The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-28
CODE OF SIGNALS
 \ VALUABLE AID Chase Tells How Ball Games
 May Be Won PLAYS MUST BE QUICK 
 Good Coaching Is an Essential to Vic tory. For One Player Can See What Another Does Not And Can
 Give Advice
PLAYS MUST BE QUICK
By HAL CHASE

fNote-This is the fourth article of a series on baseball being written by Hal Chase. the crack first baseman of the New York Americans. In this article Chase tells of the importance of a code of signals and the coaching of players)
 New York, February 27.-(Special)-In a. general way in previous articles l have dealt with the value of team work to baseball success. l wish now to speak of the two chief agencies of this most inn portant principle. This is the employ nent of a secret code of signals and the coaching of players. By coaching I do not mean only the work of those too much abused individuals the side lines who occupy the coaching boxB.
 There is a great deal more coaching done outside of those lines than on them. The batter, for instance coaches the base runner in a degree as to when he will try the hit and run. Or it may be just the other way. The manager coaches the batter as to what to do when he is in pinch The individual players of the team in the field have often to be coached. In this case the manager on the bench is no position to perform the office. The team mates of the player at sea must assume the responsibility. That Is why brains stand out In the game.
 Every player on the team must be a coach. When an outfielder turns his back with the crack of the bat and tears to- ward the fence at breakneck speed to intercept a mighty wallop, he is not rum ming biindy. He depends on one of his fo fo1f ciate facing the ball, and with a long experience, is able to judge just about where the ball will drop. He figures everything to a nicety, wind, speed and flight, and directs the unseeing pursuer of the ball just where to go, where to stop and so on. Outfielders have been credited with miraculous catches, when, in fact some fellow who did not figure, 90 far as the stands were concerned was really entitled to all the credit. That is part of the game to which the spec tator seldom gives a thought.
 Bad Coaching Loses Games
 How many games have you seen lost by bad coaching of one player by another Naturally such offenses are more notice- able in the infeld. The play there is closest to the stands. remember two bagger with which l was credited because the catcher and the third baseman each caIicd for the ball at the same time, and then both sidestepped, thinking the other was under the tall fly. This happened once with tse bases full and two out, and won game Cor New York. It wasn't the fault of either catcher or baseman. 1t was the fault of thu rest of the infield, who did not direct whC should take the fly Either could have made the catch easily.
 In former times the field captain d- rected the players in aR these emergen- cies. But the field captaincy today is practically honorary title. An inielder can no more coach the outheders than an outfielder could properly coach the in- fielders. So 1t remains, then with every player of the team to assume portion of this responsibility. No player should call for ball unless he is sure that he can handle it properly. Once a player calls for a ball he should be allowed the chance, even if he has to go away out of his territory. At least no one else should interfere unless in much better position. and then only after the one calling for the play is absolutely warned.
 Silent Coaching
 Signals are but silent coaching methods simply means of letting every player on the team in on a contemplated play and keeping the opposition in ignorance It Is merely a silent language. Every move on the diamond today is planned. Every player on his side knows what sort of ball the pitcher intends to deliver to a batsman. They must know in order to place themselves properly for the emer- gency. It is necessary that the opposition be kept strictly in the dark as to what the various signals mean The fan sees the catcher and pitcher signalling on almost every pitched ball. He does not see the signals that are flashed between infelders and outfielders at the same time. If he did those signals would be worth less.
 Signals must be disguised so that the opposing players cannot fathom them Then what chance has a fan? Now, If but one sign were employed for each sort of a play, it would not take a cunning opponent long to fathom any signal code That is why as many as half dozen systems have to be mastered before the season opens
 Baseball stupidity can generally be traced to crossed signals The player with average sense can master this phase of the game. Some break into the big leagues who can never get the various codes through their gray matter; but they do not stick long in fast company Many sets of signals are necessary for various reasons. One of these is that careful as a catcher may be In guarding his sign. he cannot always hide 1t from . wide-awalSe base runner. Especially is 1t difficult to do the trick when the run ner is on second. Now at second base that runner can watch the ball. He can tell what a certain sign means. The sign must not be employed twice in the same sense while he is on second or he will profit When any one of half . dozen signs mean curve the runner is just as much at sea as if he were on the bench.
 BaIIpiayers Change
 Then, too, baseball players are always