The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-08-28
FORMER FARGO
CAYCHER'S WORK

Did you ever see the squat throw ?''
If not, watch Jimmy Archer some aft
ernoon when Chicago's National league
Cubs are performing at West Side park
and the enemy gets runner on bases
at some particular moment. Unless
that runner hugs the base mighty
close the chances are all against his
getting back to it before Jimmy's
SQUAT" throw nails him and spoils the
budding rally. says The Chicago Daily
News.
AS a thrower to bases there is no
catcher In the game today that is the
equal of Chances regular backstop,
who has filled in the shoes of the
absent Johnny King far better than
most opponents Of the worlds cham
pions like to admit. Players in the
National league have come to dread
his wing and attempt little base
stealing when Archer is behind the bar
for the world beaters. Harry Lumley.
manager of the Brooklyn club, voiced
the general sentiment of players in the
league when he said the other day:
It's no use trying to run bases on
that fellow Archer; he keeps every one
glude to the bag with that snap throw
and there's no chance to get ANYTHING
of lead on him. If we could guess
just when he is going to drop a pitched
oall or make bad throw we'd take a
chance now and then, but he seldom
does those things, and so our stolen
bases are all the result Of accident al
most never a real steal on Archer"
Archer's throwing has gained him
fame all over the country, but there are
two worlds records that he holds that
have seldom been heard Of. Both Of
them were gained at the expense OF the
Memphis club of the Southern league.
when Archer was catching for Atlanta.
The first one was catching three men
off base In one inning on four pitched
balls; the other was catching seven
runners off first in one game
In the first instance Memphis filed
the bases with none out. When the
next batter came up the first bali
pitched was strike. Archer shot II
down to the shortstop and the runner
at second was nailed. The second bali |
pitched was also a strike and this time
Jim, using the squat throw" as on |
his first attempt, lined the ball to |
the third baseman and caught the run
ner there flatfooted. Then Archer
signed the pitcher to pitch out" and /
a ball was wasted on the batter. The
fourth was ball" and this time /
Archer shot 1t to the first baseman and
ths runner there caught. retiring the
side.
Archer also holds a peculiar record Il
in game played against New Orleans.
Otto Williams, once a Cub, was with
the Pelicans, and, talking OF inns i
throwing ability, Otto was rash enough /
TO make bet with friend OF $50
that In the series OF four games he /
would average one stolen base to q
game. Archer was told OF this ana
Williams had his chance Every time
Otto came to bat in these four games
Archer purposely walked him and. al
though he tried several times to 20
down TO second, he not only failed to
accomplish the steal, but was caught
mapping or first several times. also.
This squat throw" rs made when
The catcher is sitting on his heels. IN
the position he assumes when signaling
The pitcher. In this position It is i'm
possible for the base runner to tell
when he is going to make the throw
md Jim can do II with so little appar-
mt effort 10 any base i'm the diamond
hat runners know they must stick
lose or they will be caught before
hey can get back
James r. Archer ia his full name