Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-21
BY "Rube" MarQuard.

more than one person is involved
on each side harmony will prove
one of the principal points of strength.
The college crew pulls together on it's
stroke, so that every ounce of power
may be put to the very best advan-
tage.
So with baseball nine. All must
pull together which involves a lot
more than appears on the surface.
Every man must be not only willing
to bear his personal share of the work
but eager, as well. to lend every pos
sible assistance to his fellow players.
A chain is no stronger than its
weakest link. A baseball team may
be stronger than its weakest player,
but not unless the inferior athlete is
given the support and cooperation of
that superior skin about him. A span
of light spirited horses can accom-
pish more in one day than two bulky
teams in day and half A bush
league" team, welded together in
common interest and single purpose,
will outplay d galaxy of the greatest
major league stars working only for
individual aims 1t is simply matter
united
The successful manager maintains
perfect working harmony among his
charges The individual pales into
insignificance before the cause. Petty
spites and prejudices that often crop
out among players of the best known
teams must all be laid aside when the
athletes are in uniform.
Few Know Signal System.
Because of the fact that it is abso-
lutely necessary to have thorough un-
Outstanding on plans of attack ana
defense, as we'll as to hide the same
from the opposing side, it has been
found necessary to employ secret,
silent language for baseball purposes.
Random Believes itself reasonably
familiar with the signal system Of
baseball. Yet very few outside the
profession have more than a hazN
idea of what it implies.
I think a great deal of charm would
be added if the spectator knew what
was being attempted I'm every case.
How often the unsophistiCated judge
plays wrongly.
What kind of baseball is chat, you
bonehead," they rave, mtstak1ng a
hit and run play for an attempted
steal The poor catcher is roasted for
pegging to center field when 1t Is the
FAINT of the second baseman or mort
stop in "mutfing' the sign TO cover
The pitcher is eXecrated for an al
legged" Wild pitch when probably the
catcher has crossed" him on signals.
There would be less misplaced criti-
,cism If it were possible for the crowd
TO be in on the inside stuff. mat
of course. is impossible, for signal
system has to be so mysterious as to
fool an opposing team well Versed IN
the art of the sign language. 1t
wouldn't go very far 20 doing this If II
didn't fool the fans
There is nothing terribly compl'-
Gated in major league baseball slgha,S'
OF course a great deal Of responSloI'-
Itv for thets proper application rests
with the battery. The signals are
divided into two general ciasses--de-
foneive and offensive. The pitcher
and catcher are most personally con
cerned in the defensive signs,
Catcher Must Direct Play.
Tho catcher shoulders the graVest
responsibility on the team when ms
stda is on the defensive. He not only
snnrorts the pitcher, but the entire
,..st as well. He has the field OF play
laid out right before him ana ne mas
80 watch that entire field for hlmseh'
and for the pitcher, too. If three men
,re on base, say, the catcher mas TO