Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-10-29
Chief Bender Athletic Pitcher with the Eagle Eyes


worlds champions have been accused by Z
rivals for many years Yet & Is oil 20
the great credit OF the wonderful abor-
ieine. for his methods employ no un-
sportsmanliSe. Illegal or unoerhand
methods.
Exceptional eyssight slone mskes the
grim redskln the most feared of al ire
Quaker City Athutes. rho Chicf s. the
only man base bail has yet produced VINO
is able TO abzoiute'y penetrate the dis
Rtiise OF the cltvsr.st nlgrsl syHemE in-
vented Indeed thore con bs 10 secret
signals when Bcnf0~ s on tbs a7sigu-
ment. He takes h,g poz.tior on Che
coaching lines vhsrs ho can see Lac
pitching arm Of q rival. Tnc rest &C. easy.
lie simply watches Tie hawE he
muscles and position q the pitching arm
30 closely as he -aulI y he we're right
up 20 his T1su O. eve Ia Bender IN
his powers Of pt, -cton Ia. re ls able
20 tell. when th .oac- Rr.rs mo bali
lust what ldnJ %. cfler'ng wiz te FUR
nlshed the hate. Csuseaucuty, a. a.
walls signals orr entirely disrsgardcd.
there So absoldtsF 40 method by which
the wonderful s.el;a csa re doa5le-
crossed.
'~ropsy" Hsrtsel. the sver iit.ls vet
araa outfidcr CO Corr, -ieck asgrc-
CATION. usually acts as BE ellen: porther
of tho bis ohles When b. rlet- handed
opponent IS toiling against .na Atnlatior
BENDER always takes he position or tha
third base side, rata-al!y. This sivss him
the best possible t'gw o. the siVeFs
throwinE arm. Whsh southpnw to,'s
the order Il reversed. Hartse1 cprerolly
stands al TIE GrpoGte ctrucr. hrt whoa
1tC a In - 49,
equally sDafl,-eged ana clever nan s.
there. n Is tie dity % llsrtscn or r,s
understudy 10 go from tie o,3sf ths
manner og haii tie batter may expert
Bender tips lda partner and that nartner
tips the hitter
This rtoTy Iaay Eocm strange 70 tie
ordinary fan unncquainted with tho IN.
tricate workings Of organized base hail.
As simple matter OF fact. however the
explanation is simplicity itself. Anyone
could do the Same thinE after oarofu
study n he were provided with strong
field glass. The indian needs no such
invention because 81 hts remarkable eyc-
eight. There are very few battery Gig
nails IN base ball because there arc very
few different Kinds OF deliveries. Most
pitchers throw only two, or at mos,
There Is the straight. fast ball, the
curve ard the slow ball: drops. fade.
nways and kindred copyright brands are
variations OF the curve Except In rare
occasions they are Stripped IN aimost the
same manner. The slow ball. for Instance,
can be thrown in any number OF ways,
but the pitcher usually rests the sphere
we'll toward the palm OF the hand. The
"a Aaff a.
two fingers. the latter we'll spread, while
Tor the curve. the fingers are closer to-
gether with the ball resting deeper In
the clutch
There Is different wrist motion for
the various deiivories. none OF which
start in indentioaily the same fashion.
For instance, tho pitcher has to take a
longer swing Cor his fast ball than for
the curve. Not having 10 sygRte the ball
with the wrist this member OF the arm
rests Ia different position. Bender has
simply INSIDE such keen study OF the
subject that be IS able 10 determine he.
fore the pitcher begins his motion ox-
aetly what sort Of ball is 20 he served.
signal tipping is as old as base ball
In the big leagues thoro have baen many
scandals a. result OF Il. Except IN the
case Of Bender the methods employed
have usually been underhandcd For
instance man may be stationed some.
where outside the grounds with strong
binoculars; he would watch the catcher :
signs and flash them by means OF some
private code TO the batters. For the last
year or two the heavy hitting Athletics
have been suspected OF just such a trick.
So positive were rival rnanngers that
the Athletics knew just what was going
20 be handed them that wholesale pro-
tests were lodged with President Byron
Bancroft johnson.
The executive OF the American league
without tipping his hand, decided upon Z
rlgid investigation lie put sleuths or
the trail OF the Athletics 10 watch fol
any crooked undertaking. both inside and
without the grounds. Not the least evi.
denoe Of a ''buEser1 or mechanical con.
trivauce could be discovered. wild Bin
Donovan. the Tiger pitcher one OF IN,
brainiest pitchers IN base ball. was as,
signed 20 special duty on the task Il
Nae Bill who finally hit upon the theory
OF sharp-eyed tlpsier from the coach
ing box. The smiling detective had mad.
for himself most unique glove that has
long leather ahield attached 90 TN
A"'NAdaAm UutA way W we elbow
For a little while this fooled Bender
then the Athletics began TO hit With al
their accustomed fury.
Donovan had doped out special set o
''efoased" signals for the occasion. Tn
usual signs we're employed but a separate
sign given by the catcher Just before IN
delivery determined the clsss 20 pitch
This ID an old method used 70 break al
suspected signal tipping. Never once al,
an Athletic make a bad break. Ever
man went al only the sort Of pitching n
liked and Donovan was given goo
drubbing. The Tigers all kept their eve
open and soon discovered the real SQUIRE
OF Philadelphis's information. Old Chic
Bender was getting the sisns. Flashing
them 10 Hartsoll and through ''Topsy
70 the batter.
After the game az the Polo grounds q
Tuesday afternoon Chrlsty MatheWson B
signed statement openly accused IN
Atllieties OF having his signs. This wa
the dag that Frank Baker broke up I'll
game with a home ran drive into IA
right field bleachers. That dGy Mathew
ron used dummy" signs with Meyers.
that h. secret set % foot signals b
Meyers determined the offerings Du