Norwich bulletin., 1910-09-13
BASE STEALING A SCIENCE.
Still Luck Enters in Largely-Pitcher as Well as Catcher Can Nip Off As- pirants.

Base stealers, beware of Ed Walsh This bit of advice, if offered for the old timers of the American league, is certain to fall on deaf ears,'' writes Eddie Collins of the Athletics. But the youngsters making their first ap- pearance against the White Sox star can well afford to take a tip. I have made close study of the pitchers and catchers of all the clubs in our circuit. and to my way of thinking Walsh is the king of them all when it comes to freezing an opponent to first base.
 "Too many baseball fans have the idea that the catcher is the main spring of the battery-the player sup posed to nip off ali aspiring stealers. This is true only in part. Remember when Nick Altrock was in his prime :? How many American league speed merchants stole in games with Nick on the slab? Not many. if my mem ory serves me right. Altrock had a baff1ing delivery that kept the runners almost glued to the bag. With Walsh it's a case of perfected -balk. and this motion keeps the opposing player always within & few feet of the sack.
 Now and then Walsh gets into trouble by overstepping the bounds with this movement. balk is the punishment, but it's seldom that you hear of the big fellow committing this Offense. In all my experiences I have found the White Sox pitcher the best man at this style of work. With Frank Smith it's Just the opposite. Smith has a delivery that carries him well tow ard the batter while winding up and once this motion is under way it's simple matter for the runner to jump off to a comfortable lead.
 After taking this lead. if alone on the path l seldom watch the ball. h. stead, l keep both eyes on the man at second, who most likely will take the throw to nip the stealer. This study exercises almost in the tWinkling of an eye and coupled with the hook slide, in most cases enables the runner to reach second in safety.
 Tn base stealing as in any other line of work the player who makes up his mind to succeed in nina cases out of ten has his wish gratifed. Make up your mind to get there regardless determination. That has been my ex- perienca.
 The hardest knocks always come at the start Of the season from frequent slides. but these 'raspberries wear off in time. It's a severe test of ones strength but I have never felt any i'll effects from any steals My ambition this year is to hang up a record of so stolen bases. Last year l finished with a record of 67.
 Take the case of some of our great catchers-men who are noted for their begging abilities. With these artists backing up a crafty pitcher. equally versed in the art of bluffing 8 would be stealer, we seldom hear of many thefts.
 Many stealers, taking advantage of the weakness of an opposing pitcher. have travelled midway to second, or farther, only to find the second base man or shortstop waiting there with the ball after spearing perfect throw from the catcher Jimmy Archer's method Of begging while in a squat ting position makes the Cub catcher q formidabla opponent for stealers. From this attitude Archer is enabled to throw without wasting a seconds time.
 "The greatest danger in stealing is the finish Many players have wrecked their whole careers by sliding wrong and breaking q leg an ankle. Still the spikes, always at fault. must re- main. for without these razors the player would have a hard time getting lip speed