Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-11-17
SPORTING.
Important Changes In Base Ban Rules
Made at the Chicago Council.

Made at the Chicago Council.
CHICAGO, Ill, Nov. 16.-The Joint
rules committee Of the National league
and American Base Ball associa tlons has
decided upon various changes. In place
Of the stone at home base similar in
size but made OF white rubber, was re
commended. The position Of the first and
third bases was moved seven and a half
inches 80 that the bags would be inside
the foul lines, thereby helping the UNI
pire in deciding whether hit
fell In fair or foul ground. The new rules
OF tbs American association concerning
the positions OF coachers were fuvorably
received. They require that coacher shall
not be nearer than sixty. five feet to the
nome.plate, thereby preventing coacher
from running along the line from the
third base to the home-plate to discon-
cert an opposing player. The league
rule concerning the position OF
the benches and bat rack was
Incorporated in the rules of the American
association. 1t was unanimously reed
that in future all clubs playing under ma
tional agreement shall use either the
Sralding or Beach ball, This was done
to prevent the using Of "dead" balls, soft
balls or "lively" balls by other assocla.
tions in their exhibitions with league or
association club, and to make a
standard ball. 1t was also required Of
the American association that each bail
must be weighed, measured and sealed
with the name of the secretary upon the
box containing the ball, the same as in
vogue Ia the league. la the using of two
balls the committee suggests that when
BAN is tatted out Of sight Of the players
another must be substituted instead
OF waiting until the batted ball
Is returned. Whenever a bali is dam
aged another must be at once brought
into play. The American association is
allowed to use the fat If it 80 desires,
the same as the league. The league
field rules with slight notifications were
also extended to the association leagues.
FURTHER CHANGES MADE.
CHICAGO, LII, Nov. l6 The follow
Ing changes in base ball rules were made
to-day: The nigh and low ball system of
delivery has been abolished, any ball
being considered fair that passes the
player between his shoulder and knee
aud that passes over the plate. Bunting
will In future not be allowed. ANY
obvious attempt to make foul hit will
be scored as a strike. The clubs will not
toss choice Of positions in the future,
the right Of choice Invariably
resting with the home club. Five balls
and four strikes will be allowed instead
OF six balls and three strikes as hereto
fore. When batsmsn takes his base on
balls he shall bc credited with a base hit.
A batsman shall take his base when
struck by a pitched ball. Any motion
whatever on the part of the pitcher made
to deceive the batter shall be considered
ball. Many of the more important
changes Incorporated thus far have been
at The suggestion Of the advisory board,
composed of Captains Arson, Ward, Co
mieky and Swsitwood, who, it is believed,
are carrying out the views and wishes Of
The great majority Of the players in both
OF the greater organizations. Perfect
harmony seems to Sxist between the com
mittee and this board, and the WORK has
heen greatly simpi1ed and rendered far
more effective by the admission of the
players as representatives to the council.