound
3 Arthur N. Peterson. "A Comparative Study of the Stolen Base in College Baseball" (unpublished Master’s thesis, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1967).
4 Joseph F. Lyles, ”A Study to Determine the Effects of Bases-on-Balls Upon Runs Scored in College Baseball" (unpublished Master’s thesis, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1959). 5 W. Frank Akers, "A Study to Determine Total Offensive Performance of the Major League Baseball Player" (unpublished Doctoral dissertation, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1963). strategy with two or more outs.^ E, Allen,^ Berry,® Byrd,^ Koppett,^*^ Mann,^^ and 12 Jessee believe that the sacrifice bunt should be employed as an offensive play to advance the baserunner.
A. Allen,Hale,^^ and Irace^® refer to the sacrifice bunt and believe that it should be used in any inning. In this way it can be used to protect a lead or
^William L. Bican, "Statistical Calculations of the Probabilities of Scoring the Baserunners in High School Baseball Games" (unpublished Haster's thesis, Sacramento State College, Sacramento, California, 1965). 7 Ethan Allen, Yorks The Ronald Prase Company» 1959it P* 199* 8 Elmer Berry, Baseball Notes for Coaches and Players (New York) A.S. Barnes and Company, 1924), p. 34.
^Douglas Byrd, Ihffi Chicago, San Franciscoi Thomas E. Wilson and Company, 1942), p. 134. 10 Leonard Koppett, A Thinkina Man*s Guide to Baseball (New Yorkt E. P. Dutton and Co. Inc., 1967), p. 24.
^^Laelie Hann, "Baseball Team Strategy," Athletic Journal. 8:4, March, 1928, 12 Daniel E. Jesaee, Baseball. ed. W.L, Hughes (New Yorki The Ronald Press Company, 1939), p. 72.
Allen, p. 110,
^^Sidney Hale, "Bunting," Scholastic Coach. 15:8, April, 1946. 15 S. Charles Irace, Comparative Baseball^Strategy (Minneapolis: Burgess Publishing Company, 1967), p. 98. 7
when an important run is needed to tie or win a game.
The idea is to score a run whenever possible.
Berry states that the time to use the sacrifice bunt is until there are two outs. He saya it is used to advance a baeerunner from second to third as well as first to second, particularly in a close game and with no outs.^^
Berry,Mann,^® £. Allen,and Byrd^^ speak of the aacrifice bunt in a close scoring game. They mention that the sacrifice bunt is distinctively fitted to meet the demands of that type of a situation.
Hale talks of the sacrifice bunt to protect the lead when ahead. He says this is done with the hope of 21 building up a bigger lead.
^^Berry, p. 34. ^^Berry, p. 34, XB Hann, ^'Baseball Team Strategy," p. 4. 19 Ethan Allen, gfl&fefajaJ,!.» P* 203.
^°Byrd, p. 135.
^^Hale, p, B, McGraw Qayst
Baseball is laryely a matter of chance and probability, and it is the man who can figure the chances closest and get the right answer the greatest number of times who is the best leader. If you advance the runner to second, he has two chances of scoring on a clean hit because there ie only one out when he reaches the middle station. Besides these chances on a clean hit there is always the possibility of an error which may break up the game. Seasoned players will tell you that more errors are made on a bunt than any other kind of ball.
Team play is referred to by some writers in the bunt situation, E, Allen refers to a player who bunts as 23 one who is looked up to by his teammates, Koppett refers to advancing the runner when anyone is on base as a primary rule of team play. He states that some fans and players don't appreciate this. He also mentions that selfish players ignore the advance the runner 24 situation. Bauer states^
^’^John J. McGzaw, How To rlav Baseball (New York: J.J. Little and Ives Co., 1913), p. 142. 23 ■^Ethan Allen, ’’The Sacrifice Bunt," The Scholastic Coach. 20:44, March, 1951,
^^Koppett, p, 24, In baseball I think the number one secret ingredient is playing for the club—playing to win, sticking together, working to help bring in those runs, even if you don’t get them in your personal record. My guys are all conditioned to sacrificing their own records for the good of the ball club. ...I may even ask the best of them to sacrifice a time at bat for the sake of putting a run on third.
