The Yankees asked MLB to investigate whistling sounds that they believed were meant to relay signs to batters in Game 1 of the
2019 AL Championship Series, but MLB said they found no wrongdoing.
[28] Astros
manager A. J. Hinch mocked the Yankees for the accusation, saying: "it made me laugh because it's ridiculous. And had I known that it would take something like that to set off the Yankees or any other team, we would have practiced it in spring training."
[29] The Yankees also reportedly alleged that the Astros were using blinking lights beyond the center-field fences to relay stolen signs in Game 6 of the series.
[30]
Before the 2019 World Series, MLB disciplinarian
Joe Torre and other league officials held an unusual pre-series meeting with the GMs and managers of both teams to warn them against using cameras pointed at the dugouts or at
catchers or using electronics in the dugout.
[31] Multiple Nationals players were contacted by other players around the league to warn them about the Astros. One unnamed Nationals player told
The Washington Post, "It was amazing, once [it was assured] we were playing the Astros, how many people were coming out of the woodwork to let us know what they were doing."
[31] The Nationals developed a complex system of mixing signs to thwart any attempts by the Astros to steal signs in the World Series.
[32] The Nationals went on to beat the Astros by winning four away games at Minute Maid Park.