The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-04-15
Offensive Team Play
By WlLBERT ROBINSON, of the Brooklyn DODGERS

EDITORS NOTE: The following ar
ticle was written for Frank G. Menke
by WiIbert Robinson, regarded by
many n. basebnli's master strateEist
and universally proclaimed the best
tutor Of youthful basebaIlers. While
1t In Of the most vital interest to
youngsters, 1t alsO furnishes splendid
reading for the admit fan, for 1t details
the methods which Robinson used to
reach baseball Ereatness-
Robinson's article Is the eleventh Of
series that In appearing in this col
umn daily on "How to Play Baseball"
Articles by Sisler. Collins, MaranviIle,
GrOh. Speaker, O'NefI, Alexander and
Cobb appeared previously. Tomor-
rows article will he "Successful Man.
aging" by wnbert Robinson, which IL
the last of the seriesD
It's vital that a team should have a
set OF signas which tip off each mem
Der as to the batting plans of the
man going to the plate
A batsman, taking his position at
| the rubber-or even as he strides to
the plate-should tip off his mates on
the bases as to just what he hopes 10
accomplish. A double fist held at the
right hip may be the signal of that
batter to the men on the bases. 81 am
going to attempt a sacrifice by laying
down bunt toward first" A double
fist at the left side may mean, 81 am
going to drop the ball toward third.
! Possessed Of information as to just
where the ball is likely to land, your
mates on the bases can guide their
activities accordingly
, Other signals can be arranged to
tip of the men on the bases that the
hit and run through second or
through SHORTS to be attempted.
nf to hn
! the bases:
II am going to try to send a Sacri-
! flee fly to left Tor center or right
one just back of second base" or 81
am going to try to knock the ball out
Of the lot" etc.
Must Instruct Batsman.
It's the duty of the manager to in
struct each batsman, as he leaves the
bench, as to what he should do. In
the event that some play happens
while the batter is up-a man caught
mapping, or caught stealing-that al
; tiers the original plans. The player.
| therefore looks for new instructions
! from the manager which the manager
! signals to him. Then the player, hav-
ing received final instructions, flashes
his purpose to the man on base. If
no one is on base, the only signalling
: necessary is between manager Cor
/ captain) and the batter.
The one rule, above all others
which every batter should keep In
mind is this:
Make the pitcher put EN- over.
A pitcher gains confidence when he
can force the opposition to bite at bad
ones; he loses it when he finds that he
can't fool the other boys-tllat he's
Got to groove them all. Furthermore
when you make pitcher pitch 'em
over you make him work-and work
tires his arm. That's to be your OBJ
ject-weary the opposition pitcher
Then in the closing innings, if a rally
is needd. you'll have a weary-arned
pitcher to work against.
Worry Pitcher.
Bother, worry, unnerve the other
pitcher whenever and in whatever fail
way you can. He's the man who
really stands between you and vic
tory. Beat him down and you'll win.
You're the batter. You finally reach
first on a hit. an error, a pass Or by
some other means. Anyway, you re
there. Watch the following batter for
his signal. If he signals for the hit
and-run, it's your job to try to find
out for him who is going to cover
second. You do that by bluffing a
steal. That sends the man who is tc
cover second on a throw, Scurrylna
for that station. That unmaSkS the de
fensive play. 1t tips your batter. fol
instance, that the second baseman vii
cover the bag. Therefore he aims tc
drive the ball through the spot which
the second left baseman is sure tC
vacate as YOU start for second.
If your batter signals-or if your
manager ignals-"Steal on the frs