The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-12-12


by being able to tell them In ad-
vance what the opposing pitches IN
tends to throw.
Don't ret the impression there n
anything unrportsmaniike about
hurphy's methods. for such IL not
tho csse. Murphy decent use any
field glasses or employ any other
outside help TO gather his informa.
ton. other than a keen sense OF
observation and the ability 10 think
quickly.
To me. Danny Murphy II one OF
the most remarkable characters IN
bas~baIl. Standing on the third basc
coaching lines when tho Athletic. arc
Mt bat. b. is far from nm Imposing
figure. His position IL usually a
careless one. and he emits no wild
yeils like HuEhey Jennings did In
the days Of old.
A a matter OF fact. Murphy prob
ably impr-saeF the average fan mn a
player who had but little interest In
his work. Usually az tho pitcher
~ar,s his delivery Murphy can be
seen ufterinE a few apparently un.
lnteiiigibie remarks TO the batter.
while the fan can't bo>x. and doesn't
understand what Murphy Ia saying.
the batter N getting a lot OF inside
stuff.
step into ,hix one. Jimmy In the
signal for tho batter that IN. pitcher
Intends 10 throw \ curve.
Take crack. jimmy" 10 the sign
that the pitcher intends TO dish UP
fast one.
.get q hold Of it II the way OF
telling the batter a spiibaii Ia com.
ing.
The batter II waiting patiently for
th-ss word. OF wisdom from Murphy.
The moment Danny flashes the wire
lrsn msaraE. TO him he shifts his
position. in order that he may be In
a better position 10 hit the style OF
pitching that IL on the way.
10 Ia n distinct advantage 10 the
batter. II usually means that he can
add at least 20 per cent Ia bis batting
average II he knows what II coming.
This il evident by making eompafi'
sons Of tho hatting averages OF Ger.
tain players while with Philadelphia
and then with s-rne other club.
One day last summer | vas unnpir
ing In Philadelphia with tho New
York team. Three OF US were offici.
atinx, and in this particular game !
was stationed at third base. where
the umpire has little do other than
stand around. waite Hoyt. one OF
the greatest pitchers in the business.
was working for New York. heard
Murphy talking 10 each batter. and
remarked.
Don't make any rnirtake-. Danny.
and get the boys crossed" There -
Of course always a danger OF injury.
u Murphy would max. a mistake,
tell the batter n curve was coming
and then have tho pitcher throw a
fast one.
Not today he answered. 1T IL
ar cosy to get them with Hoyt as
any one. However. he has 40 much
stuff the boys have trouble hitting
u. even when sIhey know what Is
coming"
asked Danny how he did H. He
explained his methods. They seemed
easy after had gotten the key. lie
showed how Hoyt always held the
ball a trifle differently In throwing
the curve instead of the fast one.
The moment Iioyt gets up over his
head. he tips of his stuff II is
then time enough for Murphy TO
flash II to the batter.
In all my experience said Muir.
ply. II don't believe I have seen a
dozen pitchers who throw tho vsri.
Gus deliveries without a noticeable
difference. II seems a physical i'm.
possibility for most OF them not 10
have some tell-tale motion. ] watch
every pitcher carefully. and II he has
"A weakness in his delivery l get IL
The rest IL easy
American league pitchers viii
frankly adsnit that when pitching
against the Athletics they realize
every ball is being tipped off and
yet they are unable to conceal what
Ia coming Murphy certainly is a
wonder.