This is much more entertaining and informative than I expected a book on signs might be. But the real value to me is in the large collection of offensive and defensive plays. It includes some great fielding coverage drills and plenty of coaching strategy. Perhaps the most underrated book on the market. - Richard Todd, WebBall
There's a strategy, and a sign, for every situation
By Stu Southworth.
Baseball's silent communication system is covered in detail with an extensive collection of signs and signals for every situation in the game. The history, philosophy, and evolution of plays and signs, even a guide to umpire signals, are just some of the topics covered in this comprehensive collection. Yes the author does drift into anecdotes and side stories. Perhaps knowing that signs go back to the 1890s may not help you with your team this week, but there's a tradition to baseball that even young players should grow into at an early age. And with 274 pages, there's also lots of the details of sign systems that will help you as a coach get your message across.
A brief excerpt: "Umpires' signals, players' offensive and defensive gestures, and coaching gyrations make for a game within a game. Sometimes they are simple, sometimes they are complex, sometimes they are subtle, and sometimes they are as exciting and dramatic as Babe Ruth's legendary pointing to the right-field bleachers in the 1932 World Series at Wrigley Field. As most people know, that gesture was followed by one of the most exciting encores in entertainment history."
Stu Southworth is a former college ballplayer and high school and American Legion coach. He has compiled a lifetime winning percentage of 78% during his 31 years as a coach in California, Washington, and Oregon.
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