Smilgoff writes that the sacrifice bunt should not be employed by a team when it is more than two runs behind,
C. Allen refers to losing games by not bunting.
He states that because a player bunts poorly sometimes the coach feels he is a problem and holds him back from the bunt. He says then the player may end up hitting into a double play situation or fail to advance the runner and 27 it could lose the game.
Richards states that most managers are not using the sacrifice bunt in early innings, but prefer to have the batter take a chance on setting up a possible big
. , 20 inning.
25 Hank Bauer, GhamBijsrishAo Baseball (Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Co. Inc., 1968), p. 111. 26 James Smilgoff, "The Fundamentals of Bunting," Athletic Journal. 26:15, May, 1946.
^^Ethan Allen, "The Sacrifice Bunt," p. 45,
o o Paul Richards, Hodern-Jasaball Strategies (New York: Prentice-Hall, Inc,, 1955), p. 128, 10
Baseball authorities agree that there is a place in the baseball game for using the sacrifice bunt. They do not agree on the frequency of using the sacrifice bunt or in which situations the sacrifice bunt should be used. CHAPTER n
PRuCEDURE IN RESEARCH CHAPTER II
PROCEDURE IN RESEARCH
Source of Data
The dnta used in this study were taken from the official Bcorebooks of the Springfield College Varsity
Baseball Teams fox the years 1957» 1956, 1965, 1967,
1968 and 1969.
The data for this study were collected by the descriptive method of research. The official scorebooks used were obtained from the Springfield College Baseball
Coaches, Mr. Archie Allen and Hr. Charles Roys.
Organization of the Djita for Treatment
In order to obtain the necessary data for this study, each official baseball game was considered individually. The data for each game were placed on a form that had all the games of that particular season.
The totals for the season were computed. After the season totals were computed the data were analyzed.
In order to analyze the data the following information was usedj The total number of sacrificesi total number of runners advanced by sacrifice and scored; 13
total number of sacrifices in key situations; total number of runners advanced by sacrifice in key situations and scored; total number of runners advanced by the sacrifice bunt from second base to third base; total number of runners advanced by the sacrifice bunt from second base to third base and scored; total number of runners who reached third base after being sacrificed; total number of runners who reached third base after being sacrificed and scored; total number of runners who were sacrificed and went no further than second base; total number of force outs; total number of force outs in key situations; total number of double plays; and total number of double plays in key situations.
Percentages were used to tabulate the statistical results of these data.
To give the reader an idea of how the data were organized the following tables are provided. 14
TABLE I
1957 VARSITY BASEBALL SEASON 22 OFFICIAL GAME STATISTICS
OF INDIVIDUAL GAMES - SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE
Nunber 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 IS 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
SAC® 101111111 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 2 0 2 0 3 2
Ad¬ vanced by SAC and scored 001121011 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 2
Total SAC in k8° 1010101010001 0 100 01 02 1
Total SAC and scored in ks 001020001 0 00001000 001 0
Runner SAC from second to third 100001000 0000010 1 01 000
Runner SAC from second to third and scored 000001000 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
Key to abbreviationst
a SAC - sacrifice b ks - key situations 15
TABLE 1 (continued)
Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Runner SAC and roflcHscj third 101221111 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 2 0 1 2
Runner SAC reached third and scored 001121011 000011 01 0 0 0 1 1
Runner SAC and went no further than second 000000000 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 1
Force outs 111302022 2 1 2 1 4 1 3 1 1 1 0 2 0
Force outs -> ks 1002000002010110010000
Double plays 000001000 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0
Double plays - ks QOOOOOOOOIOOOOQOOIOOOO 16
TABLE 11
SIX OFFICIAL BASEBALL SEASONS RESULTS OF INDIVIDUAL
SEASONS AND SIX S EASON TOTAL - S FRINGE IELD COLLEGE
1957 1958 1965 1967 1968 1969 Total Percent
SAC* 21 11 23 21 31 29 136 -
Advanced by SAC and scored 15 6 0 11 22 22 64 62
Total^SAC in ks 11 4 11 13 23 15 77 57
Total SAC and scored in ks 6 2 4 7 14 12 45 58
Runner SAC from second to third 5 2 2 1 S 5 20 15
Runner SAC from second to third and scored 4 1 1 1 5 5 17 85
Runner SAC and reached third 19 5 13 11 24 23 95 70
Runner SAC reached third and scorad 12 5 6 10 17 19 69 73
Runner SAC and went no further than second 6 6 13 11 9 9 54 40
Force outs 31 17 34 39 52 37 210 mm
Force outs - ks 9 9 15 21 28 11 93 44
Double plays 9 1 6 1 2 10 29
Double ploys - ks 2 0 4 1 0 5 12 41
Key to abbreviations(
a SAC •> sacrifice b ks > key situations CHAPTER in
ANALYSIS OF DATA CHAPTER III
ANALYSIS GF DATA
The findings of tho records of the Springfield
College Vereity Baseball Teams revealed that the total number of eacrifice bunts during the six seasone was 136.
