The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-08-18
A 3d.. PROBLEM.
An Accident which Should Have Ssea
scored IA Error for the Pitcher.

Scored IA Error for the Pitcher.
There was some talk made some time
ago. by some people connected in soma
way with baseball matters, Of amend.
ing the rules of the National League BY
enacting that when batsman is hit with
4 pitched ball, he shall be allowed to
take his base, and the pitcher shall DO
charged with an error. But, some-
how, whether the pitchers lobby was
too strong or the batsman's cause too
weak know not the project appears
10 have failed of a passage.
For my part l am sorry. ! was a
sincere advocate OF the measure, and
used my powerful lung capacity and
indelib!e pencil (Which l have since dis
carded by special request Of the editor)
in its behalf. In doing so I was actu-
ated by none but the most humane mo-
tives. am neither batsman nor a
pitcher. Batsmen have frequently
tried to curry favor with me by knock
ing hot fouls into that part of the crowd
where | was located; but have al
ways repealed such advances by get
ting out of the way, and letting some
other patriot catch the ball wherever
he listed. And as for the pitchers,
can truthfully say that none of them
ever done me any injury, and probably
never will as long as l remain stead
fast in my determination not to umpire
Il game of ball under any circumstances
whatever.
No, my love for the batsman is as
platonic as my animus against the
pitcher is righteous. Both are the
natural outpOurings of sympathetic
and impulsive heart. Verify, | have
witnessed scenes on the ball-field that
have stirred my soul to its utmost
depths, and made me long not only to
charge the pitcher with an error, but
to take a bat and pursue the scOundrel
around the diamond like an avengin9
fate.
have seen many batsman step ia
the plate as fresh and vigorous as a
young god, and fully confident OF
achieving no less than two-bagger,
only to drop his bat the next moment,
as the bali hit him in the elbow, and
then. after brief dance to the music
of his throbbing nerves, to feebly sell
out on strikes in accordance with the
deep designs of the pitcher. And lhave
seen umpires thumped and bruised in
most unmerciful manner by pitchers
whom they have offended by an inju.
dicious calling of balls.
But the greatest tragedy of which
was ever Mortified spectator took
place at a game last summer. The
captain of one of the mines was what is
technically known as Kicker Tha,
is, he would stand near iirst-base and
harass the opposing pitcher by shout
ing in season and out of season: eli,
Mr.. Umpire, keep that man in hi:
box!" Upon this occasion the kicker
was more than usually aggressive, and
the pitcher correspondingly excited.
| At last the 'kickcr" took turn at the
bat.
saw wild CLEAN in the eye of the
! pitcher as he pulled the elastic band {
little tighter on his arm, and com
pressed his lips as though saying to
himself "Oh, you'll try to cheese mt
up, will you'' He stepped back tt
the farthest limit of his position, lunaet
I tor1l..a;Ahd, with uncrrTg precision
and diidodgeable CELEBRITY, sent in the
ball. 1t hill the batsman full in the
head, and keeled him into the arms Of
the catcher with force that Knocked
the wind out of the lattcr's chest-pro.
| tector.
1t was four weeks before that man
again came to. the bat, and then his
face was fretted with plasters, and the
end of his nose was pointed, like the
finger of scorn, to the grand stand.
Now, may be thought an exceeding
ly harsh man; but | certainly think
that that should have been scored an
error for the pitcher And further.
more think that if the patslnan had
been allowed to take tirst-base, or even
all four bases, he would have had nc
more of poultice than his injuries
called for.
| believe compromise has been
effected by which, whenever batsman
is hit with pitched ball the fact is re-
corded in the summary of the official
score. But whether it is to be taken a,
fault OF the pitcher, or joke on the
batsman, | am unable TO state
| HODkpt Jones, in Puck.