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Silent Language Veils Schemes of Ball Teams Signal System Is Used on Offense and Defense By “Rube” Marquard. IN any game or competition where more than one person is involved on each side harmony will prote one of the principal points of strength. The college crew pulls together on its stroke, so that every ounce of power may be put to the very best advan tage. So with a baseball nine. All must "pull" together, which involves a lot more than appears on the surface. Every man must be not only willing to bear his personal share of the work , but eager, as well, to lend every pos sible assistance to his fellow players. A chain is no stronger than its weakest link. A baseball team may be stronger than its weakest player, but not unless the inferior athlete is given the support and co-operation of that superior skill' about him. A span of light, spirited horses can accom plish more in one day than two bulky teams in a day and a half. A "bush league." team, welded together in common interest and -single purpose, will outplay a galaxy of the greatest major league stars working only for individual aims. It is simply a matter united. The successful manager maintains perfect working harmony among his charges The individual pales into insignificance before the cause. Petty spites and prejudices that often crop out among players of the best known teams must all be laid aside when the athletes are in uniform. Few Know Signal System. Because of the fact that it is abso lutely necessary to have thorough un derstanding on plans of attack and defense, as well as to hide the same from the opposing side, it has been found necessary to employ a secret, silent language for baseball purposes. Random believes itself reasonably familiar with the "signal" system of baseball. Yet very few outside the profession have more than a hazy idea of what it implies. I think a great deal of charm would be added if the spectator knew what was being attempted in every case. How often the unsophisticated judge plays wrongly. "What kind of baseball is that, you bonehead," they rave, mistaking a hit and run for an attempted steal. The poor catcher is roasted for pegging to center field when it is the fault of the second baseman or short stop in "muffing” the sign to coyer. The pitcher is execrated for an “al leged" wild pitch when probably the catcher has "crossed" him on signals. There would be less misplaced criti cism If it were possible for the crowd to be in on the "inside stuff " That, of course, is impossible, for a signal system has to be so mysterious as to fool an opposing team wel' versed in the art of the sign language. it wouldn't go very far to doing this if it didn't fool the fans. There is nothing terribly compli cated in major league baseball signals. Os course a great deal of responsibil ity for thels proper application tests with the battery. The signals are divided into two general classes- de fensive and offensive. The pitcher and catcher are most personally con cerned in the defensive signs. Catcher Must Direct Play. The catcher shoulders the gravest responsibility on the team when his is on the defensive. He not only supports the pitcher, hut the entire < ast as well. He has the field of play laid out right before him and he has to watch that entire field for himself, and for the pitcher, too. ,ls three men • U . P on base, say, the catcher has to watch every base, so that if a fielder can -neak in behind some one napping a ‘throw may be made in time to catch him off his guard. We'll talk first about the battery signals. '>n them depends the de fensive strength of a team. They mask battery efficiency and at the same lime coach the supporting east in proper defensive formation. For instance. I am pitching to a left-handed battery. If 1 throw my fast ball to him he will naturally hit late at it. Consequently, if it goes to fair territory, it