Bresnahan had to obey the injunction and Needham, the only other available catcher, went behind the mat. "Tom" Needham never beat out a bunt in his life, and he destroyed all McGraw's plans because, with him in the game instead of Bresnahan, the style had to be switched. We lost. Bresnahan, a fast man and a good bunter batted third and would have been valuable in the attack best adapted to beat Overall. But his sudden demise and the enforced substitution of the plodding Needham ruined the whole plan of campaign. Therefore, frequently umpires upset a team's "inside" game. One of McGraw's schemes back-fired on him when Luderus, the hard-hitting Philadelphia first baseman, broke into the League. Some one had tipped "Mac" off, and tipped him wrong, that this youngster could be disconcerted in a pinch by the catcher discussing signs and what-not with him, thus distracting his attention. "Chief," said McGraw before the game, "if this Luderus gets up in a tight place, slip him a little talk." The situation came, and Meyers obeyed instructions. The game was in Philadelphia, and three men were on the bases with two out. Ames was pitching. "What are you bringing the bat up with you for?" asked the "Chief" as Luderus arranged himself at the plate. No answer. Then Meyers gave Ames his sign. Next he fixed his fingers in a fake signal and addressed the young batter. "The best hitters steal signs," said the "Chief." "Just look down in my glove and see the signals." But Luderus was not caught and kept his eyes glued on Ames. He hit the next ball over the right field wall and won the game. As he crossed the plate, he said to the "Chief": "It's too easy. I don't need your signs. They pulled that one on me in the bushes long ago." "After this, when that fellow bats," said McGraw to Meyers later, "do as exact an imitation of the sphinx as you know how. The tip was no good." The trick of talking to the hitter is an old one. The idea is for the catcher to give a wrong sign, for his benefit, after having flashed the right one, induce the batter, usually a youngster, to look down at it, and then have the pitcher shoot one over the plate while he is staring in the glove.