Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-02
Manager Buckenberger Wants
a New Rule About
Changing Pitchers
TO STOP BURLESaUE GAMES
a. G. Spalding Wants Three Player s
on the Rules Committee.
GREGGAINS CHALLENGES FITZ.
Goddard Writes Letter Stating That He
Is in Fine Condition.
GENERAL SPORTING NEWS OF THE DAY

A suggestion has been made by Manager
Buckenberger to the committee appointed
to revise the rules of the 12-club league that
isworthy of attention. The suggestion re-
lates to the changing of pitchers by side
that is hopelessly behind in game long
before it is finished. During converse
tIon yesterday Mr.. Buckenberger explained
his suggestion as follows:
Every season there are games wherein
pitcher is thoroughly knocked out in the
first, second or third inning. The nine to
which the pitcher belongs falls so far behind
in the score that the manager does not care
who is put in to relieve the knocked-out
pitcher. The latter may be good man and
is consequently taken out of the box so as to
try and get into better shape for another
day. When he is taken out an inielder or
outfelder is put in to finish the game, and
the contest becomes a burlesque The spec
tators become disguised and the game is in
jured. l remember one occasion when there
was a very close fight for the Association
pennant between the st. Louis and Brook
lyn teams. The Brooklyns went to BAlti-
more to play and Barnie took several of his
regular felders out of the game and filed
their places with pitchers and oatchers OF
course the BrooklyHs won easily.
"Now, this is something that a rule
should prevent, and l suggest, in fact I
have suggested TO the Rules Committee that
they make q rule providing that when q
pitch er is knocked out, as we term, another
bona fide pitcher replace him. Further,
that no matter how tar team may be be-
hind, that no PLAYER he changed so as to
palpablv weaken the losing side. What I
want is something that will tend to make q
losing team piay right to the finish just as
earnestly as if they were in the lead. This,
of course, cannot be absolutely guaranteed.
but something can be done to make things
better than they are now"
1t is not generally known that A. G.
Spalding suggested that the Rules Commit
tee consist of three PLAYERS along with
Messrs Byrnes, Won der Horst and Brush.
Like everything that Mr.. Spalding has sug-
guested in connection with baseball the
suggestion in question is a wise one. Prob
ably the present committee is one of the
weakest that could have been appointed.
Their practical knowledge of the game is
comparatively small, and if they were aided
by three intelligent bali players there
would be more likelihood of sound revision
of the rules. But it is not surprising that
the suggestion was ignored when the nature
of the element that rules the League is con-
sidered
1t was authoritatively stated yesterday
that Mr. Spalding has been importuned to
once more identify himself with baseball af-
fairs. SO as to assist in getting the national
game back to its former prestige. Since he
left its councils the League has gone from
bad to worse, and the reason is not far to
seek Mr.. Spalding, however, at present
declines to re-enter the business. This re-
solve, it is alleged, is because the 'combi
nation" does not want him. 1t is to be hoped
that the time is not far distant when Mr..
Spalding's wise counsels will once more
prevail, and then there will be some hope
tof the national game.