The Washington times., 1914-03-01

i.chers blamed Killing for displaying his
signs too prominently. thereby causing
, him to lose.
How do you expect pitcher to win
up on biIlboard?' was the remark that
started the trouble.
Eddie" Collins has told me that the
Philadelphia club got very few signs in
that series: 1t was also rerorted that
King tried to scare Collins the first
time he came 10 bat. the Cub catcher
figuring Collins to be comparative
youngster.
did Killing make any cracks to your"
asked Collins afterwards.
No replied Eddie" We never
worked against a catcher that treated
us better. He never said a word to me-"
But crafty Connie Mack did not
deny the stories that his players were
In fact, he did everything that he could
to increase the impression by such
means as instructing his runners when
they got to second base to stand on the
haS for a minute before taking their
leads, while the opposing catcher was
giving his signs and peer Us IL trying
TO sec them. He also told the coachers
mt first and third to look wise as IL they
were accommodating a lot Of informa-
tion.
The net result of these tactics is tina.
the Athletics ever sipce have had their
opponents on their toes and worried 1t
a so forces the pitcher to take his mind
on his work because he Is constantly
fretted for fear the batter is wige to
what he is going to throw.
Idea Is Dispelled.
The idea that the Athletics steal SO
many signs is now being rapidly dis
PEELED in our league. however. Jennings
has instructed our pitchers, If they
think coachers or base runners are
stealing the signals. to work fast SO that
there will be no opportunity for them
to De passed to the hitter before the
are becoming afraid Of taking signs.
since there Is good chance the infor-
nation may be wrong and they will be
"beaned,' the great fear OF all ball
players
after being hit a hard blow in the
head by a pitched ball. MANY have
been hurt in this way during the past
few seasons. 1t requires supreme cour-
age to come back after this. Chance
was beaned several times and always
came back. but this constant "beaninS''
got him in such Q condition that he be-
came the victim of headaches, which
finally crowded Sim out OF the ranks of
the regulars. Players WHO were with
Chance on the old Cubs when he was
sunering from these headaches tell me
he went through hell with them. FIN
ally, they became SO severe that an ope-
ration was necessary
On most pennant winning clubs, the
players are shrewd bunch of per-
formers and ready to take advantage
or every opportunity. These smart
boys. when they set into I tight fight
for first place. think of the game all
the time. too-of the field as well as
on. That is what makes the men on a
ball club up there fighting for first
Go roh hal
playing the game in their minds.
Many followers of baseball do not
think that the Giants are brainy club
because McGraw makes all the moves
and plans for them all, and leaves very
little to the men. I differ in this opin-
men | ever saw on the diamond.
Doyle. Fletcher and HerzoS, now the
Reds manager. are also fast thinkers
Fletcher is one pf those players in the
National League that players reckon
TO be far more valuable to a club than
the fans consider him to be. Big
LeaSuers realize tine important part he
plays around second base, and also ap-
preciate the fact that he goes after
everything which comes anywhere near
him. and grabs many a drive that
would get away from am other short
stop.
You never find trains in 4 ball player
who is without nerve or courage. AS
have said before. pitchers will test out
Il player nerve as soon as new man
breaks into the league. and cstchers
will aid them in this. If batter Is
inclined 10 crowd the plate. Il tuirI-r
will shoot one straight for mis- bean"
The catcher Will coll;Lborate on the rlay
with some such remark as. He
.beaned' one guy last week. and he Is
iu the hospital vet
Are Soon On You.
II you step back and fail to stand I'D
to the plate on the next pitch after
close shave, all the twirlers in the
league are soon on you. One tells an
other. Several of the pitchers tried this
trick on ME when I was first breaking
into fast company. ! made UP my mind
that they could never say | lacked
nerve. So | used to crowd the plate
closer after pitcher had offered me a
bean ball. That is the only way to
do. ! also used to come back with a
lot of conversation along these lines:
You re Wild enough to work with
bush league outfit. Don't think YOU
worry me by shooting at my bean I
enjoy it. Come on. I want a base on
balls"
II a pitcher tries to scare me AWAY
from the plate. ! fight him so as to put
him on the defensive, instead of letting
him put ME In the hole. II IL becomes ,
ths. Nbsn hitter tie Is bat shy as is
the water paiI'' after the pitcher aims
at his head. all twirlers keep "on him
Then. if he comes up in a pinch when
a hit Is needed. the first thing the
pitcher does is to aim one at his bean"
to scare him away
when a young player comes into the
league. all the pitchers search his bat
ting style fo- weakness AS soon as
one is discovered. the tip goes over the
entire league. and all the twirlers aim
at it. Everything Is done to test and
break the young players nerve before
he is admitted to fast company on an
equal basis with the seasoned big
leaguers.
could name countless men in base