will go to the left field side. Now every one knows that the general tendency of a left-handed hit ter to “pull" the ball into right field. Consequently, to cross this fellow we give him the "smoke" bally in the pinch. If we give him something he likes and trust to luck when nothing is at stake the fielders all know what the pitch will be and they plant thern seves accordingly. It is as natural for a right-handed hitter to hit toward left field and for a left-handed hitter to hit toward right field a? Il is for a duck to take to the water. There are some few notable excep tions, of course Hans Wagner, a right-handed swatter, is as likely to pull it to left. Cobb, a left-handed J. J. Brown has adopted The Albany Herald’s slogan “Hog, hominy and hay,” as one of his planks in his race for commissioner of agri culture. $2.50 Chattanooga and return via Southern Rail way, Saturday, August 24. Tickets on sale for 3 p. m. and 5:10 p. m. trains. Good to return from Chattanooga any train following date of sale or morning trains leav ing Chattanooga Monday, August 26. SOUTHERN RAILWAY. hitter, can place his hits on most any sort of delivery. Knowing the general laws of hitting ethics the fielders station themselves accordingly. Every man on the team knows just what sort of ball is going to be served the batsman. When the battery agrees one of the infieldets down around second catches the sign from the backstop. He flashes it to the rest of the infield and to the out field. Sometimes you will see the in field or outfield switch suddenly after the pitcher assumes a pitching po sition. It is because such a pitch is forthcoming that if the player con nects the ball is almost bound to travel in a certain direction. In other words, the pitcher is playing for a batter's weakness. The pitcher and catcher must have absolute confidence in one another. Each depends upon the other like a building on its foundation. The catch er, having the play always before hi£ eyes, must keep the pitcher posted as to the situations of base runners. , If the catcher thinks a runner has strayed too far from his ba*e he signals the pitcher. The particular baseman guard ing the territory involved must get that sign at the same time. He rushes to ward the bag: the pitcher, after a cer tain specified wait—while he counts three, for instance—whips the ball blindly' to that cushion. If all three — catcher, pitcher and baseman —have calculated to a fine mathematical pre cision, the base runner, may' be caught napping. If any one falls down a most damaging error is likely to resuit. Pitcher at Fault Sometimes. Unless one fully appreciates the play contemplated, it is impossible to fix re sponsibility of many a "bone." The backstop always is charged with bases stolen by rival clubs, when maybe half the time it is the pitcher’s fault in not holding the men to their stations. The greatest catcher in the world can not stop a fast man who gets a jfood start on a slow delivery. Directly upon the cunning of signals depends in a great measure the sue-’ cess of "inside" baseball. 11l illustrate with a few examples. A fast man is on third base with one ‘or none out and one run needed badly. A scientific hitter is up. Naturally, the infield is drawn in for a play’ at the plate. The batter takes a swing at the ball as If trying for a long fly. That "Moriarity" may be only a ruse to catch the infield napping. Perhaps the bat ter intentionally missed his swing with the idea of attempting the “squeeze" pla.v on the next pitch. And he may get away' with It. too. * i The hit and run play is one that de pends for success upon the clever exe cution of some fixed idea. In this play the runner starts with the pitch and the batter is supposed to hit through the infield. When the runner starts one of the guardians of second base natur ally races over to take the throw from the catcher. The batter's plan is to bit through the place wh»re