Evening star., 1917-01-21
SUCCESSFUL BASE BALL CLUBS
MUST HAVE BRAINY CATCfiERS
Crack Backstops Mean Everything to Teams
and 1t Is Practically an 1mpossibility
to Rate Their Worth.

II have much better control Of 1t
| than I have of my fast one. The
Athletics won't be looking for tnat
with the count three and two, and
| ought to be able to slip it over on
lot Of them
Vean Nailed Them Fast.
worked behind the plate that after
noon. and 1 would have been as much
surprised as the Athletic batters II
had not overheard the conversation
Seven times in the third and subse-
quent innings an Athletic player
worked the Nap southpaw until he had
the count three and two. only TO nave
Gregg slip his curve right across tne
heart of the plate, and to hear me call
him out on strikes. Gregg was con-
tinually doing the unexpected and get
ting away with 1t. 1t was marvel
GUS exhibition of Nerve.
Rarely does a pitcher take the snitia-
tive as did Gregg. AS a rule the twirl-
er leaves it up to his catcher. parttcu-
larly if the backstop is a brafny re-
ceiver. There are many catchers VINO
resent the shake Of the head by the
pitch the ball the catcher called for.
Some of the more sensitive backstops
feel such action is being shown up be-
fore the crowd I know many catch
efS ana DlICnefS VINO HdNo d. WOAAih6
agreement not to shake the head mega
lively when falling to agree with the
catcher. The desire to change the sig
nal Is made known in some other way.
either by stepping OF the rubber. or
making 1t appear he didn't catch the
sign when first given.
So great is the power of the back
stop in directing the play OF team
that it is possible for him to tangle up
the contest in more ways than one. II
b1- fIn Tn l0t a
years the waste ball is a much used
weapon of defense in the hands Of the
catcher to ward off opposing base
stealerS.
When Waste Ball Is Used.
The waste ball is called for when a
catcher believes the runner is about
to steal or when tho batter and rum
ner have the hit-and-run play on. Such
bail gives him practically a clear
throw. without opposition from the
batsman The waste ball is all very
fine, II the catcher is picking the spots.
for 1t gets the pitcher out of many
a hole. provided the catcher gets his
man. If the opposition is standing
fatfooted almost every time the catcher
calls for the waste ball, it works to
the disadvantage Of the team in the
field, because it has the pitcher con-
stantly in the hole.
There is a major league catcher who
is known as the waste ball king
He has a wonderful throwing arm
and is proud of it. 1t gives him pain
any time a runner steals base. With
his marvellous whip he really never
need call for a waste ball. However.
he likes to turn them back mile. and
the players know it. When runner
reaches first all he need do is take
a good lead, and it is a good bet the
catcher will call for a waste. The
theory on which the opposing players
work is that the first two balls are
almost certain to be waste balls. If
the runner has any reputation for
speed It can easily be seen what a
load 1t makes for the pitcher.
The crack backstop means every
thing to a club. 1t is practically an
impossibility to rate his worth. His
absence makes 1t evident. The great
difference can be noted on the Chicago
White Sox, when for some reason
Schalk is not catching. Not only must
the catcher in many ways direct the
play. but he must be familiar with the
weakness and strength of every bats
man II he is to get the best results
from his pitchers efforts. Is 1t any
wonder owners and managers are on
the constant lookout for the better
than the average catcher?
Copyright. 1917. by W. G. Evans.)