Baseball is set apart from other sports by many things, but few are more distinctive than the intricate systems of coded language that govern action on the field and give baseball its unique appeal. During a nine-inning game, more than 1,000 silent instructions are given-from catcher to pitcher, coach to batter, fielder to fielder, umpire to umpire-and without this speechless communication the game would simply not be the same. Baseball historian Paul Dickson examines for the first time the rich legacy of baseball's hidden language, offering fans everywhere a smorgasbord of history and anecdote. nbsp; Baseball's tradition of signing grew out of the signal flags used by ships and soldiers' hand signals during battle. They were first used in games during the Civil War, and then professionally by the Cincinnati Red Stockings, in 1869. Seven years later, the Hartford Dark Blues appear to be the first team to steal signs, introducing a larcenous obsession that, as Dickson delightfully chronicles, has given the game some of its most historic-and outlandish-moments. nbsp; Whether detailing the origins of the hit-and-run, the true story behind the home run that gave "Home Run" Baker his nickname, Bob Feller's sign-stealing telescope, Casey Stengel's improbable method of signaling his bullpen, the impact of sign stealing on the Giants' miraculous comeback in 1951, or the pitches Andy Pettitte tipped off that altered the momentum of the 2001 World Series, Dickson's research is as thorough as his stories are entertaining. A roster of baseball's greatest names and games, past and present, echoes throughout, making The Hidden Language of Baseball a unique window on the history of our national pastime. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

In this quick but sweeping examination, baseball historian Dickson (The New Dickson Baseball Dictionary; The Joy of Keeping Score) explores the intricacies of baseball's "hidden language," the rapid-fire signs that are delivered in a manner that can escape even well-tutored fans. After discussing the general impact of the game's "secrecy" and "deception," the author opts for a largely chronological path, crediting the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings for first employing "coded signs and signals." The great catcher King Kelly devised the modern method of finger signals for fastballs and curves. Others worked to decipher various signs, but even the supposedly sharpest sign stealer, Dickson notes, might get crossed up, resulting in beanings, including possibly the ones that dramatically affected the careers of both Mickey Cochrane and Ducky Medwick. In the last half of the 20th century, new methods for pilfering signs, including those involving the stands and scoreboards, were developed. The book nears a close with the Bobby Thompson homer that won the 1951 National League pennant for the Giants, a feat purportedly aided by the slugger's foreknowledge of Ralph Branca's fateful pitch. While the subject matter remains interesting, this book at times lacks a spark befitting its subject. Still, it belongs in all baseball collections.-R.C. Cottrell, California State Univ., Chico Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Dickson, whose more than 40 books include several baseball titles, returns to the national pastime with a thoroughly researched account of the game's idiosyncratic forms of communication. As hard as it is to unearth fresh information about such a richly documented sport, Dickson has plenty of new stories and details. Who knew, for example, that the savvy Ty Cobb would often tip his hand, giving opponents an idea of when he planned to bunt or steal a base? And who had any idea that the Chicago White Sox 1959 pennant drive was aided by sign stealing from the center-field scoreboard? Anyone who has ever played or coached youth baseball or paid close attention to the third-base coach at a big-league game will appreciate the author's guided tour through the history of diamond sign language. Dickson is a fine storyteller, and his latest book is a welcome addition to the rich canon of baseball literature. --Kevin Canfield From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.