Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-08

short OF very dishonorable conduct on more than
one occasion. One amusing circumstance OF
the matter is an earnest homlly that Ptener
got off to me when he was last here. During a
conversation he went on 20 lament the ire
quency of dirty ball playing this season. and
urged that something should be done to stop it.
He referred particularly to Ewing. This Is
amusing when ii is stated that the day after
Mr.. Pfetfer poured out his lamentations and
censure, he. in the most ungentlemanly and
brutal manner disabled Dunlap. Not long
before that Ewing was the means of disabling
Miller Case after case could be cited to show
to what a deplorable extent this dastardly and
contemplate work has developed. Now, what
claim is this: 1t can be stopped, and stopped en-
tirely. If it is not stopped, it will be SO
much the worse for the dignity and
popularity OF the national game. The UNI
pire can easily stop, if managers won't
do it. The umpires should be given
full swing in a matter of this kind and for any
violation OF the rules of gentlemanly conquct
player should be fined as heavy as possible and
ordered off the field. If penalties of this kind
were enforced all round dirty ball playing, as
it's called, would soon disappear. of course
player deserves all the credit for any cunning
and legitimate trick he may devise and sue
cessfuify put into operation, but there is a
difference between a trick designed 10 only
outwit another PLAYER and Trick designed TO
The question is certainiy worthy Of notice at the
annual meeting OF the League.
President Youns's Notions.
1t now seems certain that will have the
double umpire system in full swing next year in
the League at least President Young has de-
clared himself definitely on that point and in
tends to recommend the League to entirely
adopt the system. This means, 1 think,
that it will be adopted, because
if am rightly informed President
Young has, heretofore, been one OF the strong op-
nonents of the new system. He has opposed Its
introduction so far because of the extra expense
it would entail. However, matters have come TO
such a climax that expense is out Of the question
and this is really very pleasing termination ofa
long controversy. / have always been an adyo-
cate OF the double umpire system ana nave
claimed that the good resulting from its operation
would more than outweigh the question OF extra a
been quarrels. i'll feeling and unpleasant scenes
caused by the shortcomings of the present system.
These unpleasantries and rows would not nave
been had the proposed system been in operation.
Matters have even been worse in the American
ganization will also fully adopt the system now
advocated by President Young; President Young
has also another idea which he wishes to have
soidifed into a rule. He sees much deXterity ana
good play in catcher nabbing foul up. AZ
present a play of this kind counts for naught
ana President Young thinks there certainly ought
to be some kind of reward for such accomplished
foul tip count a strike against the batter. This
seems to be such a fair and honest proposllon,
that it is hard to imagine any strong opposition to
IT, itis often yery interesting 10 watch a catcher
catch foul tip and often the best klnd OF skni Is
to AWNING toward removing the batter. it would
be an encouragement to better work. But Mr..
Spalding is also suggesting another change in the
playing rules, which will not tally very well with
the change suggested by President Young. MI
Spalding wants foul flies abolished entirely, that
is he desires that foul fly do not interfere with
the game. The proposed change certainly seems
too sweeping to ever be ADOPTED when we con- soni
flies now and again. Why some OF the exciting
playing is in catching those kind of flies. And
WHY take this inducement for extraordinary
work away? Mr.. Spaldng says to give the batters
chance, but 1t may be asked in reply:
abolished simply to keep man longer time at
bat? Are there no other means of aiding the bat
ter If more batting is still needed? Really, If 1t
comes down TO a question of batting and nothing
more why not take all the foul lines away at once!
However. If President Young's foul-tip sugges-
ton is made law, and it likely will, there is not
much fear of Mr.. Spalding's proposed change
being adopted, The formers object is to sustain
good features of play while the iatters is to
abolish them.