The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-08-10
INJURY CAUSES
SQUAT THROWING
Jnnlny Archer, the Cubs Star
Receiver. Adopted PEG Be-
cause Of Lame Ann.
PITCHERS POSITION AIDS
0ses Ussd Stsp Lie Otker CateAer,.
bst . Dsnsd Wing Made Hin
Change Style.
PITCHERS POSITION AIDS

Without further ado. We will swing into
something that everybody seems Ia h,
distinctly interested in-the SQUAT throw
and how II 10 accomplished This i,
great pet of mine. AZ IL should be. he
cause It was this trick that got me better
known all over America than anything
else I ever did. writes Jimmy Archer.
To begin with let me say that this
trick Of the wing from Q squatted Do
sition b not only a mighty difhcult thing
to accomplish. but II Is. as well, a hard
thing TO deseribe IN such . way a. to
bring about q full and reasonable un
derstanding of it.
That 1t 10 . great trick there Is lit
tie doubt. because I have had, and Am
having at the present time. q lot OF
imisat tors. but 30 far I have yet to see
catcher who can do well with IL.
When q catcher II squatted down my
favorfte position in taking a pitch. he
must balance himself carefully on the
forward part Of the feet.
Have Perfect Balance.
His balance must be perfect becaus.
the pan comes TO him with great force
usually ana he must retain equillib-
NUN or else the crash Of the ball against
wants to do-be in position to let tbs
ball go without rising to full standing
position.
First OF all let me explain that I had
20 invent or devise this method of
throwing with snap because nv throw
ing arm was badly crippled bv being
scalded from waist to shoulder. an .c,
cident that drew up the cords on tbs ,
elbow In such q way that after I re-
covered found that I could NOT
straighten my arm.
This hamporoH
called free throw with a fun SWIM
OF the arm. and then. after a In, Of
pracuce. devised this snap of the wrist
tnat Is called the squat throw used
10 nave sidearm throw that I CON-
stdered pretty good, but had to discop-
tinue that after my arm was crippled.
As 1 grasp the ball to throw 1 snap
the forearm forward sharply with ali
OF tne power possible conferred in thu
wrist. Then. just before the ball leaves
my fingers. bring both of my crouched
legs into sort Of short swing toward
my left side
This force Of the legs Is brought right
up through the body, which also swings
slightly, into my arms. and then is CEN
tered in the wrist as the ball slips away
from me.
Force Develops Throw,
The best way I can illustrate Is to
say that this throw is made and the
force behind 1t developed In much the
same manner that a boxer stifYens his
entire frame just A. q shot blow lands
on his opponent.
There Is no "sive' to the boxers arm.
shoulder. or body. the whole being rigid.
Hence the object of attack must give.
It's the same with this throw, as far
as getting force behind the ball is con-
cerned- When the knsck of getting this
force from the heels up b learned. there
Is nothing more to be known Of the squat
throw.
I've been asked many times what ad-
vantage I think this throw has over the
old method of heaving to second on
steals. / figure that the catcher has a
fve-step advantage over the runner with
1t. I'll show you in detail.
From. the time the pitcher winds UP
and lets. the pitch go to the time the
catcher gets he ball the base runner has
a three-step lead on you. He gains two
more while the catcher in rising, steadily.
and dfawing his arm back to make the
throw.
Two more strides he gains on you
while you are taking step forward to
throw, and then-well, he usually has
your throw beaten easily.
Saves Time.
The squat throw saves the time that I
1t takes to arise. and my method Of
throwing with q snap of the legs and ,
wrist saves the time that it takes the
ordinary catcher to finish up getting
the ball OF to his baseman-
In aiming at second base I throw the
ball directly at the top OF my pitchers
head. never try to throw at the base
itself. excepting in this way.
II the pitcher will remain still with
out stepping to either side after he has
delivered the ball he always presents the
target I want.
The pitcher. of course. knows what I
want and does IL. Hence. you have en-
tire accuracy with the help Of your bat
terry mate.