No. 4, First Baseman's Stretch: In judging close plays at first base, major league umpires watch for the runner's foot to strike the base and, at the same time, listen for the smack of the ball against the first baseman's mitt; thus combining sight and sound to make the decision. Knowing this, Bill Terry and other star first sackers, stretch as far as they can to meet the thrown ball (see drawing), shortening its flight by five or six feet and causing it to smack into their glove a split second sooner than if they waited while standing upright on the bag.