Pitch framing 110 years ago

[GeoPoto]

So, I have a pile of old baseball books, which I mix into my daily readings. Yesterday I started a book published in 1915 and authored by two college baseball coaches, who end their introduction with: "In the present work, the authors, after careful study based on personal experience, inquiry, and comparison, have formulated for the general public, including the amateur and professional player, the whole subject of baseball as it is played in the most advanced circles, namely, in the major leagues."

The first chapter is devoted to the catcher and contains the following: "While receiving the low ball, the catcher should not squat, with the hands in an upright position; he should rather drop the hands (fingers downward). But after catching a low ball he should not continue the downward course of the ball with the glove; the better way is to bring it up gracefully and easily. This upward motion will sometimes cause the ball to be called a strike, while if the hands went down, it would be a ball."

Maybe I shouldn't be, but I was surprised to see Pitch Framing included among "inside baseball" strategies and techniques as long ago as 1915. And I thought some of you might also find that interesting. And here's the Old Sarge from around that time: