The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-23
BASEBALL RULES.
w. l. Harris Writes Of This
Seasons Changes in Them.
LAW REGARDING SUBSTITUTES.
1t VIII Enable Each Side to Play Three
Pitchers to Game # Necessary-Batted
Balls-Kickins Against Time-How the
Two Leagues Differ.

I -AD%~AS~ 49," N~G
Two Leagues Differ.
The baseball rules Of 1890 will not differ
| greatly from those of 1882 but some changes
| have been made few Of which are radical
! The most important of the changes made by
| the playing rules committee OF the League
! and Association was that in regard TO substi-
tute players. *4ast season only one man could
be put in, and he only at the completion of
| an even inning Now club can have two
extra men in uniform, and put them into the
game at any moment It's captain deems it de-
sirable. This rule gives club great leeway
in close contests which may decide the PEN
nant, because under it team may use three
different pitchers in one game.
Last season, when a base runner was hit
with a batted ball, he was out, and an in
fielder might regain the ball and also put the
batsman out. Such double plays are not
now permitted. The man who hits the ball is
entitled to his base, and the man who is hit
by the batted ball is out.
A good many teams last season won games
by reason of darkness, by taking advantage
of the time limit. This was done by making
a kick and when the umpire declined 10 allow
it the captain of the kicking nine would re-
AOoC W lJL11. OHlci IAC UAS ILlS Q
would give him five minutes to play. At the
expiration of time the objector would decide
not to forfeit the game; indeed, he never had
the slightest intention of doing so, but he
gained about FIVE minutes, or as long as the
umpire would listen to argument, and then
five minutes on top Of that. Nine times out
of ten the time SO gained was sufficient 10
drag the game into darkness and gain the de-
sired object. This year the umpire will be
able TO prevent this. He is authorized to for
felt the game if either side delays one minnie
after he has ordered them to play
The baIk rule, generally dead letter, will
be strictly enforced this season. ANY motion
toward pitching must be followed by an i'm
mediate delivery of the ball, otherwise balk
must be called. This enforcement will indi-
rectly tend to greatly increase base running
This season batsmen will derive every ad-
vantage that comes from a new ball. When
a new one is put into play the pitcher must
deliver it at once without doing the old
tricks of rubbing it in the dirt and passing it
around so that the fielders may discolor it.
The effect of this rule will be felt toward the
end of games, when a new ball can be more
easily located than an old one. Delay for
discoloration of the sheepskin is now an an
noyance of the past.
In regard to the calling of strikes, the new
rules empower the umpire to call strike on
the batsman in the case of the ball of the
third called strike hitting his person after be-
ing struck at, in which case he is declared
out at once The rule declaring a bats1nan
out now retires him if he in any way at
tempts to hinder the catcher from fielding
the ball, and also if the pitched ball touches
his clothing while making the third strike.
This year the old rule about the ending of
the games is again in force. The game is
over the moment the winning run is scored.
Under the rule which prevailed last year the
game did not end until the ball was returned
to the pitcher after the winning run was
made. The change was adopted in order to
give player the full benefit of any long hit
he might make that brought in the winning
run; but it acted unfairly, because the ball,
after the winning hit was made, generally
got into the crowd, and men making single
hits were able TO get credit for home runs.
The old rule was the best, and the change
back to it was wise.
There are some other minor changes, among
which are provision for rubber plates in the
pitchers box and rule requiring all players
to say ''Mr. Umpire. 1t is intended to stop
the familiarity between umpires and players,
which is believed to interfere with a proper
observance of the unpire's dignity and TO
cause a lack of field discipline. The rule has
good basis, but will probably prove dead
letter unless the umpires fine the players when
they break it, which they are not likely to do.
On the whole, it will be seen that the changes
are not likely to confuse the enthusiast, and
indicate that the rules are pretty near perfect
as they stand.
The rules Of the Players league vary but
little from those Of the National league.
There are some additions and one innovation.
The most important addition is the rule re-
quiring two umpires for each game. 1t is
good rule, and one that the public generally
has demanded for long time The National
league would do well to adopt il, 1t is only
a question Of time when they will be forced
to do SO.
The one radical change made by the rules
committee OF the Players league is to put
the pitcher back one and one-haf feet The
result of this innovation viii be closely
watched as it is in line with the policy advo-
Gated by made experts toward increasing the
batting. 1t was made as a sort of compro-
mise with the men who wanted to put the
pitcher back five feet. I do not think myself
that the eighteen inches adopted by the Play
ers' league win prove much Of a handicap on
the pitchers; indeed, am doubtful if il viii
make difference that the crankiest Of cranks
can figure out.
The Players made a rule which viii stop
double plays made heretofore by juggling
fy balls when there are men on bases. Here
is the full text Of the rule: IF, when there is
- i 81
two players on the side at bat have been put
out in the inning then being played, the bats
man makes fair hit so that the ball falls
within the inf1eld and the bali touches any
fielder, whether held bv him or not, before it
touches the ground ths batsnan Is out"
It viii be seen thai Il order to make a
double play the ball mast be allowed 70 drop
clean. II may Be '-sRotheredH y but the
'sulothering~ must b. unuistskable.
The umpjres are designated as NO. L and
''No. p No. goes behind ths bat He de-
cides upon and calls ali balls, strikes. blocks,
dead balls, fair hi5s foul hits, foul strikes,
Intentional fouling OF balls, al Questions rs
to delays, all decisions at tus plate and shah
call Play and Time All other ques-
tons. including 5al<s and Illegal deliveries, T
shall be settled by umpire no z
mere were BuBoeT OF MINOR changes {
msde, slch as zbolishiEg catche-s' lines and /
4 rule providing thst when a haL goes out Of (
rha unnpiTe's signt & new bal shall oe put into /
pay.
Rule 5 provides for WOODEN PCS n TIE cor /
,ers OF the pitchers boI, and rue ilrlits ne 4
lines 70 tulrtv-five fee
None ef the changes are & q nature 20 4
puzzle man well up il last YeAx1s rules, but (
4 Iacx cf koowls3ze on the sunye-t might in 4
-e-fere wicn proper appreciation and under
sanding q some ere points q plAv All TIRE .
,hangsS ard alterations made ey ooth leagues 4
are IA tee lne II progress ara s-e Zeue-ally .