This date in baseball 1900- Astros' inspiration

9/17/00 Reds shortstop Tommy Corcoran uncovers an elaborate sign-stealing apparatus during a game against the Phillies. Standing at 3rdbase when he spike catches a wire in the coach's box.

He digs the wire out of dirt and finds it leads to the Phillies clubhouse behind the outfield fence. A Phillies players is stationed there with binoculars used to steal the signs. By use of the telegraph the signals are relayed with a telegraph to the Phillies' 3rd base coach. Pearce Chiles, Phillies 3rd base coach, would then use voice signals to alert the batter which pitch was coming.