The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-07-18
Hans Wagner Feared
BY League Pitchers
INSIDE BASEBALL
FEATURE OF GAME
Spectators Know Little of the
Fine Plays Pulled Off at
Critical Times.

II the average fan could realize how
little he really knows of baseball he
might be less prone to criticism. There
is nothing more refreshing to student
Of the game than to sit through some
pleasant afternoon in n hotbed OF fans
in stand or bleachers and hear the
9uips handed out on the play as these
spectators see it,
OF course, the fans pays his good
money to nourish the sportj then who
has a better right than he to air has
yiewsq
While the layman doubtless is aware
of the fact that baseball of today en-
braces far more than is shown on the
surface, few, very few, realize the In
tricate complications of "inside y base
ball Far too often are such epithets
as "bonehead, - "lob, - "ivory skull -
and the like applied to the wrong
party The game is progressing with
the times. The team manager of today
is the one supreme power on whose
Judgment almost solely depends sue
cess or disappointment
The captaincy of q major league
baseball club of today is but hollow
honor Indeed, there is virtually no
such office except in case of strictly
bench manager, such as George Stall
ings OF Connie Mack. In the latter
case a field captain is essential only
so far as handing the umplrcs the bat
ting list and in advising officials OF
changes that may be made from time
% time.
Offensively the manager directs play,
Defensively the team, if 1T works har-
moniously, decides its strategies on the
spur of the moment; that is, so far as
accepting chances is concerned. The
fielders concerned always try, but the
one who is absolutely sure OF the play
calls for the chance, and is invariably
allowed to stand or fall on his own
Judgment,
Naturally the position OF the catcher
gives him best command Of all the
situations that arise. He faces ms
other teammates and can keep strict
tab on the bases. If a baserunner
stray too far from his station the
catcher flashes the intelligence to both
pitcher and infieder concerned. The
fielder is ready for the throw when
the pitcher wheels quickly to let the
ball 90. And if the baserunner is not
equally alert he is caugh ht mapping.
The catcher signals the pitcher the
nature Of every ball he is to serve the
batter. Sometimes the pitcher VIII not
agree with his battery mate on the
point. Then the backstop signals for
different kinds of balls until he hits
upon one the pitcher thinks Will do
The trick-that is. of course, if he has
faith in the twirler' judgment.
But not alone the catcher profits by
The sign language Of the battery. The
hawk eyed infielders and outfielders
must be familiar with every sort of
ball delivered. Both infielders and
outfielders have to play differently on
a fast straight one to what thev could
on a curve. That is why one may often
notice the gardeners shift their posi-
lions frequently while the same man is
ut bat The center fielder can see the
signal and he tips off his fellow-gard-
nners. The second baseman and short
stop flash the third and first baseman
if these are unable to see for them
selves.
OF course, the catcher has to be
guarded in his work. He must have
several sets Of signals at his command
with which everyone is familiar 9th
erwise braiDy opponent on second
would get on TO those signs and in turn
tip off the various offerings to the
man at bat, A catcher cannot use the
same sign twice before a rival. Then,
TOO, he must guard against the bats
man peeking back to catch his code.
That is why the backstop stoops in