The book offers a whole chapter on sign-stealing (buy it!). Here’s another example of electronic sign-stealing. I found this at the Hall of Fame library loose files, while researching rumors that the Al Lopez-managed White Sox stole signs early in the 1960s (a period from ~1959 to ~1962). The article clipping’s dated 9-30-1967 and I believe it’s from the Sporting News, based on the layout and some other cues, but it’s unlabeled. The article is “By Joe Falls, In the Detroit Free Press”.
The article discusses various means the White Sox used: stealing out of the center field scoreboard, and using flashing lights and even using a loudspeaker in the dugout. But the unique part was that they
…wired the third base coaching box for sound and even gave pitcher Early Wynn an electronic receiver to use in his cap so that Manager Al Lopez could communicate with him on the mound
The coaching box harkens back to the earliest incident of electronic cheating ever (which is in the book) but for the team to wire the pitcher - I believe that’s the only instance I came across.
It gets better, though.
The White Sox even installed wires around the third base coaching box and equipped Cuccinello with a special receiver which was pinned under his uniform shirt. This enabled him to get signs from Lopez without ever turning around to look at his manager.
Billy Martin tried something like this (with funnier results) in an incident that’s in the book, but I don’t want to spoil that joke.
Post a Comment