February 24 1927 - Lima News (Lima, Ohio) - You'd Be Surprised
You'd Be Surprised
by Billy Evans
Signals play a prominent part in baseball strategy.
One that wasn't at all appropriate for warm weather almost resulted in a tragedy years ago on the New York Americans.
At the time "Kid" Elberfeld was managing the club and "Wid" Conroy was the star third sacker. While the stunt has become rather obsolete of late years, the catching of a runner off third on a snap throw from the pitcher was not a all unusual in the old days.
Jack Warhop, then pitching for the Yankees, was a past master at making the play. Getting the signal from Conroy that he was going to cover, Warhop would count, say three, and then make a speedy throw to third.
At the opening of the season, it was decided that when an attempt would be made to pull the play, Conroy would pass his right hand over his forehead as the signal.
Everything went fine while the weather was cool. Early in June on a very warm day, the first man up tripled. Conroy, standing close to the bag, passed his hand over his forehead, not as a signal but to remove perspiration.
Warhop cut loose a fast heave to third that struck the unsuspecting Conroy on the side of the head, bounding into left field and putting him down for the count.
As he recovered consciousness his first words were:
"That signal is out until fall and cold weather returns."
by Billy Evans
Signals play a prominent part in baseball strategy.
One that wasn't at all appropriate for warm weather almost resulted in a tragedy years ago on the New York Americans.
At the time "Kid" Elberfeld was managing the club and "Wid" Conroy was the star third sacker. While the stunt has become rather obsolete of late years, the catching of a runner off third on a snap throw from the pitcher was not a all unusual in the old days.
Jack Warhop, then pitching for the Yankees, was a past master at making the play. Getting the signal from Conroy that he was going to cover, Warhop would count, say three, and then make a speedy throw to third.
At the opening of the season, it was decided that when an attempt would be made to pull the play, Conroy would pass his right hand over his forehead as the signal.
Everything went fine while the weather was cool. Early in June on a very warm day, the first man up tripled. Conroy, standing close to the bag, passed his hand over his forehead, not as a signal but to remove perspiration.
Warhop cut loose a fast heave to third that struck the unsuspecting Conroy on the side of the head, bounding into left field and putting him down for the count.
As he recovered consciousness his first words were:
"That signal is out until fall and cold weather returns."
