The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1910-07-21
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-
tion 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 so 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 it's duties so
numerous and trying, that II is diff.
cult for one man to carry them all
with any degree OF success.
There are not ten really f1rst-olass
catchers in America and the team
which lacks one of these ten, no mat
ter how great It's strength may be In
other departments, is doomed to fall
ure before II starts. A weak, uncer'
tain, erratic or brainless catcher can
ruin the best pitching corps in the
land in few weeks, and break up
perfectly organized team In even less
time. The number OF passed balls,
muifed flies, failures to touch base
runners at the plate and other me-
chanical mistakes form no criterion
greatest errors are those of judgment,
his worst blunders are the ones the
spectators never see.
Pecause of the intimate knowledge
of batters and base runners required
in successful catching, experience is
the greatest factor In the position, and
1t is impossible for young catchers to
meet with great success. Usually
three years of experience with ma.
jor league team is needed to make
catcher competent. AS the oatcher's
throwing must be done with a jerky
motion of the arm and from unnatural
positions, the position is the most
Tecr'ng enc ir the game. and the
most dangerous, only a minority who
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.
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
ear, bruised arm, and with a finger
stuck into lemon. he was struck by
a disk of tin sailed up the aisle by
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 is
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 game
starts. Boston brought young out
fielder to Chicago who had reputa.
tion 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 ''ished," I. e., swung at balls he
could not reach. Brown, when asked
to explain how he knew this said:
''He showed nervousness and pulled
his left foot. / knew he would swing
at anything that broke quickly"
He held his hands with the
wrists turned too high" added King
"and fully an inch too far apart to gel
a good swing at a low ball inside"
The slightest shift of position o.
hands, feet or body of batter mus
be noted by the catcher. and inter
preted. The first nervous motion I,
bunt. the first impulsive step forward
reveal the intention OF the batters All,
the catcher can order the ball Ditche,