The total number of rune acored by the sacrifice bunt were eighty-four or 62 percent.
The total number of eacrifice bunts in key situations were seventy-seven or 57 percent. The percentage of runners who scored after sacrifice bunting in these key situations was 56.
This study revealed that the total number of runners advanced by the sacrifice bunt from second base to third base was twenty. Of the twenty runners seventeen or 65 percent scored. The number of runners advanced by the sacrifice bunt and eventually reached third base was ninety-five or 70 percent. The number of runners who reached third base after being sacrificed and scored was sixty-nine or 73 percent. The runners who advanced no further than second base after the sacrifice bunt were fifty-four or 40 percent. There were some cases where more than one runner was advanced by a sacrifice. This was considered in computing the data. The percentage of baserunners reaching third base after the sacrifice bunt is significant because the runner may now score by several different situations. These are error, passed ball, wild pitch, balk, stealing home, safety or suicide squeeze bunt, sacrifice fly or base hit.
It becomes more difficult to score from second base because there is more of a limitation of situations which allow scoring.
The total number of force outs were 210, The total number of force outs in key situations were ninety- three or 44 percent.
The total number of double plays were twenty-nine.
The total number of double plays in key situations were twelve or 41 percent.
The number of force outs and double plays is y' / significant because it shows ihat in approximately 40
V- percent of the time when runs were needed badly the potential of scoring w§s cut down. The inability to put a runner on second base or third base places the offensive team in a position of disadvantage and the defensive team in a position of advantage.
To find the relationship of sacrifice bunts to runs scored the total number of sacrifice bunts was divided by the total number of runs scored. CHAPTER IV
UMHARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOHHENBATIONS
FDR FURTHER STUDY CHAPTER IV
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR FURTHER STUDY
This study was designed to compare and analyze
r the sacrifice bunt in relation to runs scored in college baseball. The value of the sacrifice bunt aa an offensive tactic is determined. Double plays and force outs are compared to the sacrifice bunt.
This study used data taken from the official eeorsbooka of the Springfield College Varsity Baseball
Teams.
The results were computed into percentages. The statistical results of this study showedt
1. The total number of sacrifice bunts were 136.
2. The total number of runners advanced by the
sacrifice bunt and scored was eighty-'four.
3. The percentage of runners advanced by the
sacrifice bunt and scored was 62.
4. The total number of sacrifice bunts in key
situations were seventy-seven. 22
5. The percentage of sacrifice bunts in key
situations was 57•
6. The percentage of runners scored in these
key situations was 58.
7. The total number of runners advanced by the
sacrifice bunt from second base to third
base was twenty.
8. The total number of runners advanced by the
sacrifice bunt from second base to third
base and scored was seventeen.
9. The percentage of runners advanced by the
sacrifice bunt from second bass to third
base and scored was 85.
10. The total number of runners advanced by the
sacrifice bunt and reached third base was
ninety~five.
11. The percentage of runners advanced by the
sacrifice bunt and reached third base was 70.
12. The total number of runners who reached third
base after being sacrificed and scored was
sixty-nine.
13. The percentage of runners who reached third
base after being sacrificed and scored was 73. 23
14, The total number of runners advanced by the
sacrifice bunt and went no further than
second base was fifty~four,
15, The percentage of runners advanced by the
sacrifice bunt and went no further than
second base was 40,
16, The total number of force outs was 21U.
17, The total number of force outs in key
situations was ninety~thxee,
16. The percentage of force outs in key
situations was 44,
19. The total number of double plays was
twenty-nine.
20. The total number of double plays in key
situations was twelve.
21. The percentage of double plays in key
situations was 41.
