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Well, Frank, there are some more 'dandy Rockets' where that came from, aren't there?" The Toyman was quite sure there were, and Father added, "And that baseball glove, that big catcher's mitt that Marmaduke always wanted do you 'spouse that's still in the store?" Again the Toyman seemed rather hopeful, and the promise was fulfilled on the following Saturday.
He must also watch for the catcher's sign to the second baseman notifying him of an intention to throw, and while the ball is passing from the pitcher to the catcher, get to the base to receive the throw. He should "back up" throws to the first baseman whenever possible, leaving his own base to be covered by the short-stop.
In the old days a catcher had to be able to catch either with bare hand or with a light glove, but the modern catcher's mitt, mask, chest-protector, and shin-guards make the position far safer, and almost any boy who is quick and has nerve can be trained to become a fairly good catcher so long as he has a good throw and is a good general.
Besides there were a catcher's mask, gloves for the different field players, half a dozen baseballs and an even dozen of bats. "Finish dressing as quickly as you can," urged Old Dut. "Your time is slipping away." At last they were ready.
Peg 'em now, any place." "Hit them?" asked Ken, amazed. "That's what I said." "But Mr. Arthurs " "See here, Peg. Don't talk back to me. Do as I say. We'll peg a little nerve into this bunch. Now I'll go back of the plate and make a bluff." Arthurs went near to the catcher's position. Then he said: "Now, fellows, Ward's pretty wild and I've told him to speed up a few.
One pitches the ball and the other receives the same ball. At one instant it's in the pitcher's hand and the next it has traveled the space between the two and is resting in the catcher's hand. Sounds simple, doesn't it?" "Sounds simple when you put it that way," laughed Larry. "But I have a hunch that it isn't as simple as it sounds."
If there are runners on the bases this fact will have to be taken into consideration; for example, with a runner on second the baseman must play near enough to "hold" the runner on the base and not give him so much ground that he can steal third; or if there is a runner on first and the baseman is himself going to cover the base in case of a steal, he must be near enough to get there in time to receive the catcher's throw.
There is one more point in fielding the catcher's position upon which a few words will not be amiss, that is, as to touching a runner coming home. There is a difference of opinion as to the best place for the catcher to stand when waiting for the throw to cut off such a runner. The general practice is to stand a couple of feet from the plate toward third base and in front of the line.
It seemed evident by his manner that he was speaking of something that did not please him very much. Merriwell was pulled out of his sweater, and then somebody tossed him a practice ball. Little Danny Griswold, the Yale shortstop, put on a catcher's mitt and prepared to catch for Frank. Yale was making a last desperate struggle for a score in the sixth inning.
Now, Tim, I'm going to let some of the fellows steal bases. Let's see you throw them out." Don was glad of the respite. He retired beyond the foul lines and watched. There was no doubt but that Tim knew his job. Short and stocky and agile, he seemed made in a catcher's mold.
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