that base guardian should be. It's simple enough if the battery guesses out the hit and run properly. All that is necessary then is ‘a pitch out that the hatter can not possibly molest, and the runner is'flagged. But on the other hand, if ft proves a bluff and the runner does not really go. a pitch-out puts the boxman in a bad way . Ihe real good catchers are the ones that do not ask for too many pitch- “If It's at Hartman's, It's Correct'' Men’s $5, $4 and $3.50 Oxfords Choice $2.4511 • A final clean-up of all broken sizes—ls your size is among them you’ll secure the great est bargain of the season. Tans, Gun Metal. Patent Leather and Yiri. all new stvles. Choice $2.45. Other Oxford Reductions SG.OO Oxfords now $4.35 $5.00 Oxfords now $3.85 $4.00 Oxfords now $3.15 $3.50 Oxfords now $2.95 ALL SUMMER UNDERWEAR REDUCED. Six Peachtree Street (Opp. Peters Bldg t. “If It’s Correct, It’s at Hartman's'' ry prnsjiTTTW I 1 M I Opl im. Whiskey find l»r .t Hahlt treat* * ft As at Home or at Kinltarlum Hoot oa aublecl Frao DR. H M. WOOL LET. 24 N Victor Sanitarium. Atlanta. Ga Atlanta's Busiest Theater FORSYTH Today at 2:15, 7:45, 9:15 Vaudeville k A THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21. 1912. outs, the ones who are game enough to take a chance of handling a "groove" r ball with all the stuff the pitcher can ! put on it. i The team on offense has its strategy ; to offset the defensive side. No hit and ‘ run pla.v is ever attempted without the ! batter and base runner being in per i feet accord. If the batter is a right > field hitter he knows that the opposing shortstop will doubtless move over for the throw when the runner breaks for second. He gives the opposition credit for enough sense to believe that the second baseman will remain where the ball is likely to be hit. ’ Now. the hatter will try to pull or push his grounder through short, the 1 unprotected territory. If the battery happens to cross him with a pitch-out. . the barter must always protect the base runner, If possible, by fouling the ball, even if he has to throw his bat at it. provided the runner has not such a break in his favor as to merit belief i that he will be able to steal successfully. I 'ATHLETICS PUT OUT OF RACE BY LOSING BRACE PHILADELPHIA. Aug. 21.—The Ath. . letics are out of the race for the Amer ican league pennant. At least that is the way local fans feel this morning ! after the double defeat at the hands of I the White Sox yesterday . Connie Mack's men will have to win , practically every game from now on to the end of the season to cop the "rag." Even then it is unlikely if they would : be able to land ahead of the Boston Red Sox, as the Hub team is going better now than ever. AUSTRALIAN TO BATTLE McGOORTY IN GAY GOTHAM ’ NEW YORK. Aug. 21—Dave Smith, ' who claims the middleweight and ■ heavyweight titles of Australia, has > been signed to box ten rounds with Ed t die McGoorty at Madison Square Gar den next Monday night. I At the St. Nicholas Athletic club to night Leach Cross will meet Tommy s O'Keefe, a Philadelphia lightweight, In • a ten-round contest. JEANNETTE KNOCKS OUT 2 NEGROES IN 4 ROUNDS NEWARK, N. J.. Aug. 21.—Joe Jean nette, who is matched to meet Jack ' Johnson, made an appearance in the ring . I on the second consecutive night last night at Morris park and defeated two negro t | opponents. Bill Tate, of Tennessee, and i i Battling Brooks, of Michigan, knocking : each out in the second round. BALDWIN ABLE TO GET ONLY DRAW WITH GINTY BOSTON. Aug. 21. —Tommy Ginty, of i Scranton. Pa., held Matty Baldwin, of . Boston, to a draw in a slow bout of | twelve rounds here, last night. PELKY OUTPOINTS KERNS. , I NEW YORK. Aug. 2f. -Arthur Pelky, iof Chicopee. Mass., outpointed “Soldier" J I Kerns, a New York heavyweight, in a . • ten-round contest in Brooklyn last night. II ■ • J. J. Brown is a practical, progressive farmer. Vote for him for commissioner of agriculture. I