Base Running, 25 Ways To Score From Third Base, But Not From Second Base!

Base running, 25 ways to score from third base; but not second base. Who would think there were that many, or better yet, who would take the time to write them down?

That someone is the legendary Gordie Gillespie, longtime baseball, basketball and football coach. With a list of accomplishments far too numerous to list in this section, Gordie might best be described by a quote associated with Paul Bear Bryant, the late, great Alabama Football Coach.

It was said of Bryant, "he could take his and beat yours, or he could take yours and beat his." Within a few minutes conversation with Gordie, you realize he has that same presence and that you are in for a tremendous experience. This is someone you immediately would love to play for, or coach with.

In the 90's I had the opportunity to meet this true legend of American Baseball, Gordie Gillespie. The initial meeting was in conjunction with football, as my best friend had just been hired as the head football coach at our high school and I was to become his offensive coordinator.

He was fortunate to have played high school football for Gordie in Illinois, and we met with him while he was in Arizona on vacation, to help develop our offense.

I probably shouldn't admit this; but as the meeting progressed I was planning how I could arrange to spend some time with Gordie to talk baseball. My playing days far behind me, I had been coaching high school baseball a little over 20 years and was, still am, always on the lookout for a better way to do things.

The football meeting was tremendous, as was my subsequent baseball meeting with Gordie. There is the vast knowledge of how to go about teaching baseball skills; but the overriding component is his true love and respect for the game of baseball and his players.

It is more than just a game, "BASEBALL IS LIFE," as Gordie once said on national television. I have found it to be just that, in my 45 plus years of ~ Life in Baseball.

The first component of my offensive baseball philosophy has always been, get a runner to third base with less than two outs.

I had always based that on the scoring possibilities of the sacrifice fly, the squeeze bunt, or the passed ball / wild pitch. While reading Gordies list of 25 ways to score from third base, it provided me with an in depth awareness of why we do things.

To follow is that list, with all credit for its' content to Gordie Gillespie, without a doubt the most inspirational baseball coach I have ever met.

Base Running Tips ~ From the Dugout

Base running, 25 ways to score from third base, is solid ground upon which to build your offensive philosophy.

Each situation on the list happens with varying degrees of frequency; but all contain one common thread, none of the 25 become a possibility until a base runner is occupying third base.

Once that base runner is on third base, the pressure on the defense increases. In many situations it makes the defense adjust and move, creating gaps in the defense, increasing the hitters chances of being successful.

25 Ways To Score From Third Base ~ But Not From Second Base!

1. A balk.



2. Catchers' interference.



3. Wild Pitch.



4. Passed ball.



5. Hard hit ground ball through the infield and directly in front of an outfielder.



6. An error by an infielder which eludes him by more than 10 feet.



7. Short pop up just beyond the infield, that is dropped by a fielder.



8. Short line drive or a bloop single just over the infield.



9. Sacrifice fly.



10. Fair pop up dropped by an infielder with 2 outs.



11. Fly ball dropped by an outfielder.



12. Bases loaded walk.



13. Bases loaded hit batter.



14. Wild throw by the catcher, back to the pitcher.



15. Ground ball, early in the game, runners on 1B and 3B, no outs and the defense decides to go for the double play.



16. Wild throw by the pitcher attempting to pick runner off 3B.



17. Wild throw by pitcher attempting to pick runner off 1B.



18. Wild throw by catcher in attempting to pick the runner off third base.



19. Wild throw by catcher attempting to throw out runner trying to steal 2B.



20. Dropped throw from catcher on an attempted steal of 2B.



21. Runners on 1B and 3B, less than two outs, the runner on 1B heads for 2B, the catcher throws to the cutoff man, who makes a wild throw back to the catcher.



22. Suicide squeeze bunt.



23. Steal of home.



24. Wild throw by an infielder attempting to throw out the batter at 1B.



25. Interference by an infielder during a rundown play at third base ( note: Although the base runner may even be heading back toward third base when he is interfered with, he is nevertheless permitted to score because an obstructed runner is awarded at least one base beyond the base he last legally touched. )