El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-07-25

ASHINGION, ID. C., July 70
M When old timers get to argu-
ing about the relative merits
of BAN players of the 18th and goth
centuries they can win the argument
in the backstopping department Not
that there are not as brilliant catch
ers now as ever pOked through a
mask. but the art of catching has fall
en- somewhat into decay, taking the
whole run Of major league catchers as
a field of observation.
Probably IS 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 particularly II
there is a runner on first or second
This happens most frequently when
there is "A base runner likely to ad-
vance. When the bags are empty or
there is only q runner on third the
pitcher generaily VIII take ms resu
lar position before looking for the
catcher's sign Some pitchers habit
ually remain off the slab until they
know what they are going to pitch
When this is not a deliberately &C
ouired habit to overcome the tendency
to pitch too fast, it is done as rule
for the purpose Of guarding against
betraying the catchers sign to the
base runner
signals Carefully Guarded.
There has been so much talk and
suspicion about signal tipping in re-
cent years that catchers and pitchers
have devoted lot of time and
thought to crossing their opponents
and prevent the detection of their
signals By stepping toward third
base from the slab when there is
runner on first, the pitcher enables
the catcher to conceal his hand from
9 man on first
When there is a runner on second,
the process is reversed and the pitcher
steps toward first base to look for the
sign If the only runner is on third
he cannot see a sign anyway. With
runners on first and second the prob
lem is more difficult, and the battery
men have to resort to other ruses which
they think clever
System Handfcaps Catcher.
In working out these schemes to
checkmate wouldbe signal tippers, the
catcher and pitcher have tossed into
the discard one of the most effective
defensive elements of the game-the
eyes and wits of the catcher
Oldtime .backstOps and a lew Of the
present generation were and are of
great assistance in every game in call
ing 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 uncon-
SciCus move or attitude
The wise catcher, squatting behind
the bstsman, keeps one eye on the run
ner 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 and run play coming off he can
call for pitch out, which means the
ball viii be delivered out of reach of
the batsman, but in good position fer
the catcher TO throw out the runner.
If the batsman has the pitcher in the
hole so that it is not safe to waste a
ball by pitching it out of reach. the
catcher can call for a ball he knows it
will be difficult for the batsman TO hit
safely
If the backstOp sees nothing to in
dictate there is any play on between the
runner and the batsman he can more
safely ask for any kind Of a ball. since
the batter is not likely to hit it unless
j is a grower.
Advantage With Runner.
There is no way for the catcher to
detect any of these things in advance
of giving the sign, If said sign is hung