Studies of which is faster, running to first or sliding to first?

Hi lindaa-ga,

While i don't have links to specific studies for you, i do have a
definitive answer: running to first is faster.  The reason is that a
runner is permitted to overrun first base.  Thus, the runner can be
moving at full speed all the way through the base.  If a player were
to slide, the friction caused by sliding and the decrease in
acceleration caused by cessation of running mean that the player will
take longer than if she had just ran.
A clarification of the rules is provided by eteamz:
"...A batter-runner cannot be tagged out after overrunning or
oversliding first base if he returns immediately to the base..."
however, a player is out if
"...He fails to return at once to first base after overrunning or
oversliding that base. If he attempts to run to second he is out when
tagged. If, after overrunning or oversliding first base he starts
toward the dugout, or toward his position, and fails to return to
first base at once, he is out, on appeal, when he or the base is
tagged..."
"First base and home may be overrun, second and third may not."

Additional Links:

basic baseball rules
http://www.eteamz.com/baseball/rules/basic/index.cfm?m=1,2,3,4,5

books on baseball strategy
http://www.hihard1.com/books/hh1books.html-ssi

Search Strategy:
baseball rules first base
baseball strategy



Good luck with future searches!



Hoping I was helpful,
not_you-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by lindaa-ga on 26 Jun 2002 09:06 PDT

Ok, but the rules do allow for the option, yes?  Overrunning or
oversliding are both addressed.  Why would that be?

---

Clarification of Answer by not_you-ga on 26 Jun 2002 15:38 PDT

Lindaa-ga,

Sorry if I was a little unclear about the details.  As hanclinto-ga
has done a great job of stating, the oversliding would be mentioned as
a failsafe for umps.  If a player were to slide into first, it would
be foolish (slower) but permissible.

Hope this clears up any confusion, and have a nice day!
not_you-ga

Slide into first to get under the throw!   :-)

Get under the throw? From the runner's point of view, it's to his
advantage to be in the way of the throw.

While you would want to "get under the throw" (I assume meaning "get
under the tag") for any other base, running to first is always a
force-out, meaning that all the first base-man has to do is have his
foot on the bag while he is in possesion of the ball. ALWAYS run
through the bag on first. The ONLY reason why you would slide into a
base is to stop on the bag as quickly as possible, and also to get
"underneath" the tag. However, because you don't have to "stop on the
bag" for first base (because you're allowed to run through it), and
because it is a force-out (I.E. no tag needed), there is no reason why
you would want to slide. As stated in the answer, sliding would only
slow you down for the last few feet before you make it to the bag.
That distance is better spent by continuing to run/accellerate towards
first base.

--HanClinto

Lindaa, you requested more clarification. 
"Ok, but the rules do allow for the option, yes?  Overrunning or
oversliding are both addressed.  Why would that be?"

Baseball rules are a progressive, evolutionary mass of language. My
gut thought in reading about early baseball is that some players
simply wanted to slide into first after being in the habit for so
long. There is *NO* reason for anyone to slide into first under any
circumstance, save for avoiding a wild throw from an infielder so it
doesn't clock him in the head! My belief is that the additional
"oversliding" word is simply there to avoid future complications with
the rule. "But ump! He wasn't overRUNNING the bag... he overSLID!"
Etc. You get the idea. I think that word was left in there for
reverse-compatability with the old players. (to use a computer term.
:) )

--HanClinto

Aw, kids.  I just want to know which is faster.  Are there studies or
not?  The verbal types say studies show...valid noise or baloney?

Out of curiosity, I looked around the web and in my own baseball files
(yeah, I am a total baseball geek) for the "studies" of which you
speak.  Granted, my search was not deligently thorough, but I am
generally proficient in web research and have a vast set of baseball
material... err... meaningless trivial data.

My conclusion is that either the "studies" do not exist or they are
being held under lock-and-key at the National Archives. :-)

Seriously, I am sure someone, somewhere did a study on the run through
versus slide into first base "controversy".  Whether or not that study
was a landmark publication, though, is questionable.  Still, you would
think that with all the ridiculous information available on the mighty
internet, something would show up somewhere!

Unfortunately, you are probably going to have to settle for anecdotal
evidence (such as the logical explanation of friction, etc. in the
answer provided).  Baseball is simply weird in that way.  We are,
after all, talking about a sport that admits its creation story (Abner
Doubleday in Cooperstown, New York) is made-up anti-European hogwash,
yet still religiously maintains Doubleday Field at the Major League
Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Just to put in my two-cents, I think another anecdotal answer to your
query lies, ironically,in that mystic entity known as Major League
Baseball.  Do the big leaguers slide into first or run through the
base?  Without question they run through the bag.  You will
occassionally see a rookie fresh up from the minors slide into first,
but you will usually also see that rookie get a face full of his
coaches (bad breathe and tobacco juice included)for the blunder.  This
would lead one to believe that major league organizations have used
logic and the laws of physics to conclude that you will get to and
through first faster on your feet than on your buttocks.

Now watch, Murphy will strike and someone will post a scientific study
about base-running five minutes after my post!  If, however, that
study is authored by Bud Selig -- don't read it!

Thank you Wickofsyrinx-ga!  See, Roberto Alomar of the Mets recently
slid into first.  He was out.  He insists that sliding is better.  He
also went on the DL once for his troubles while an Oriole.  Both the
announcers I listen to and the beat writers I read all hollered about
the studies which show running through is faster than sliding into. 
Bobby Valentine responded to a beat writer about the studies by saying
he'd never heard of 'em.  I began to think that folks are just
repeating this MLB version of an urban myth.  Head first of course
would be the only way to slide if you're gonna.  Maybe I should try
this query under the science category.  Thanks everyone for your help
and interest.