Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-14
FORMER CATCHERS LEAD
SEVEN BIG LEAGUE CLUBS
Backstops Generally Brainiest Men In
Game and Are Usually Well
Qualified for Managers.
FEW PITCHERS MAKE PILOTS
Connie Mack and Lee Foil in Ameri.
can and Stallings, Mitchell, Hickey,
Robinson and Moran in National
All Onc-Time Receivers
By JAMES J. CoRnE1.r.

Have you noticed the preponderance
of catchers among the big league man
ayers?
OF the sixteen major league outfits,
seven are led by once-,inle backStops
Connie Mack and Lee Foil are the
American LeaGuers who go; their early
training behind the bat. while George
Stallings. Fred Mitchell. Branch
Hickey. Wilbert Robinson and Pat
Moran are the receivers o: long ago
who, graduated into managerial jobs
Club owners. when on the hunt for
men with brains. incline TO caichers.
brought about plethora of ex-catch-
ers in manaserial roles is nothing un-
usual. II has nearly always been that
way. Catchers always have predom-
Charlie DOOM. Roger Rresnahan, Jim
; MH.ecSuire. Johnny King and Jack
passed out in the none too distant past.
Pitchcr-MnnnEerK Unusual.
Pitchers. despite the fact that they
are supposed o be brainy lot. are
not much, sought after now when lead
ership Jobs are open. There are only
two eX-fiingers in pilot roles today
Irinth. or the Senators, and Coombs.
ni the philiies Through the, years
were found wanting.
Brains are absolutely essential for
An ou;felder. lacking in thinking
QUANTITIES. can still hold a major league
Ioo II he is a terrific clouter There
nave Seen many infielders who never
OF gray matter who held their jobs
Some star pitchers were considerably
shy on mental equipment. Few great
s W, d sWiTiers ever lived than 'Rube"
bis sof boy Mho fa never MAS Mas more than a
Gerned. The same was true of '.Burs"
RAYMOND, a satellite for years. Neither
but each owned a million dollar arm ),
which enabled him to survive the
storms o. many big league battles.
Cntchcrs Quick Thinkers.
d;f Snt with T & catcher it is radically
league catcher of any prominence w G,e
wasn't quick thinking. crafty indi
eh aaf E MrKs kf Silver hq Ffnt EWnE
Sullivan. George Gibson. johnny KIM hn1iy
JACK OConnor and Charlie thinner, Of
me Old Cleveland Spiders; wilbert
Steve o,Neii,, Charlie Doom. wallis WITS
Schang. Bill Killifer. all we're men of
why is it that catchers make ,ho
best managers and why Is IL that a
catcncr must be brainy to be suc
The question was put TO Robinson
of the Dodgers. the same Robinsom
VINO, in the days of the Baltimore
s rd ,soi shone with exceeding brilllancy
h hno LOOK rank then with the greatest
catcher. after all is said and
aone' must serve as the brains of the
Team; answered Robinson. Mind
al my own branch OF baseball when
J say that. ! merely utter truth
long known 10 experienced baseba II
men. -"
Field Of Play Before Him.
The catcher is the only man on the
fashion. The pitcher works with his
s back to the inneld and outheid, the
tnnelders nave their backs 10 the out
heioers; while the gardeners are so far
removed from the zone of plate opera :
lions that they cannot vision ali the
.rihinE details OF play there.
But catcher sees all and must
know all that is going on. The re-
suit OF every contest hinges largely
on the pitchers effectiveness. No one
put smart catcher can. tell whether
the pitcher is in win ming mood II
the pitcher is wobbling. the catcher
must steady him. II there is hut
little chance TO steady that pitcher,
re manager 10 stick in relief twirler
before II is too late. The smart catcher
does that; one lacking in baseball
judgment would fail.
Must Know Bntters Well.
catcher must know what kind Of
ball every batter can hit and which
Find he can't rap safely. lie must be
student OF every foeman in the
league, and then imrart his knowledre
to every young twirler on the team
as we'll as keen the older ones in
formed. He must he hrainy because
otherwise he wouldn't be able TO man
out plays TO trap ase-runners or to
halt men who have about decided to
try TO steal bag.
"A catcher needs brains. plenty OF
them. for he must not only do the
thinking for his own position. bat for
men In other positions who may he
a bit slow mentally. 1919.
by King Features Syndicate