In baseball and softball , second baseman , abbreviated 2B , is a fielding position in the infield , between second and first base . The second baseman often possesses quick hands and feet, needs the ability to get rid of the ball quickly, and must be able to make the pivot on a double play . In addition, second basemen are usually right-handed; only four left-handed throwing players have ever played second base in Major League Baseball since 1950. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the second baseman is assigned the number 4.
6-658: Charles Preston Cruthers (September 8, 1890 – December 27, 1976) was a second baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1913 through 1914 for the Philadelphia Athletics . Listed at 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m), 152 lb, Cruthers batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Marshallton, Delaware . Cruthers played briefly for the Athletics in part of two seasons. He
12-420: A ground ball to the shortstop or third baseman the second baseman will cover second base to force out the runner coming from first. Moreover, if there are fewer than two outs they will attempt to turn the double play : that is, they will receive the throw from the other player with their foot on second base (to force out the runner coming from first base), and in one motion pivot toward first base and throw
18-811: The Kenosha Comets of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during the 1946 season. Cruthers is part of the AAGPBL permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, New York , opened in 1988 , which is dedicated to the entire league rather than any individual figure. Cruthers was a longtime resident of Kenosha, Wisconsin , where he died at the age of 86. Second baseman Good second basemen need to have very good range since they have to field balls closer to
24-408: The first baseman who is often holding runners on, or moving towards the base to cover. On a batted ball to right field , the second baseman goes out towards the ball for the relay. Due to these requirements, second base is sometimes a primarily defensive position in the modern game, but there are hitting stars as well. Second base is often referred to as the "Keystone". This is due to its position on
30-406: The infield at the top of the diamond, similar to the keystone block in architecture. The second baseman catches line drives or pop flies hit near them, and fields ground balls hit near them and then throws the ball to a base to force out a runner. In this case, if the runner is to be forced out at second base then that base is covered by the shortstop . With a runner on first base, on
36-470: Was a member of two American League champion teams, including the 1913 World Champion , though he did not play in the Series. As a backup for regular Eddie Collins , he posted a .222 batting average in seven games (6-for-27), including one double and one triple while scoring a run . In six Minor league seasons (1913–1918), Cruthers was a .268 hitter with six home runs in 648 games. He also managed
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