The Republican., 1896-04-30
SIGNALS THE PITCHER.
How the Baseball Catcher Communicates
with the Pitcher.

with the Pitcher.
Baseball cranks are all familiar with
the fact that to be successful pitcher
must govern his delivery by signs
which he receives from his catcher.
But very few enthusiasts know how
these signs are given. There are va
rious methods in vogue, but as rule
they do not last long, for eagle-eyed
players soon discover them, and that
knocks them sky high. All a catcher
cares to know is whether his pitcher
is about to throw a curve or a straight
ball. This IS absolutely necessary i'll
order to prevent a passed ball, and the
signs that the catcher gives are also
help to the infelders, who watch for
them, to play their positions properly.
In these days the most effective meth
cd used by catchers in giving signs is
by placing the fingers of the right hand
in the center of the big mitt worn on
the left hand. The catcher stoops until
one knee rests upon the ground and
then turns the inside of the mitt toward
the pitcher. If he puts one finger in
the middle of the mitt it means a
SUI VIZ NJ Ddll vi ali lusoIlOOU, TWO IlnRerS
in the mitt call for a curved ball, and
all the fingers punched is the signal for
slow ball. The only trouble found
with this method is that if man is on
second base he can readily see the signs
and make them known to the batsman.
Some catchers have another way of
doing the act which is also considered
good. They place their hands upon
their knees and work their arms. If
the arms are perfectly straight the
pitcher knows that a straight ball is
wanted; if the elbows are bent out Il
curve ball is the proper caper. Catchers
sometimes work their hands while they
are resting on the knees. With the
fingers of both hands turned in it
means a straight ball or an inshoot,
while putting the fingers on the OUT
side of the knees signifies curve.
Working with the feet is also popular
with some backstops. BY turning the
toes of the shoes out a curve must fol-
low, while straight fast ball is called
for by standing with the feet parallel.
In this method it is necessary to do
some taking by moving the feet
about so as to throw off watchfuI
coachers. doc" Bushong, the veteran
catcher, had a system that he clung to
while a member of the ST. Louis cham
pions. He held his hands out with the
palms together and moved them back
and forth in this way: BY holding
them on a line with the outside corner
of the plate he gave sign for curve;
with his hands on a line with the in
side corner of the plate he called for
an inshoot, and by putting them be-
hind the center of the rubber he asked
for fast one right over.
In order to be even more puZzling
several league receivers" give signs
with their mouths. They put their
hands over the sides of their masks
and open their mouths for curve, and
keep them closed for a shoot. At times
they also wink their eyes on the same
principle. Mike Kelly had some novel
signs that were not discovered for a
long time. When lie caught a ia HE he.
threw it back to the pitcher in a certain
way. If his throw was overland it
meant that the next ball had to be
straight, while ar underhand or round.
arm throw told the pitcher that "Kel'
wanted a curve.
Last year Dad Clarke and Schriver,
his catcher, had laughable experience
in a game played at Boston. Dad told
Schriver to turn one foot out for
curve and one in for straight. Tho
game was close and both teams were
fighting hard to win, when suddenly
Clarke put on a look of disgust and
pointed at Schrivers feet. The red
faced catcher had become ratified and
stood behind the bat with both feet
turned in. Clarke walked up to him and
said:
whats the matter with yer feet,
cull?"
Il can't control 'em, Dad!" said Bill,
dejectedly, whereupon Clarke whis-
pered:
''Well, wink your eyes, then!"
81 can't do that, Dad" replied
Schriver, for me eyes are too smalI."
Then Dad walked back to the box and
tossed them in any way, while his
catcher was kept on the jump until he
wilted.-N. Y. Sun.