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Don't Sleep on First Base's Importance
First base has a reputation of being an easy position to play. Teams tend to hide a "bad defender" with some pop in the bat over there. The only part of 1B that is "easy" is that you have less throws on groundballs than the other defensive positions. Having a great defensive first baseman can make the world's difference. He can bail infielders out on bad throws, he can start the hardest double play to turn (3-6-1) by clearing a lane and making a good toss, and he can make a great relay throw to save a run. It's an underrated place to have a great defender.
Off-Ball Responsibilities
In every sport, you hear coaches and analysts talk about what great players do away from the ball. When you get to the highest level, everyone is skilled enough to make plays with the ball in their hands or the puck on their stick. What they do away from the play is sometimes what separates the good from the great. Baseball is no different. You need to care about the details when the ball isn't hit to you. There is one very specific responsibility at first base that Rhys Hoskins does in the video below. Watch to see if you can get it.
Cabrera vs. Peralta, Bottom 3, 0 on, 0 out
What you should watch are his eyes. Notice that the ball goes to center field and while it's up in the air, he's not even watching it. What he's checking is if the hitter touches 1st base in case the ball happens to fall. You'd be surprised at how many hitters/baserunners miss bases. But you'll never see it if you're not watching! Hitters are especially likely to miss a base when they know their hit could be for extra bases. It's embarrassing to hit a ball to the fence and then end up with a single because you missed 1st and had to go back. It ends up being more embarrassing for them if you're paying attention and see them miss it, though!
I personally don't love the in-game interviews, especially while a player is on the field trying to do his job. However you would NEVER see this detail on a regular broadcast. You'd see the ball go into to outfield and the centerfielder catching it. Very cool that we get to see this simple detail being executed. Also very cool to see that this is such second nature for Hoskins that the interview doesn't distract him enough to forget about the detail. Checking to see if the hitter touches 1st base is like riding a bike for him.
Turn a Hit Into an Out
Next time you go to a college or Major League game, check to see if the first baseman does this. Also check the umpire to make sure he's watching for it as well. At lower levels with two umpires, it's going to be harder for them to catch this. But at the college and pro levels it should be automatic for them. As a player, you will need to call this out to the umpire for it to matter. He's not going to come to you to tell you a baserunner missed a base. You'll need to go to him and officially appeal the play.
If you are playing first base make sure you're doing this yourself. When you are the trailer on a double, this should be automatic. You watch the runner hit 1st base and then you follow him to second. If the ball goes up in the air and you know you're not going to be the one to catch it, turn your attention to the runner and maybe you can be the reason a hit turns into an out.
