Evening star., 1909-04-11
THE MAN BEHIND.
By WILLIAM SULLIVAN.
Catcher. Chicago Americans

From Morses Base Ball Magazine.
Every player. 1 suppose. thinks his own
particular position is the hardest on
ball team. Some do not have as much
work as others. but they figure that when
the work does come it is hard and re-
quires especial skill for it's rightful carry
ing out. am like the rest. / believe that
the catcher is the hardest worked man
on ball team, that his position is the
most important and that he of all others
must never be found sleeping at the
switch. For he is the handspring of the
nine. On him depends the work of the
pitcher. He it is who can watch the
whole field and keep control of tight sit
uations. He is as the pilot of snip. Ii
his hand SIPS or IL he forSets nimseir only
for a moment the craft is wrecked. He
must be ever awake. ever watchtul.
In. these days OF hustle and hustle,
when the touch OF age sweeps the vet
eran aside, the catcher is the biggest man
on team. He must take the young,
twirler under his wing He must watch
him and teach him and encourage him.
lie Is the one who mas to revive the light
OF hope in the heart of the youngster, who
is disheartened. and dOwncast because OF
a defeat. He can never vent his displeas-
ure or his wrath. His must be honeyed
words-words of cheer. We will take a
youngster just breaking into fast COM
pany. He is nervous and worried aud
fearful of the outcome. This is the chance
OF 4 lifetime, he says to himself and If
don't make good III nave 10 quit. He
steps into the box and faces the batter, a
man of reputation, one who has been able
to hold his own against the pitchers
whose names are by-wOrds to base bah
fans. What chance have I against this
fellow. he wonders. His nerve is gone
and he feels like quitting. But the catch
er talks to him and brings back his cour-
t411- Ill, xI,<<
bat cannot hit a certain kind of a ball.
He gives him confidence in himself. Per-
haps the batter makes a hit. Then the
man behind has his work to do all over
again. He does 1t. The novice wins his
game, becomes a famous twirler and his
name rings through the country. The
catcher has made him. but the catcher
gets not the praise.
II is not only ehe young fellows who
have to be coached and pulled along The
great pitcher has his off day, and it is the
catcher once more who comes to the res
cue and wins the day. But the fans will
cry out, He won again; he's the best
ever" and the real hero is lost sight CT
But the pitchers themselves know, and
Will admit, that the man behind ofttimes
wins the game.
To be a good catcher a man must have
brains and must know how to use them
In some of the other positions a player
who Is not any too quick a thinker may
be able to hold his place because OF his
other good base ball abilities There have
been many players. good fielders and
hard hitters. but slow-wit'ed. who have
made names for themselves on the dia-
mond. But never SO with "a catcher. Ask
any manager or expert the qualifications
of star backstop and his first words
will .'be: He has great head A man
who could not think quickly and sum up
situations In a flash would be out OF
place behindx the bat as the proverbial
bull is in the china shop. The catcher
tells the pitcher what ball he must pitch;
he signals the fielders where it Is most
liable to be hit: he reasons out what will
most likely be the move of the opponents,
and he takes measures to balk them. In
fact, IL q physiological examination of a
base ball nine as a body were made the
doctor would for a surety mark the CATCH
er "cerebelium."
On the field the backstop Is a manager.
He can tell, when 1t is not appai ent to
others. that his pitcher is weakening and
will not be able to finish the same. He
communicates this knowledge to the
bench, and a substitute is sent out to
warm up. so that when the crucial mo-
ment comes the team will not be handi-
capped He gives Instructions, and. as a
rule he is needed.
In critica! situations. when games are
close and slips mean defeats. the receiver
must tie on the qui vive. If pitched ball
ter steals a base, or II throw from the
outfeld comes in and is not handled per-
fectly. the game is lost and the catcher
has lost 1t. Snap throws often win games |
and q run is scored. again he is at fault |
II man steals base the pitchers con-
fidence will suffer. and he may grow wild |
or ineffective./ Once more the catcher is |
the cause. Verify. the man behind is the |
keystone of the arch: If he is interfered |
with or falls out the entire structure |
tumbles to the ground.
Much more might be advanced to show
the difficulties of catching. The different |
kinds OF deliveries that must be handled. |
the various dispositions that must be ca
tered to might be touched upon. The !
strain that he labors under not once in |
three or four days. as pitcher. but two !
out of every three. could be discussed at I
length. Also might tell of the wear and |
tear on the mind always planning and
plotting. But space forbids. In these /