Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-11
SECRET SIGNALS IN BASEBALL.
Many Devices Have Been Devised to
 Outwit Opponents

When old timers get to arguing about the relative merits of ball play CTS of the 18th and 2Qth centuries they can win the argument in the backstopping department. Not that
 there are not as brilliant catchers now 1 as ever looked through a mask, but the art of catching has fallen some what into decay, taking the whole run of major league catcherS as field of observation. Probably 75 per cent of the catchers in the game today give the pitcher the sign for the next ball while the pitcher is off the slab if there are runners on bases and partic
 ularly if there is runner on first or second. Watch this any day and see
 how often the pitcher will stand off to one side of the slab or behind it until he has caught the sign for the next ball to be delivered. Then said pitcher will step on the slab. usually
 take his hurling position deliberately, and finally will pitch the ball. This happens most frequently when there is a base runner likely to advance. When the bags are empty or there is generally will take his regular posi- tion before looking for the catcher's
 sign. Some pitchers habitually remain off the slab until they know what [ they are going to pitch
 When this is not a deliberately ac | to pitch too fast, it IS done as a rule for the purpose of guarding against betraying the catcher's sign to the base runner. There has been so much talk
 and suspicion about signal tipping in recent years that catchers and pitch
 CTS have devoted a lot of time and thought to crossing their opponents and preventing the detectors of their signals. By stepping towards third
 base from the slab when there is a
 y-71-l %alaO LNI 1 the catcher to conceal his hand from
 a man on first. When there is a
 runner on second. the process Is re-
 versed and the pitcher steps over to-
 ward first base to look for the sign. If the only runner is on third he can
 on first and second the problem is
 more difficult and the battery men
 have to resort to other ruses, which
 they think clever.
 In working out these schemes to
 check-mate wouldbe signal tippers,
 the catcher and pitcher have tossed
 into the discard one of the most ef-
 fective defensive elements of the game the eyes and wits of the catcher.
 Old-time backstops and a few of the
 present generation were and are of
 great assistance in every game in
 calling the turn on what the base runners or batsmen are planning to
 do on the next ball pitched. In order
 to do this It IS necessary for the
 pitcher to be on his slab ready to pitch
 before the sign is given. Then, with
 the runner and batsman alert for the
 play to start with the motion of the
 pitchers arm, one or the other of the
 opponents Is liable to give away the impending play by some unconscious move or attitude.
 The wist catcher, squatting behind
 the batsman keeps one on the runner and the other on the batsman and
 gives his sign to the pitcher deliber- ately, not hurriedly. If he detects the intent of the runner to steal or sees a hit ond-run play coming off he can
 call for a pitch out. which means the ball will be delivered out of reach of the batsman. but in good position for the catcher to throw out the run ner, If the batsman has the pitcher In the hole so that it is not safe to waste a ball by pitching 1t out of reach, the catcher can call for 8 ball he knows 1t will be difficult for the batsman to hit safely. If the back stop sees nothing to indicate there Is any play on between the runner. and the batsman he can more safely
 ask for any kind of 8 ball, since the