The New York Evening Journal said:
“The newest wrinkle in the baseball season of 1911 is a discovery by (John) Chief Meyers.”
The New York Giants’ catcher called is the “Slow man’s steal.”
“On two occasions now the Indian has pulled this play, and the National League is laughing because he worked it successfully on (Bill) Bergen and (George) Peaches Graham, two of the best catchers in the league.
“Some time ago the Chief realized that it would be impossible for him to trust his speed, which he has not, in stealing a base so he decided to work it with his head.”
Meyers, the paper said, knew that as a slow runner he could induce catchers to throw to first base if he took a long lead off.
“Having figured this out, the Chief gets on the bag and gradually eases himself down the line until he sees the catcher is watching him. He then takes another step towards second base and the catcher naturally shoots the ball to first. Instead of making an effort to get back to the base the Indian starts for second the minute he sees the catcher draw back his arm. Both times that he has worked it the first baseman has been caught making a touch for the runner sliding back to first, only to look up and see him sliding into second. “
The Evening Journal called it “(O)ne of the greatest mirth-provoking plays on the diamond,” and said when Meyers worked the play on Graham and Boston Rustlers first baseman Fred Tenney, (T)he stands broke into howls of laughter.”
Meyers said:
“I call it the slow man’s steal because a fast man couldn’t do it. The catcher would expect him to run to second and a good throw would head him off. Besides, the pitcher would hold a fast man up at first and not allow him to take the lead.”
Meyers stole five more bases the rest of 1911, there is no record of how many of those incorporated the “Slow man’s steal.”
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