The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-09-16
JsckIIiseh Says Catcher Is
Hardest Worker on Team.
GOOD ONES ARE VERY SCARCE
Owing to Dangers Attached to Posi-
tion, Many Pass II up-.HsadworIS
Behind ets Bat EsssntlaI--scms
Backstops Are supsrstitious.
No. XIX.
BY FRED JAcKLTTscH.


Copyright. 1910. by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
Do consider the catcher the hard
est worker on a baseball teams MY
answer il yes. A major league back
stop. particularly under the present
system. which in most cases requires
the first string catcher to work in i've
out Of seven games. has the hardest
lob in baseball aside from the mana
ger. FurtbeSmore, It Is safe to say
most Of the present day oatchers are
assistant managers and do more think
ing than perhaps the men who are
earning their managerial salaries.
There are times when the real mama
ger Is idle on the field. He may be
working with bis brains, but not with
his hands, or vice versa.
There is no time when a good
catcher is not employed bnsily. men
tally or physically. The ball is In his
hands oftener than any one else's save
the pitchers, and he is forced to keep
his mind working all the time, what
ever the status Of the game. In these
days Of spitball pitching catcher has
enough to do with his mitt and hand,
let alone his brains.
Crack twirlers are all right. A base
ball team has to have them to win
pennant. So also are strong batters
handy to have around, A pennant win
ner needs them in its business as well
as the players who think. Speedy base
runners, clever team play aud skilled
fielders-all Of these 60 to make cham
pionship combinations on the diamond.
Nevertheless teams that have won pen
nants and have not had capable catch
ers, brainy catchers, are very few.
The backstop stands there inning
after inning and game after game,
taking pounding and filing. less
spectacular figure than any other player
on the team. His work is not snowy.
Superncially viewed, he is more Of a
dray horse than any one OF his fellows,
but In reality be Is a great power in
a teams success, though often he
doesn't come In for as much credit as
the players who work more in the
open, 80 to speak.
Catchers OF the frst class are
scarcer than occupants Of any other
position. and the records show that
the teams that have had heady back
stops to coach and steady the pitchers,
to study the weakness Of batters. to
stop plays on the bases and to keep a
supervising eye on the adjustment Of
the infield and outfield as the batting
Of the different opponents
require are the teams that have won
championships.
or the long List Of pennaut mining
teams dating back into the seventies
hardly one has not had q first class
catcher who backs up mechanically.
With an alert mind that takes III all
that is going on. and in measure over
Iees and maneuvers the plan Of battle.
Although there are many catchers
n the big leagues today. no two work
like. That's undoubtedly. the reason
satchers who go through game after
game without hurting their hands
Usually suffer the most punishment
around their legs or shoulders.
There are a number or cafchers who
ne superstltious. Some won't permit
he others to touch bis glove lest some
lo0doo might follow Nearly every
atchcr has his own modri, the same
IS batters have their fayorite stick.
he gloves are made to order. and III
et there are more than a hundred
ifrerent designs, which proves that
ackatops have their little eccentIici'
ea.