I've seen a couple of videos now showing Ruth taking that extra step during a game - and I wonder how that's possible? He starts at the back of the batter's box, and when he hits the ball his right foot is actually beyond the box. Unless the pitch was literally lobbed, I don't see how there's time for all that movement.

Also, it's always strange to me to see catchers of this era essentially standing up instead of using a full crouch - they must have been very vulnerable to passed balls on low pitches. Anyone know when catchers began fully crouching, or if there was one catcher in particular who started the trend?