Evening star., 1942-06-14
Professional Teams Find Backstob Is
Hardest Position to Fill Satisf factorily
Capable Receiver
Can Be Certain
OF Steady Job
BY FRED w. HENCK.

II there is any short cut to base
ball success its route isn't very far
away from the dugout. 1t goes
straight to the catcher's position
and it isn't hard to see why.
Every year, from the baseball
schools and the spring training
camps of professional baseball clubs,
the same cry arises-no one wants
to be a catcher. All the young
fellows who hope to make baseball
their livelihood steer away from
catching as though they'd have to
win their jobs from q composite
Bill Dickey. Mickey Cochrane and
Gabby Hartnett-all at their best.
1t doesn't require an astrologer to
find the reason. Catching is hard
work-the hardest job on the team.
1t requires more of a player, day IN
and day out, than any other post.
1t brings hard knocks-few catchers
get through a career without
couple of bent fingers.
Shortage of Catchers.
But a smart young fellow can
take advantage ofsthat. There's
always a shortage of catchers. A
good one can get a job on any
team. That's especially important
for would-be players who can't hit
too we'll. Any manager would rather
intrust the position to smart
alert, capable receiver than TO an In
different one who can hit the pail
a mile. He'll put the heavy hitter
somewhere else. The good catcher
goes behind the bat and he'll stay
there even If he hits an anemic 200.
Catching is largely a matter OF
learning fundamentals and then
practicing them until you follow the
rules instinctively. You have to
learn to do things accurately and
in the shortest possible time. The
split second is important anywhere
on the ball field, but it's most
essential back of the plate.
In catching the ball, you'll first
have to learn to set yourself proper
ly. II you don't. you won't be able
to catch fast pitching at all. Spread
your feet, with the toes pointing
slightly outward. Your body faces
souarely to the front. Bend your
knees slightly, after coming out OF
the signal crouch. If you stand that
way, YOU won't stagger around al
ter you've received couple OF speed
balls.
Use Both Hands.
Be sure to center the BALI when
YOU catch it. That's receiving 1t
souarely in front Of you, whenever
the pitch is within easy reach. Use
both hands.
Equally important is building
yourself up into a sturdy physical
specimen, and keeping in shape.
Good catchers come in all sizes, but
they're generally strong, With plenty
of stamina. 1t takes physical Mt
ness to carry the catching para
phernalia around on a hot day.
Don't worry about catching curves.
They break in front of the plate.
and with practice, you can follow
them without difficulty. Don't for.
get that you'll know what's coming.
1t may take a last-minute shift OF
your hands II the ball doesn't break
the way you expect it to, but you II
learn to do that.
Pegging to the bases to thwart
base stealing is one of the most
difficult phases of catching, and one
that keeps many backstops from
becoming stars. Don't throw lobs
with a sweeping sidearm motion.
The ball will take twice as long to
get to the base, and this is the time,
above all, when fractions Of seconds
mean everything.
Peg from beside your ear, with
forward thrust. Aim just above the
pitchers head on a throw to second.
That will give you the right height
and line to the base. Keep the throw
low and hard, and straight to the
bag. Don't look around to see
where the infielders are before you
throw to second. It's their job to
get to the bag in time for the throw.
If you're trying to pick a man OIL
base, of course. you should signal
your intentions first and call for
pitchout.
Spotting q Bunt-
You'll have to move particularly
fast on bunts, because the ball will
be going away from you, unlike the
situation of the other fielders. Keep
alert-you generally can spot bunt
Ix- ha efo af fhA 40 toy
and the status of the game.
Try to keep the ball in front of
you" In fielding bunts. That means
facing the base to which you plan
to throw as much as possible, so
that you can get off the peg as
soon as you pick up the ball. Pivot