The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-08-12
Catching.


Catching is the pivotal position and
the most important in baseball. The
catcher is the director or transmitter
of all messages, the keyboard used
by the manager or pitcher to flash
orders to all others, and the chief wig
wag station on the battlefield in the
defensive game.
Oddly enough, this important posi-
ton is the only one in which the play
ers have failed to improve mechanic
ally, and keep pace with the physical
development of the national sport.
The statement in no way is meant to
reflect upon the catchers themselves.
The game has changed 81 much in
the last decade that the heavy in
crease in the duties thrust upon the
catchers has not only diminished the
supply but overtaxed the physical ca
pacity of all except the extraordinary
men. The position has become so
vital to the game, and its duties SO
numerous and trying, that it is diff
cult for n man to carry them all
with any degree of success. M
There are not ten really frst-class
catchers in America and the team
which lacks one of these ten, no mat
ter how great its strength may be in
other departments, is doomed to fail
ure before it starts. A weak, uncer-
tain, cratic or brainless catcher can
ruin the best pitching corps in the
land in a few weeks, and break up a
perfectly organized team in even less
time. The number of passed balls,
muffed flies, failures to touch base
runners at the plate and other me-
chanical mistakes form no criterion
by which to judge a catcher. His
greatest errors are those of judgment.
his worst blunders are the ones the
spectators never e e
Because of the intimate knowledge
Of batters and base n required
in successful catching, experience is
the greatest factor in the position, and
it Is impossible for young catchers to
meet with great ucces Usually
three years of experience with a ma
jor league team is needed to make q
catcher competent. As the catcher's
throwing must be done with q jerky
motion of the arm and from unnatural
positions, the position Is the most
wearing one in the game. and the
dangerous, only a minority VINO
begin as catchers continue long enough
to gain the experience. The catcher
who can go through two seasons with
out crippling injuries from spikes of
base runners, foul tips or wild pitches
Is lucky. r
Chance. while a catcher, had the
record for getting hurt. He was in.
jured five times in one game at New
York and that night, lying in his berth
lamenting his i'll luck, with a torn
a a bruised arm. and with a finger
stuck into a lemon, he was struck by
a disk of tin sailed up the aisle by
a roisterer and suffered a severe cut
on his upper lip.
The first and most important duty
of the catcher is to know batters, and
the power Of observation and quick
judgment necessarily involved 10
enormous. Veteran batters, of course,
are known by all. as their weaknesses
and strength are matters Of common
gossip. Frequently players watching
during batting practice find the weak
nesses. Of new men before the gar1e
starts. Boston brought a young out
fielder to Chicago who had a reputa-
ton for being able to hit. Killing and
Brown watched him closely during
batting practise.
He'll fish," remarked Brown.
Anything low-in or outside"
whispered King.
Brown pitched low curves outside
the plate and low fast straight balls
inside during the" game and the new
man "hshed." !. e.. swung ct balls he
could not reach. Brown. when asked
to explain how he knew this said:
He showed nervousness and pulled
his left foot. I knew he would swing
Atanything that broke quickly"
held his hands with the
wrists turned too high,' added king.
@and fully ansinch too Tar apart to get
. good swing a. . low bail inside..'
The slightsst shift II position &C
hands. feet or bodygoeSAs batter must