The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-04-14

t1cle was written Tor FRANK u. Menkc
by WiIbert Robinson, regarded by
many as basebnIrs master strateEist
and universally proclaimed the best
tutor OF youthful bnsebsIIers. While
youngsters, 1t also furnishes splendid
reading for the adult fan, for it details
the methods which Robinson used to
reach baseball greatness.
Robinson's article il the tenth of q
series that In appearing In this column
daily on "How to Play BASEBALL" Ar
ticles by sisier. Collins. Maranviiie.
Cobb appeared previously. Tomor-
rows article will be "Offensive Team
Play" by Wnbert Robinson.)
Baseball is battle of wits.
Simmer the whole game down and
the basic rule is:
Prevent the batter from reaching
tiny base in safety"
It's one man, with a club in his hand,
pitted against nine men whose sole in
tent is to stop him from getting to
first base in safety.
One unfamiliar with baseball would
conclude that it's simple matter to
throw back any attack by the lone
batsman. But those who know the
game. know that only perfect playing
by those nine men can accomplish the
purpose
The brightest stars Of the game al
ready have tipped you boys in the real
way to defend each individual position
On the diamond from the attack of the
man with the club. But they haven't
told you anything about team work,
after all, Is the most vital factor in
success.
The nine greatest individual stars in
IND iuiI
without harmony and coordination
| would be beaten in every start by
mediocre club which had team work
down to q science
Must Have Team Work.
+ For what good would it do to have
O'Neill back Of the plate and Collins
On second If they weren't working to-
gether in perfect understanding
perfect team work? How would Col
Inns know when O'Neill was going to
throw to second? How could Alex
ander pitch successfully if there
wasn't team work between him and his
catcher as to what ball to throw? 1t
takes nine men working together to
make ball club. Nine men working
individually lever would get any
where.
The first thing to devise for the sue
cess OF team work is a set Of signals
which the entire team should know
The catcher signals with his fingers
for the sort of pitch lie wants. One
! finger may mean a fast one; two fin
gers an out-curve; three fingers a
drop. The fist clenched tight may call
| for a slow ball. By movement of his
arm, the touching of his cap, or the
pulling of lis belt, the catcher can
| signal whether he wants the ball close
and inside or whether it's to be a wide
ono.
! Various Signals.
Some catchers signal for pitchout
/ by waggling their glove-vigorous slap
on the knee may signal the pitcher
for an intentional pass to the batter.
A catcher, by kicking around in the
DUST may be signalling to one base
man or another that on receiving the
next pitch. he is going to throw to
that base in en- effort to catch the r,.n-
Ter mapping. Or by some other
! motion the catcher tells the pitcher to
make throw 10 the base to try to
catch a runner off the bag
Make up your own set Of signals.
They are not difficult to devise. But
when you do, school your whole team
in those signals. Drill them until they
are absolutely certain they understand
them.
The catcher as a rule, starts the
signals It's the duty Of the short
stop, because he can see every move
ment Of the catcher to catch those
signals and relay them Immediately to
every other player on the team. In
that way there is perfect understand
ing by the team as to what is being
planned By the battery.
The advantage in tipping the in
! folders and outfelders as to what
sort of pitch is intended is obvious,
| because batsmen generally hit certain
| bitches to certain spots in certain
| fields If the outfielders and infielders
know what the pitch will be, 1t is of
great value to them in placing them
selves in the pathway OF the drive.
Must Study Batsman.
| Every man on the team must study
each batsman. Every ball player has
certain hitting peculiarities. Some
| can't hit anywhere but to right or
right center. Others invariably drive
| to center while still others are left
| fielder hitters. Some whack most of
'em for long distances; others are
| Texas League" swatters. The game
knows many batsmen who rarely lift
the ball but drive on a line through
| second or short. Others favor sizz-
ling Founders along the left or right
| field foul line.
Study each batsman. Learn into
what direction he is prone to hit.
| Learn what sort of hitter he is
long or short distance line driver or
lofty litter. Then never forget it.
By rem embering, you can, with con-
siderable success. place yourself right
in the position where he'll drop or
! drive the ball.
If a new player joins your club. the