Evening journal., 1914-12-17
.SCHANC' s HABIT
HELPED Braves
IStallingS Knew Wally Step
ped Out for the
Curve Ball
TOOK ADVANTAGE
OF THE KNOWLEDGE

=
OF THE KNOWLEDGE
BOSTON. Dec. Immediately
after the worlds series the baseball
fans throughout the country, recover
ing from the shock of the Athletics
defeat began trying to dope out why
the famous Mack machine should be
so completely out-classed and made
TO look like "bush league" aggre-
cation.
Hundreds of reasons have been adj
vanced. many suspicious voiced. aud
il was even hinted that the Athletics
signs were all known to the Braves
while the Mackmon were fooled COM
pletely by trying TO play from the
Braves signs The latter was un-
questiOnably the truth. but the form
er was not taken seriously. as IL was
argued that the Athletics were too
smart g club TO be caught mapping
for more than one game.
The manager of a National league
club has come forth with the state
ment that the Braves knew every ball
that was pitched by the Athletics
pitchers with the exception of Eddie
Plank. and that Catcher Wally
Schang unconsciously tipped the
Braves off to what was coming.
The managers name is withheld
because he did not believe the pub
licity given him would do him ans
good. hut he is willing to prove his
statement to the satisfaction of all.
/ He says that Schang has never been
able TO break himself of the habit OF
setting himself about six inches fur
ther 10 the right after signalling for
q curve ball il a right-handed pitch
I er is working, and that Stallings, hay
/ ing picked up and developed Schans.
noticed this weakness I'm Buffalo.
According 10 this managers state
ment a Philly catcher noticed the
same thing about Schang and re-
minded Stallings of IT, Stallings re-
called that he had once had cOnsid-
/ erable trouble with Schaug I'm this
respect. and Fred Mitchell. Stallings
/ first assistant. who also caught for
Buffalo with Schang. was sent 90
/ look the Mackmen over along with
Dick Rudolph. and reported that
I Schang still had this weakness des-
pitc the fact that it was not so no
ticeable. ~
! With left-hander pitching. rhe
curve ball is not breaking outside The
: plafc and on the bare hand and
Schang does not move his feet afior
giving the sign TO the pitcher. Plank g
remarkable form against the Braves
would Tend 70 bear out his managers
statement. az every other Athletic
( pitcher was hit hard with the cXccn-
|, ton of Wyckof.
Knowing this weakness OF Schans'
Manager Stallings is said to have
talzen Rudolph. James, Evers. Dovore
and Mitchell into his confidence, and
these iicn were the only ones allowed
ON the coaching lines 10 use the sig
nal code.
During the entire series Mitchell
did not miss an inning at the third
base. coaching line, while James. Ru-
dolph. Evers and Devoro took turns
on the first base line. The men on
the lines watched Schang's feet after
he gave the signs TO the pitcher. and
IT is claimed that he stepped out al
most foot when a curve ball was
coming. in order to be i'm position TO
be sQuarely in front Of the bali after
il broke.
This made it an easy matter for
the coacher to tip the batsmen what
was coming up by some word or sign
as Schang stood straight behind the
center of the plate when he signalled
for a fast ball This may also ac-
count for the statement issued by
so h.rf
started that he had something up his
sleeve and that he would fool COnni,
Mack at his own game. It is ais,
strengthened in the fact that Wyckon
a recruit, made the Braves look lik,
80 cents on curve balls with Lapi
catching him after Schang and Ben
der had been removed from the firs
game.
When told of this. Manager Macl
said that he did not think II likell
that the scheme had been worked. II
said that almost all catchers nov
out for a curve ball. but do not star
to shift the feet until the ball is ol
it's way to the plate. Connie say
that his club watches for that sort p
thing themselves, and that someon
would surely have noticed this de
feet If IL existed.
Il think it is just another of thos
yarns which tend to make us lool
bad at our own game" said Connie
"You know there has been so mucl
written and said about the way on
club has worked systems and heater
other clubs 10y taking advantage O.
little things of this sort that tn
other clubs will now try to make
look as though the Braves have
on us IN this respect and beat rs &.
cur own game.
"It is possible. Of course, but no
likely. as Schang is too clever fel
low and would soon have becom
wise and crossed them FOR fair. q
course. it does not matter 20 me nov
rnoy won and deserved to win. The
played better ball and are entitled Z
all the honor and publicity that the
can set; but there might be anOthe
story TO tell next fall whether m
club or the Red Sox land the Amerl
can league pennant."
Il Is NOW 4 FIGHTER.
polopd " Ford IL wears old ,