The answer is that there were no telephoto lenses in those days, so virtually all the photos of game action were taken at first base, third base, or a few at home plate. There are also some posed shots on the sidelines, and the image of Russ Ford is one of them. Not only are there no photos of pitchers on the mound, there are none of outfielders catching a fly ball or shortstops fielding grounders or second basemen turning a DP. (The one of Jack Knight at second base also appears to be posed, not game action.) Graflex cameras had the virtue of fast-shutter speed, but could not yet accommodate telephoto lenses.
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