["< sod > longstanding rumors that the 1951 giants engaged in systematic sign stealing during the second half of the season were confirmed in 2001. several players told the'' [ [ wall street journal ] ]'' that beginning on july 20, the team used a telescope, manned by coach [ [ herman franks ] ] in the giants clubhouse behind center field, to steal the finger signals of those opposing catchers who left their signs unprotected. stolen signs were relayed to the giants dugout via a buzzer wire. < ref > { { cite news | first = joshua harris | last = prager | title = inside baseball : giants'1951 comeback, the sport's greatest, wasn't all it seemed | publisher = wall street journal | date = january 31, 2001 } } < / ref > [ [ joshua prager ( writer ) | joshua prager ] ], the author of the'' journal'' article, outlined the evidence in greater detail in a 2008 book. < ref > prager, j :'' the echoing green : the untold story of bobby thomson, ralph branca and the shot heard round the world''. new york : vintage books, 2008. isbn 0375713077. < / ref > < eod > < sod > longstanding rumors that the 1951 giants engaged in systematic sign stealing { { clarify | what does this mean? } } during the second half of the season were confirmed in 2001. several players told the'' [ [ wall street journal ] ]'' that beginning on july 20, the team used a telescope, manned by coach [ [ herman franks ] ] in the giants clubhouse behind center field, to steal the finger signals of those opposing catchers who left their signs unprotected. stolen signs were relayed to the giants dugout via a buzzer wire. < ref > { { cite news | first = joshua harris | last = prager | title = inside baseball : giants'1951 comeback, the sport's greatest, wasn't all it seemed | publisher = wall street journal | date = january 31, 2001 } } < / ref > [ [ joshua prager ( writer ) | joshua prager ] ], the author of the'' journal'' article, outlined the evidence in greater detail in a september 2008 book. < ref > prager, j :'' the echoing green : the untold story of bobby thomson, ralph branca and the shot heard round the world''. new york : vintage books, 2008. isbn 0375713077. < / ref > < eod >"]