, 1880-04-25
CURIOUS POINTS.

CURIOUS POINTS.
A point was settled in Thursdays game
with the Nationals which is of interest anG
importance to visiting clubs and umpires OF
the Chicago grounds. Dalrymple batted over
the rightfield fence q bail which, beyond
dispute, went over the fence fair" but
which, equally without doubt, must have
struck foul" on the outside, as 1t was
| curved by the wind in that direction. The
umpire pronounced it foul ball, whereat
Capt. Anson protested and referred to the
| rules. Being unable to turn at once to the
rule covering the case he yielded the point,
and Dalrymple went back to the batsman's
position, this time hitting q clean one-baser.
Later, however, Anson found and showed
| the rule. to the umpire, Mr. Furlong, who
| promptly acknowledged his error, though in
the meantime the inning had closed. The
| rule In question is Rule 4, Class l, under the
| head Of 81 Materials Of the Game" and Is as
| follows:
! "Rule4. The Foul Lines must be drawn In
straight lines from the outer corner Of the
| Home Base through the centre Of the posi-
tions of First and Third Bases, to the bourda~
7ies Of the Ground"
By the words italicized it will be seen that
the 2 ae STEP to eSs g ne renee
pire, with the red mark or the flagstaff on
the fence as his guide, sees that the ball is
fair at the point where it goes over the fence,
he must rule it to be a fair ball upon which
point settled and understood, as the Chicago
grounds are quite narrow, and there Is
good deal Of oyer-the-fence hitting for an
umpire to rule upon.
Another point in the, rules, which is not
quite SO clear, occurred during one Of the
games last week. Gore being at the bat,
missed the third strike, and the ball hit him
on the body, and fell and folled away few
feet. so that Gore by quick running got to
of there. He was allowed to hold the base
:dead ead fP['e bal[ because % W it was strfe The
rule in the case Is as follows:
the bat by the pitcher that touches the bats
mans bat without being struck at, or any
part Of the batsman's person without being
struck att while standing in his position, or
any part Of the unlpire's person without hay
ing been struck att, without first passing the
catcher"
The words in brackets are given as explain
ing tho construction placed upon the rule by
MI Furlong, Capt Anson, President HUI
s 6s 4 spadn pd pa ~eh se6 Essa 8SSa nuiae s Rs
to be considerable difference Of opinion, and
which is worth considering and being con-
c1usiycly settled by League legislation OF
necessary.
THE CHICAGO TEAM OF 1880.
In review OF the League teams Of 1880,
the Clipper passes Judgment on the different
mines, and has this to say Of Chicago:
It's the very general opinion OF all the club
managers that Chicago has "the boss nine" OF
the eight clubs in the League arena this gear:
Since 1875 they have had a. bossed " nine, and
that has been the weak point: but the promise
this season is that there will be less of what may
be called outside Interference, In which case the
team is likely to work ktogether as whole better
thun it hns done since 1876. Chicago has two
very effective batteries In Flint and Goldsmith
and Kelly and Corcoran. This year they have
men Of reliable character and habits as their
pitchers, and her8 is where the team has been
greatly strengthened Then, too their inf1eld
Support. consisting OF Anson, Quest, william
son. and Burns. is one hard to beat; While their
outfieId is up to a high mark. with Da1rynpie;
Gore, and Kelly in position. II strong maternal
can win the pennant, Chicago this season has
chance to repeat its success Of 1875; but Il qe-
pends entirely how the team fs rue; u spaIo-
ln0 can eet the " old man" to let the club rpn
itself under Anson, 1t Is probable that al VIII Pc
well; but II there Is to be any more G1 & ta9
:. bosslng" done, then the team is just as Axey
to be no nearer the goal than 1t has oeen au1nis
the past three SEASONS
In a general way this Is very tntalagene
estimate OF the strength Of the Chicago team