Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-13
GOOD COACHES VALUABLE
TOCLUB, DECLARES COLLINS
Explains Some of the Inside
Used by Hughey
ennings.
RECRUIT QUEERED INQUIRE
Tipped Off Cleveland Signs by
Careless Remark When He
Failed to Hit.
By EDDIE COLLINS
champion Second Baseman Of the
American IravueA


. When Hugh Jennings signaIized his
appearance in the American League
number of years ago with a de-
cis1ye. triumph, his activities on the
coaching lines created no end of
comment, and really was the source
OF much revenue at the gate to the
Detroit Club. His grass pulling stunt
and his clownish and seemingly ludi-
, crous actions generally were the talk
of the circuit
Evidently, so it was explained by
wise fans, Jennings was doing his
stunts and uttering his shouts to give
encouragement to and instil ginger"
in his men. Others actually believed
the effect aimed at was to brighten
or rattle the opposition, and then
sweep them loft the boards" But
few ventured to remark rs there
any real method in his Madness
Judging from the success that Jen-
nings attained with the Detroit Club
In 1907. 1908 and 1909, it would not be
Illogical to suppose that in the mys-
FERROUS cries of the seeming nonsense
which Hughie emitted there was con-
tanned some signs and secrets to team
! play, such as a steal, hit and run or
Il sacrifice, as the occasion may have
IN demanded
Let's give Hughie the benefit of the
+ &oubt; but this presents a topic
FN&orthy of further consideration,
n.hmely, coaching Although the i'm
aPrtance of the coachers is apparently
ihderestimated by the public, they
really take a most active part in and
sare an essential element of a teams
composition, though they receive little
\ credit for aiding in the teams sue
cess.
Z The Importance of coacher lies in
the fact that as soon as batter be-
comes base-runner he is under the
jurisdiction of the coacher The lat
ter is entrusted with the supervision
Of the batter's journey around the
bases and is responsible in most cases
for his safety.
: The duties of first base coacher
are not as combining as those of the
man stationed at third, and,
naturally, the same amount of i'm
portance is not attached to the
position His chief obligation is to
devote his attention to a runner on
second, and. by means of shout or
sign attempt to forestall any effort
on the part of the shortstop or second
baseman to catch the runner nap
ping. When there is runner on first
really do to assist him, as there is
not anything he can see or tell the
runner which the latter has not right
before him.
On our club We have no regular
man for the coacher's job at first. All
those not engaged In the game
usually take a shot at it. If we hap
pen to score a run or two in the first
inning. the coacher on the line at that
time is considered lucky, and he is
usually elected" for the rest of the
game. unless someone says Give me
a chance; I'll go up and get you
rum and then he takes his place over
on the first base line.
Jim Tipped Batters.
Sometimes, however the coacher at
first can cut a figure. We found out
that old Jim Mcclure when he man
faged Cleveland part of one season,
used to transmit signals to the bat
ter by the position he took in the
coacher's box. If he stood in the far
end it meant sacrifice; if in the end
nearest the home plate, hit straight
away. young player let the cat out
Of the bag one day when Harry
Davis, playing first for us, overheard
him say to Mcguire on the lines,
How did l know what to do? You
We're standing in the middle of the
box"
Quick thinking by Chief Bender on
the lines made young first baseman
of the Browns look rather sheepish in
a game in St Louis last year. Sam
Agnew, leading catcher of that club,
has perfected a quick, snappy throw
to first, which has caught many a
man sleeping, and he attempted 1t on
Jack Barry on this particular occa-
sion. 1t had Jack fiat-footed. and
the first baseman, too. When Barry
saw that he could not get back he
lit out for second. The bail came so
quick that the first baseman barely
had time to put up his hands to pro-
tect his face. AS he caught the ball
Chief Bender yelled loud enough to
p drown all other noises, "Touch him!
Touch himi" and the baseman made
a dive as if to get a runner sliding
in back of him for the bag. Much
to the basemans chagrin and every
one else's amusement, he found no
one to touch, as Barry by that time
was sliding into second.
In the second game of the last
worlds series Eddie Murphy was
muchly peeyed at Jimmy Walsh, his
teammate, who was coaching at first
base along about the seventh inning.
Eddie cracked out sharp drive,
which had all the earmarks of a
double or triple when it skinned
over the first bag. Hooks Wiltse,
however, had camped right on the
baseline, and speared Eddie's drive
with his bare hand. AS Eddie re-
turned to the bench he raved "Oh.
if Jimmy hadn't been talking about
the home folks up in Syracuse with
Wiltse I'd have had base hit. Any
other first baseman wouldn't have got
near the BALL"
At one time the supposition got
abroad that our coachers were steal
ing the eatchers signs and then
transmitting them to the batter, to
let him know whether to expect a
curve, a fast one or splitter; but