Evening star., 1923-01-24

IN the palmy days OF the Orioles
Ned Hanlon was one of the few
= managers who kept to the
bench, never going on the field.
Other managers, like Johnny Ward,
were active players. Though / did
not realize it then, / am now con-
vinced that the bench manager has
a decided advantage.
Instead of centerinG his thoughts
on a particular play or an individual
player. Hanlon was able to grasp the
situation as q whole. That helped
him immeasurably in building up his
famous machine.
noticed that ! have stuck to the dug
out for the past two seasons, writes
to inquire IL I ever intend to go on
the field again and would like to
know why I changed my system.
What l have just said about Han
Ion really answers that question. AS
long as ] remain manager / intend
to stick to the dugout during all the
championship games. 1 have round
that my opportunities for general OBJ
servation are much better. l see
things on the field that would escape
me II / was on the coaching lines.
This is particularly true in the shift
ing OF the outfield. which often be-
comes necessary in the varying stages
of play on the diamond.
Coach Must Concentrate.
While coaching at third base l often
found myself so concentrated on
watching and directing the runner
ing the attack at the bat. I also was
too far away to discuss the situation
with the men on the bench.
If one is acting as coach on the
base lines he must concentrate on the
efforts Of the runner: otherwise ne
would be no good as a coach. There
fore I find II much more adva anta-
geous to leave the coaching TO others
and direct the whole team from the
bench.
Personally. would prefer to be out
on the field in uniform. because /
always had liking for being in the
midst of the fight. To get the best
results. though. find that il is better
to get in the dugout and stay there
1t is much easier to give sisnaisM sigma 81.
bench. Moreover. they are not so
obvious to opposing players and to
the spectators.
Signals Not Complicated.
This system Of signals, by the way,
is not nearly so elaborate as the pup-
lie seems to think. Three or four
good signs are sufficient: compll.
all. I have seen some so compli-
Gated that the players spent more
time in trying to figure them out than
in making the play. s.
Naturally. ! have no intention OF
making my signals public. 1t has
taken me too long to build il up.
will say. however. that my signs are
very few and very simple. 1t
wouldn't make a bit of difference TO
me il the opponents should discover
innings. After all. there is little al
vantage in stealing signals. me
chances Of getting crossed are greater
than the ADVANTAGE.
Signs are worked in various ways.
On the old Baltimore team, for in
stance our signal for the hit and run
was for the batter. upon reaching the
plate. to rub the palm of his hand
over the end of the bat. as il IL wip-
ing off the dust. That meant 1or
the runner to start on the next oall
pitched.
battery Signs Simple.
An old signal for stealing a base
was to pull the visor or tne cap do"h
over the eyes.
The signs from catcher to pitcher
are very simple. For curve ball
the catcher can show two outstretch-
ed fingers IN the palm OF MS INIT. roi
a fast ball he will show one. For
nitch.out he can slap the nit with
his whole hand. Practically all pitch
inc signals are variations OF that
plan. On my club I give the sign to
the catcher and he relays it to the
pitcher.
seen the pitcher shake his head to the
catcher. That means that he does
not agree with him as to what
should be pitched. You do not see
that on my club nowadays. ! give
the signals myself and the players
know that what I say goes. Whether
my judgment is good or bad. il Is
final. / take the responsibility for
the mistake.
Some Of the great pitchers give the
signals themselves. Matty often gave
his own signals. also McGinnity, Wild
Bill Donovan and many others. After
a catcher has worked for a pitcher
who is a real artist for any length of
time he knows pretty we'll what is in
the pitchers mind. In that case he
gives the signals until the pitcher
shakes his head
There have been a few players who
were very expert in stealing signals