The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-05-12
Star New York Battery Used
Only Two Signals Thursday

Accordtng 70 the supposedly vera
cious account OF New York writer,
Russell Ford, the wonderful pitcher
who shut the Tigers out yesterday,
has IL different kinds OF deceivers,
but uses but two signals with Sween-
ey, his catcher, the latter doing lot
OF guessing regarding which one OF
the Ford varieties 10 coming up next.
Ford" runs the story, holds the
ball In his hand the same for every
delivery, no matter whether II Is go
ing TO be q sharp breaking splitter or
a raisinghop ball. II all depends up
on the position OF the batter at the
plate with Ford, and as he winds up.
the man with the willow is likely TO
shift slightly from the attitude he
struck before he sets himself In mo-
ton.
1T 10 then that Ford may be forced
to shift from an In breaking splitter
TO an out breaking one, or some
thing else. He Is forced to shift on
the instant, and, of course, has no
time 70 stop and re-signal his back
stop. II he did, II would be de-
hberate balk. Therefore, II IL up TO
Sweeney, like the batter. to guess
what kind OF ball Ford 10 going 10
dish up.
"And that IL what makes Sweeney
the great catcher he IL. He usually
figures out what his teammate 10 go
ing to pitch, but when he dopes them
wrong his wonderfully long reach,
st.moving pedals and quick working
think-tank combined, nearly always
find him with his mitt In front OF the
ball.
Fans have criticised Sweeney's
back-stopping OF Ford at times. But
II they only half realized the energy
and work that II takes TO hold the
spitball artists properly, they would
be singing his praise instead. AS Ford
says himself
Sweeney does whole week
work when he catches me one game.
And when l am wild, Ed does
months work in one afternoon
Ford can't pitch curve or spit
ter on a fast ball sign. but Sweeney
can grab all the others with no signal
at all There isn't another catcher
in the country probably who can
work with a pitcher with only two
signs.
And yet, Sweeney does II with
Ford, who not only throws an ex-
ceedingly heavy ball, but who has
the sharpest- breaking assortment OF
any man who ever decorated a pltch-
er's box. not excepting even the great
John Meehin.
Last season Ford twfrled 81
games or these he won 70, and ne
only lost two games with Sweeney
on the receiving end OF his delivery.
The other four games were lost with
another backstop performing. While
Ford realizes there are many soou
catchers in the American league, ana
considers Walter Blair one OF the
best, he always wants Sweeney 10
catch him.
81 am like a ship without a rud'
der when Ed is not working with
me-" said Ford recently. Sweeney ls
the greatest catcher that ever nved'
ANY time q ball gets away from him
Il is a wild pitch. ! never signai
Sweeney which way the ball Is going
to break, but he stands with his rect
wide apart and rides with the ball.
at Is early In the spring and late
in the fall that | am hardest 10
catch. You see, I am hot weather
pitcher. My arm always comes around
slowly early in the season. II is In
better shape now than ever before at
this time OF year. The cold tightens
ND the muscles in my shoulder, ana
naturally, the stiffness Affects my
control
Ford pitches with his head. That
IN. he figures out what batter can
not hit, and this has lot to do with
his success. He knows the strength
and weakness Of every batter In the
American league as well as Mathew
son does the National league clout-
smiths.
Ford saves his arm all he can; ne
nexer extends himself unless forced
TO II has been said that while ne
has the most deceptive breaks on
the ball OF any man in the country
he hasn't much speed.
"But there Is where Ford FOOLS
MANY batters. His hop ball gets
, AWAY from him after an easy windup'
and his delivery is 30 graceful that
he doesn't look to be throwing hard.
But the hop ball has a happy little
knack OF shooting up or increasing
An aped az Il reaches the sphere.
aFord IL at his best when ne
nitcbes every fourth or fifth day. Too