wear no man’s collar. Vote for me for commis sioner of agriculture. J. J. Brown. MARTIN ' 191/2 PEACHTREE STREET UPSTAIRS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL UNREDEEMED PLEDGES , FOR SALE You must not get the idea that the signal system involves any great com plication of signs. It is simplicity it self. There are just four battery signs —one for a curve ball, one for a fast ball, one for a pitch-out and another for a toss to a baseman to catch a "sleeper." All the signals the stands ever no tice are those employed by the battery, and they don't get those, for the catcher conceals them always. The offensive signs are given by m inager. eoacher, batter or base runner in such a clever fashion that no one but his team mates are a bit the wiser. A player wipes his shirt breast with his knuckles. That may be the sign for a hit and run or any one of half a dozer, other plays. The same with scratching his head, ut tering some phrase, squatting in a cer tain position, shifting the hands or feet. The batter taps the plate with his bat a couple of times, putsnlust on his hands or draws a line in the dirt. These ac tions may or may not be signals. The clever players are the ones that so mask their signs as to keep the oppo sition always in doubt. Your 'Bac'ic. Aches! T i.7’ oU FEEL TIRED - O f t en you experience sharp stinging pains just above your kidneys. Do you know what’s causing you all this trouble ? GERMS ! You can’t see them, they are so small. But they are constantly at work, and unless they are de stroyed, driven antirely out of your system, you will become a physical wreck. Try DR. KING’S Royal Germetuer known as The Germ Destroyer Price SI.OO per bottle Get a bottle at your druggist’s or at E.LLIS-LILLYBECK DRUG CO. Memphis, Tenn. sia—wwwwwewg' ■■ . 111.111.—,. JDur Examination of the eyes is not what is usually termed "testing eyes.” Our examination, with perfect equipment, is absolutely scien { tific in every particular and is made without the use of poison ous drops or drugs. Our examination of the eyes is so exact that we absolutely guarantee all of our work. Un less you are completely satisfied we will cheerfully refund your money. You will save your eyes and your money by consulting us first. HINES OPTICAL COMPANY 91 Peachtree St. Fefween Montgomery and Alcazar Theaters SIO ATLANTA TO PENSACOLA ANO RETURN via The WEST POINT ROUTE Tickets on sale every Thursday up to and including August 22. 1912. Return limit ten days. Sleepl ng cars, di pi ng cars, coaches Call at Ticket Offices: Fourth Nations 1 Terminal Station. SANTALMIDYI @ Relieves in 24 Hours O Catarrh of the Bladder All Druggists Beware nj Count*‘fAls ISANTAbMIBYI HOTELS ANL RESORTS Ocean View Hotel Pablo Beach, Florida. After August 18, Until Close of the Season Will Put On th** Following Special Rates .'*•» Ih.-iiahl' Rnuins, Kuroi'* n Plan. Daily iai« . SI.OO, one person. ?) "•”, iw« l>< i >< ns \\ • ' kl.v ratn $5 mi, >n* j>» rs«m. on two poisons. Lower rnt« . in tw • !><•<! rooms for throe or mor< p is Special rates in young la<h» <ho-milorv , fore» end, or • ki\ par ii» \\ th I cll.i pel olh It'lleni ''ale ill I < n). I >a H< <• ’l’m, Thur>'kij an<i Saturn ( nii'hiD, THE BASEBALL CARD. SOUTHERN LEAGUE. Games Today. Atlanta in Birmingham. Memphis in Mobile. Chattanooga in Montgomery. Nashville in New Orleans. Standing of the Clubs. . W. L. PC. | W. L. P.C. H ham .70 45 .610 1 Mont. 55 59 .4X2 Mobile .65 51 .560 M'ntphis 53 58 .177 N. Or 58 53 .523 ; Nash. 52 60 .464 C'nooga 52 55 .486 , Atlanta .43 67 .391 Yesterday's Results. Birmingham 11, Atlanta 3. Mobile 2. Memphis 0 Montgomery I. Chattanooga I. Nashville 2, New Orleans 0. SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE. Games Today. Albany in Columbus Savannah in Columbia. Maeon in Jacksonville. Standing of the Clubs. ... 'V. 1., P.