El Paso Herald · El Paso, Texas · 1913

How Great Men Play the Game: George Gibson

Scar takes up George Gibson, the Pirates' catcher, in August 1913: in the peg to second he steps over the plate to free himself of batter and umpire, and he keeps young pitchers from worrying by making them keep their eyes on him all the time.

The catchers get their turn in How Great Men Play the Game with “Geo. Gibson, Catcher, Pittsburgh Pirates,” drawn in the full rig: mask, protector, shin guards and the busiest job on the field. The main study is the throw that keeps second base honest. “In the peg to second to head off a steal Gibson steps over the plate to free himself of batter and umpire while making the toss,” and Scar draws the whole crowded intersection, catcher striding through traffic that includes two other men with opinions.

The next note is pure catcher psychology, aimed the other direction: “he gets the timid batters nerves by having the pitcher whip the ball close into them.” Nothing personal. Just business conducted at the batter’s elbows.

The corner box makes him a schoolteacher. “And did you ever notice? He prevents young pitchers from getting worried about what is going on around first base by making them keep their eyes on him all the time.” Gibson was in his ninth season behind the plate for Pittsburgh by then, and the panel adds up to a portrait of the man who runs the game from a crouch: managing the batter, the pitcher, the runner and the umpire all between pitches. It was good practice. Gibson spent decades after this managing from the bench instead.