Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-04
USE Of SIGNALS
ON THE DIAMOND
Clever Systems Of Wireless Com
munication in All
Leagues.
JENNINGS AND NcGRAW
LEAD IN CLEVERNESS
Coaching Has Been Reduced to Fine
Art by Base Ball
Teams.

In these days OF specialist players 10
have crack pinch hitters in contrast with
all-around hard sluggers. lightning base
stealers playing against those who rely on
sacrifice hunts and a whole throng OF
players who are experts in their specific
departments. says Percy Harris0n In the
Baltimore Globe. No player. however. re-
lies entirely on his own knowledge and
skill. but he keeps his attention on the
system OF signals used in his club.
Every now and then some wise lad who
watches his base ball closely, sits down
and grinds out a tale endeavoring 10 show
just how important signals are In base
ball. And promptly some person on the
side lines arises. emits a derisive boot
and proceeds to devote columns OF val
liable space to knocking the signal story.
Right here and now / want to line up
with the lads who are strong for tho sig
nal thing. There is no doubt the signals
play a mighty important part in base
ball. not only In the two big leagues. but
In every league team In the country. In
fact. 1t would be pretty hard TO find
first-class amateur team which isn't there
with the signals.
And by signals I do not mean the sig
nails the catchers use 20 put the pitchers
wise. mean the signals for the shifting
OF players for certain batters. signals
warning the infielders just when the
pitcher Is about to offer the batter. sig
nails stipulating which man shall take the
throw at second, and these signals are
flashed from the iniielders to the outfield-
ers SO that every one OF the nine men In
the field knows just exactly what the de-
fensive plan on the batter andSrunner Is.
OF course. the team on the offensive IL
there with the signals also. Every time
man goes TO the plate he has orders in
structing him what he is 10 try TO do at
the bat. The signal Is tipped TO the run
ner, IL there is a runner, and the entire
success of the teams attack depends on
the proper working out OF the play which
the manager or captain has devised.
A majority OF the managers In the
two big leagues keep busy on the coach
ing line. The manager watches the bat
ter and the baserunner watches the man.
ager. or the manager may be on the
bench. It's a cinch that he isn't going
| TO delay the game, call his men I'm from
| the coaching box and instruct them what
| play he wants.
Instead of this he flashes the signal for
the play TO the coacher. or else the batter
does II when he takes his position at the
plate. Both coachers are watching, and
they in turn tip OF the play to the run
ner. Sounds simple. doesn't It? But II
isn't, by long shot.
The Chicago Cubs have been known to
change signals as often as six times IN
| one game. Jennings Is fond Of doing the
same thing. and signal practice Is about
as important as batting and fielding prac-
tice for the up-to-date team which -
making a fight for honors in its league
Every base ball fan In the country 10
familiar with the antics OF Hughey yen-
nfngs on the coaching lima Jennings
pulls up the grass. chews II. dances on
one foot, kicl-s. shouts and claps his
hands. OF course. part OF this IS for the
| effect IL may have on the opposing play
ers. particularly the pitcher. IL 10 .
pretty hard thing TO locate a plate when
dancing and yelling beside you. But
there is more than this in the movements
OF Jennings His players know what
signal his actions convey. while to the
pressing only his enthusiasm. McGraw,
the great manager OF the Giants. has .
different method OF procedure from tho
coaching line. but no is about as Of
fective.
McGraw has a line OF sarcasm guar
anteed to scorch the paint or q new
house, which he delights turning loose
on the opposing players as long as the
umpires will stand for It But his set
OF signals is unique. One word in
directing at the opponents does the
business for the Giants. That one word
directs the attack. Or II may be a
pull at his cap. one arm hanging list
lessly at his side, or a thousand and
one other things calculated TO wise mis-
men to what he wants and 10 keep <he
other fellows from getting on to his
play.
manager who Is strong on signals. Mack
never deserts the corner OF the bench,
but his men know what he wants them
to do. Mack Is always equipped with
a score book and lead pencil and
these apparently harmless articles are
believed to play a prominent part IN
the intricate system OF signaling which
the foxy leader of the Athletics has
devised.
ON the defense the field captain may
direct the team. or the catcher may be.
and usually IS. the one 10 fash the sig
nal TO the infielders. explaining In the
code Just what Is 20 be attempted
Usually the second baseman or the
shortstop repeats the signals 20 the
what is about TO be tried and every
man IL ready for the play.
OF course. signals are often solved
by the opposing players johnnie
Evers Of the Cubs Is one OF the best
in the business at turning this trick.
but one set of signals does not exhaust
the repertoire of a ball team. The
team can change about as often a.
IL becomes wise that its signals are
being tipped of. and most OF the big
fellows change signals against diner-
ent teams
The next time you 60 out to tho ball
working from the coach lines, and see
II you can get wise TO Just what Il
being done.