<'. I W. L. P.C. Svnh 28 17 .622 1 Maeon 22 25 I6S C'mbns 28 17 .622 Albarn 17 29 370 J'nville 27 20 .574 C'mhi'a 17 111 .354 Yesterday's Results. Savannah 3. Columbia 0. Jacksonville 8. Maeon I. Columbus 4. Albany 2. Western League. Denver 10. Des Moines 0. Topeka-Sl. Joseph; rain. Wichita 2. Omaha (1. Lincoln 4, Sioux City 3. ■■■SB—a—M | TODAY’S PREMIUMg 1 COUPON | (Printed on page 2) and $2.00 in cash will purchase this 26-Piece Berkshire Silverware Set § ' Jr r v r 1 n-I n-w n M n M v J? /al ? ■ 411 •O rm o WL- it Im W /'n it sw /JO 'it Wk v ** L ~ " ' l| The set consists of six Knives, six Forks, six Teaspoons, six Table spoons, a Butter Spreader and a Sugar Shell. The ware is standard make, prettily designed and equal, both as to beauty and utility, to the higher priced silverware. U Atlanta Georgian Premium Room g Open Evenings. 20 E. Alabama St. [gg Correct Proverb Solutions Picture No. 33 Picture No. 34 /my Atc£ A-VO, I r | HAVE BeFM /CHCfT ITT'A -rwe 5 takoins oveß <3laq free 4 tAts fjA-re BACKTb,v t fl&AllK this tub since , no weoping ci-evcNirH iwwL-riH broao oaylichy \ f? EutS RSR THtv AiLßjrn ..4’'VLUNS MXSEIF “ <T MEM A'.D TRv£ -AjSrry J, • 1 Cf CAV-SE Jin \ 4 —'<y 1 '"a. work ft wONOt-O wkxA ' -> k OO'-' A. . (JMt - I . 7< W ® > » fe Li W '•■T Uhai can the virtues of our ancestors profit us, Leah liberb is belter Ilian fat slavery, if we do not iiniiMe iliem AMERICAN LEAGUE. Games Today. Chicago in Philadelphia. St. Louis in New York.' Detroit in Washington. Cleveland in Boston Standing of the Clubs. o , W. L. PC. I \v L. P.C. KoMnn H 93 Detroit .55 62 .170 i\ a f h '1 11 ’’ l '' '"land. 51 6.". .147 Plukc 6, 46 .563 ; X York 39 73 .318 .•>« 56 .;>O4 S. Louis 37 77 325 Yesterday’s Results. Boston 6. Detroit 2 I‘OUis 4, Now York 3 (first game.) •>e\v v ork 2. St. Louis 1 (second game, i < hicaßo H. Philadelphia 1 «first game » Chicago 3. Philadelphia 2 (second game) Washington 4. Cleveland 2 (first game.) Washington 2. Cleveland 0 (second game.» NATIONAL LEAGUE. Games Today. Brooklyn in Pittsburg. Standing of the Clubs \V. L. P.C. | \V. L p.c N ork 77 31 .713 C’nati. .53 GO .409 Chicago .73 38 .HSB iS. Lnuls 50 63 142 P’burg. .66 43 .606 | B'klyn . 40 72 .357 Phila. . 53 57 .182 | Boston . 31 79 .282 ' Yesterday’s Results. .\pw York 5, St. Louis 1. Pittsburg 3. Brooklyn 2 (first game.) Brooklyn Pittsburg 1 (second game. > (’iminnati I, Boston 0 (first game.) Boston 4. Cincinnati 1 (second game.) Chicago 6. Philadelphia 1 (first game.) Chicago 10. f’hiladelphia 3 (second game.) WALTER JOHNSON WINS 15TH STRAIGHT BATTLE Walter Johnson, the one best bet of the Washington Senators, yesterday got away with his fifteenth straight win. setting a new record for the American league and coming to within four victories of the great winning streak of Rube Marquard earlier in the season. The previous American league record was fourteen in a row and was made back about 1904 by Jack Chesbro. then the star flinger of the New’ York club Chesbro was able to make his great spurt bv means of his celebrated spit ball, at which time it was at its height and was quite an innovation in tho American league. Johnson's great streak is by dint of his great speed, curves and headwork. SHERIDAN ILL: UNABLE TO MEET INDIAN THORPE NIIW YORK. Aug. 21. Martin Sheri dan. who holds the world's all-round ath letic championship, is under the care of surgeons at his home here. He was operated on two days ago for an abscess on his hack, and is doing well. Sheridan had intended to meet Janies Thorpe, the Carlisle Indian, at Celtic park next week in a contest for the all-round championship. The meeting will be post , poned until Sheridan has recovered. TOMMY SIMPSON DIES. ALBANY. N. Y . Aug. 31 -Tommy Simp son. formerly secretary of the Brooklyn National league baseball club, and later connected with racing on the Grand cir cuit tracks, is dead at his home in Win terton, N Y.. from a complication of dis eases. He retired from actual business several years ago with a comfortable fortune. 11