The conclusions which can be drawn on the basis of the data obtained in this study are as followsi
1. The advance of runners by sacrifice bunting
is a sound offensive tactic. 24
2. After advancing runners by sacrifice bunting
success often follows. This study showed
that 62 percent of runners advanced by the
sacrifice bunt scored.
3. The sacrifice bunt is an excellent tactic to
use in close baseball gaioes. This study
showed that the sacrifice bunt was used in
key situations 57 percent of the time. Of
the runners who advanced in these situations
53 percent scored and the astute coach will
use the bunt to a greater degree.
4. Potential runs are lost due to force outs
end double plays. This study showed that in
key situations 44 percent of the runners
were forced out and 41 percent of the runners
were lost through double plays and therefore,
other alternatives should be considered.
1. The use of the sacrifice bunt os an offensive
tactic in baseball games should be
reevaluated by coaches.
2 . Similar studies should be made using high
school and professional team records. 25
3. A study should be conducted to indicate
the extent that the sacrifice bunt fails
due to the batter's inability to bunt. BIBLIOGRAPHY BIBLIOGRAPHY
A. BOOKS
Allen, Archie p. Baseball Coach*8 Handbook of Offensive Strategy and TeehniQues. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc*, 1964*
Allen, Ethan. Baseball Flav and Strategy. New York: The Ronald Press Company, 1959.
Bauer, Hank. Championship Baseball. Garden City, New York: Coubleday &. Co., 1968.
Berry, Elmer. Baeeball Notae for Coachee and Players. New York: A.S. Barnes &. Co., 1924.
Borg, Walter. Educational Research An Introdyction. New York: David McKay Co. Inc., 1963.
Byrd, Douglas. The Scienca ofBaaebAll. New York, Chicago, San Francisco: Thomas E. Wilson &. Co., 1942.
Cook, Earnshaw. Percentage Baseball. Baltimore: The Waverly Press, 1964.
IracB, S. Charles. PagfffeWlX Minneapolis: Burgess Publishing Company, 1967.
Jeesee, Daniel E. Baseball, ed. W.L. Hughes. New York: The Ronald Press Company, 1939.
Koppett, Leonard. A Thinking Han*8 Guide to Baseball. New York: E.P. Dutton & Co. Inc., 1967.
McGraw, John J. How To Plav Baseball. New York: J.J. Little &. Ives Co., 1913.
Richards, Paul. Modern Baseball Strategies. New York: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1955. 2B
B, PERIODICALS
Allen, Ethan. "The Sacrifice Bunt," The Scholastic 20i44«*45, March, 19S1.
Hale, Sidney. "Bunting," The Scholaetic Coach. 15»7-9, April, 1946.
Mann, Leslie. "Baseball Team Strategy," Athletic Journal. 8j4-5, March, 1928.
Swilgoff, James. "The Fundamentals of Bunting," Athletic Jpurnal. 26tl4-15, May, 1946,
C. UNPUBLISHED MATERIALS
Akers, W. Frank. "A Study to Determine Total Offensive Performance of the Major League Baseball Player." Unpublished Doctoral dissertation, Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1963.
Bican, William L. "Statistical Calculations of the Probabilities of Scoring the Baeerunners in High School Baseball Carnes." Unpublished Master*e thesis, Sacramento State College, Sacramento, California, 1966*
Lylea, Joseph F. "A Study to Determine the Effects of BaseB-on»Ball8 Upon Runs Scored in College Baseball." Unpublished Master's theeie, Springfield College, Springfield, Maeeaehusstts, 1959*
Peterson, Arthur N, "A Comparative Study of the Stolen Base in College Baseball." Unpublished Master's thesis, Springfield College, Springfield, Hassachusatts, 1967.
Whiting, Gary Lea. "The Effectiveness of the Sacrifice Bunt in the Game of Baseball." Unpublished Master's thesis, Washington State University, 1961. 29
D. GUIDES TO PERIODICAL LITERATURE
Completed Research A.A.H.P.E.&.R. Vol* I-X
Education Index
Hasteg Thesea in Health. Physical Education and Recreation by Thomas K, Cuxeton
Reader Va Guide to. Periodical Ll.tg-xa.tyj^.
Refegence Index, of Ihe Ree_eajcch ■Quar.lerl.v..Jiemllli« Phv»ical Education. Recreetlflu 1930 to 1960