Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-03
THE BALL MAGNATES
Put in a Hard Days Work and Fix
the Playing Rules.
DAY DROPS RICHARDSON'S CASE.
Eastern and Western Leagues Fighting
Over the Player Question
KELLY CAN BE BOUGHT FOR $4,000
,eprr,r TELEGRAM TO THE prspArt-u.,

,spFcrAL TELEGRAM TO THE prspATr-u.l
NEW YORK, March 2.-The baseball
magnates put in hard days work to-day,
and seemed to be making an honest effort
to earn their salaries. They first took hold
of the National Agreement, the sai'ent
features of which are already known, and
adopted it without special change. Inc
drafting privilege is confined to the period
between October and February 1.
1t was anticipated that john b. Day
would attempt to bring up the Richardson
matter. but he announced before going into
the meeting that he had given up the hight.
Therefore it appears that Richardson Will
either play for the Washington club next
season or devote all his tine 10 his lucrative
drvgoods business
The Rules Committee made the report,
but no radical changes were effected. A
proposition to reduce the number OF balls
from four TO three was voted down, as was
also proposal to leave pitchers out OF the
batting order. A suggestion to move the
pitcher back three ieet also went by the
board.
The New Playing Rules.
The following playing rules were then
made:
The players berch shall be Is feet back
from the base lines
Kule %. i teau! resorts to dilatory prac-
tice for the purpose of having the game
called on account of darkness or rain the
umpire may forfeit the game TO the CLUB not
at fault.
Added TO rule 60 Provided a ball so deliv-
erred that it touches the bat of the Datsman
in his position, shall be counted batted
bail and in play.
Rule IS II bal strike a fence less than
fnaf t,.pr Z l,.al; In
shall be entitled to only two bases.
Added to section 1, rule II, the words ''his
person." except hand or forearm, which
makes IL dead ball
Added TO rule 80. And not moro than two
coaches who may be one of the players in
the game and anyone i'll the uniform OF the
club at lat shall be allowed at amy one time.
The Umpire Is King.
Rule 50. The mi,ire is the sole and abso-
lutte Judge of plays. In 10 instance shall
any person he allowed to question the cor
rectnesS OF his decision on 4 play. and no
PLAYER shall leave his position in the field,
bases or bench to approach or advise the
umpire. except TO show playing rules and
then only the Captain. No Manager Or any
officer shall go on the fie!d under penalty OF
forfeiture OF the game.
Added to section ,, rule 5G. He shall also
receive from the Captains their respective
batting orders, which when approved shall
be 'oliowed as provided bv rule 49,
Added to section Srue S. Ifa base runner
advances Il lasa on fly out or gains two
bases on Il single base hit. or an infleld out
OF attempted out, he shall be credited with
a stolen base, provided there is Il possible
chance ana lalpable effort made to retire
him.
a Rea-Rot Fight IN Progress.
TIE Eastern Association and Western
League are having a rcd-hot fight on the
PLAYER question. President Williams of
the Western League, who was delegated to
sign 100 players as cheaply as possible,
claims to have secured some of the best
minor league talent afioat, among whom are
Jim Field, Sid Farrar, Petit and others.
Tclegrams from those players received in
this city to-day denied that they had signed
contracts
The Chicago deal for Pfefer
has fallen through.
President White announced Yesterday
that the Eastern Association would meet at
tie Powers House, Rochester, March 9.
W. II. ConanI says that if New York
offered $4,000 for Kelly's release the Bos-
ton men would consider it,