The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-13
THE LEAGUE ALL RIGHT.
The South to Have a Lively Base Ball
Season.

Season.
| Although Savannah will not be in the
Southern League this year, there are a good
many base ball enthusiasts here who keep
UP with the game. The prospects are
highly favorable the managers of the league
think, for an organization of eight clubs
| upon substantial basis, and with an ex-
celent outlook for successful season. T.,
D. Wharton, president of the league, has
just made a tour of the cities in which it is
| proposed to place clubs 1t has been de-
cided to call meeting of the league in New
Orleans in a short time to complete the or
ganization, to accept schedule and to ar
range for the work Of the season. 1t is ex-
pected that the season will begin April Is.
and continue until the middle of September.
President Wharton, when asked about the
prospects Of the league and the results of
his recent tour, said:
After a careful investigation of the sit
uation in Mobile, Birmingham, Nashville,
Chattanooga and Atlanta l find that the
game Of base ball still retains a strong hold
on the affections of the public, and the de-
sire for season of professional hall is uni
versal. The evil effects of past local ex-
travagance and mismanagement, however
were encountered in each of the cities men
toned, and it was only with great difficulty
that men could be found willing to assume
the chance this season not only for a fine
league, but for one established on solid
basis. Its success this year means the per-
manent success of base ball in the south ~
The schedule meetings of the National
League and American Association were
held last Tuesday, the former at Washing
ton and the latter at Columbus. Both
bodies adopted schedules and completed all
arrangements for the base bail season Of
1889. The league season will begin on
April "A at New York, Washington, Pitts
burg and Indianapolis, and will close on
Oct. at Indianapolis, Pittsburg, Cleveland
and Chicago. The association schedule will
begin on April II &C Philadel ohia, Balti-
more, Cincinnati and Louisville, and end
on Oct. IA at Louisville, Cincinnati, Column
bus and Philadelphia.
The following is a summary of the
changes that have been made in the playing
rules:
Four balls instead of five gives batsman
his base.
If thrown ball should hit the umpire
the runner must return to his base.
The base runner may take a base if a
batted ball hits the umpire on fair ground.
Players must take seats on the players
benches at the conclusion of their inning in
the field.
A foul tip is not out, or a foul fly either,
unless caught outside of line ten feet from
the home base.
The imaginary line has been eliminated
from the pitchers box
The extra player, or tenth man. may
take his place i'll the field at the end of any
inning.
A hunted bali will not count as a strike
unless it is wifully blocked off foul
The runner need not touch the bases on
returning on foul.
The umpire shall not reverse his decision
on the testimony of any player or by
stander
The game is not ended until the ball has
been returned to the pitcher, all runs up
TO that time to count, and the batsman to
get credit for all the bases he can make on
his hit
After player has been fined once for
abusing the umpire that official shall re-
tire him from the game and Su bstitute one
of the men in uniform.
The new rule allowing the captain of a
club to relieve pitcher who il being batted
hard in a game, or weaken ing from any
cause whatever, will be tested early in tie
season by managers. 1t is announced that
many or them will take advantage of the
ten-men rule in nearly every game
1t yet remains to be seen what effect this
ten-men rule will have on the game. 1t
will certainly be a great scheme for the
pitchers, who can keep up a tremendous
pace for four or five innings and then drop
out, giving place to anoth Or twirler. who
viii come into the box as fresh as daisv.
and be strong enough to throw his arm out
of pace for the balance OF the game. 1t
will virtually amount to a team playinp
against two pitchers all the time; for if a
man knows he is to be relieved. perhaps
before the game is half over, he will not
husband his strength, but will pitch for his
life.