The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-22
BASE BALL DOOMED.
The Price Asked for the Franohis

AIS Erlce ASKED Tor the franCht6o
Too Much for the Directors.
Base ball is dead in Savannah, for the
present at least. The seeming bright pros
poets were cast TO the winds last night at a
meeting of the board of directors. 1t seems
that while the association had been organ
lied and board Of directors elected, there
had never been any settlement as to what
price should be paid for the franchise. Mr..
Long, who owns the franchise, and who has
been an active worker in creating an inter-
est in the organization of the club, was
asked directly last night what price he
wanted for the franchise.
The price asked by him was, In
the opinion of the Iboard, TOO much
to permit the running of a club with sue
cess and it was unanimously resolved to
dissolve. The money paid for stock taken
in the concern will be returned to-day, or
as rapidly as possible The club, as organ
lied. contained good and responsible men,
and all lovers of the game will regret the
differences that dissolved the organization.
Unless Mr.. Long comes down from his
price or succeeds in forming another Or
gsnizaticn that is willing to pay 10 Savan-
nah will have no base ball next season. For
some reason, best known to themselves, the
directors declined to state what the amount
in dispute vas.
u,
he made the following statement:
az have disposed of my franchise to a
strong syndicate of representative citizens,
who are amply able to secure for Savannah
magnificent season Of sport l have
deemed this course more wise than the
original plan, and better calculated
to carry out its purpose. The present
holders OF the franchise will make
no change in the programme, but will
secure Mr.. Manning, as previously de-
termined upon. and sign ono Of the best and
cleverest teams obtaineble In the country.
The prefent arrangement simply insures
what was originally planned and makes IL
absolutely certain that nothing will stand
in the way Of Savannah's creditable repre-,
sent6tion in the league.
'In placing my franchise in their hands I
feel that have more closely identified Sa-
vannah's interests with the club than could
have been the case had / retained it myself.
The sole end in view has been the promotion
of the sport. 1t is my intention to remain
here long enough to assist in fully perfect
ing the organization of the club, and will
probably not leave until Mr.. Manning is
here and has affairs well In hand"
The Brooklyn Eagle says: The only mat
Ter of interest to base ball patrons and
players which the daily papers now contain
Is the suggestion offered for the amendments
of the league code Of playing rules Of the
game. which code governs every ball club
in the land. By way of showing the alb
surdity Of some Of the amendments advo-
Gated, the following list OF the most prom
nent of them is given below:
l. Having Eve bases around the dia-
mond field, thereby returning to a rule in
vogue forty years ago.
2. Making the ball more elastic. for the
exclusive benefit Of the fungo hitting Glass.
3. To prevent bunting and sacrifice hit
ting, two strong points Of team work at the
bat.
4. Shortening the base lines to 50 feet,
thereby lessening base running and giving
the pitcher a greater advantage than he has
now.
5. Requiring outfislders to stand in a
box like the pitcher until the ball is hit.
This absurd idea emanates from Umpire
Geffney
g. Depriving the outfelders of the pro-
lection Of gloves, so that they may not put
so many fungo hitters out on the fly.
z. Leave the rules alone. ''They are good
enough as they now are" the cry OF the old
fogy magnates and the rutty class Of ball
players and the Cyclone pitchers
The more intelligent aud practical of the
suggested amends will be found in the fol-
lowing list:
l. 10 equalize the calling OF balls and
strikes to four each.
2. To place the pitchers box in the center
of the diamond field, which would make the
distance of the pitchers position from the
batsman's about 60 feet.
8. To do away with out or foul fly catches.
4. To extend the base lines from base to
base from 80 feet to 9S feet TO aid base run
ming
5. To make the round bat the only legal
form in order to prevent unskillful batsmen
from making easy bunt hits
9. To improve the wording of the rules
governing baking, stolen bases and coach
ing, 80 as to avoid existing faulty and
illegal interpretations Of them.
There is not one OF these amendments
which would not, to a more or less extent,
benefit the game by giving greater fscili-
ties for place hitting and team work at the
bat; more opportunities for attractive field
ing, as well as batting, as also for more
activity in base running.
To show the one-sided character of the ex-
isting code Of playing rules it is only neces-
sary to indicate the risks in the form OF outs
which the batsman and base runner have
to encounter in the effort to score single
run in the game. The outs risked by the
batsman are as follows:
!. BY catch of O fair ball.
2. BY catch of q foul ball.
8. By stepping outside the lines of his DO
sition to strike at ball known as q strike.
4. BY striking at Dali IN sucn manner
as to prevent the catcher catching the
pitched ball
5. By purposelv standing so as TO hinder
the catcher from fielding a ball.
gl6. By failing to hit the ball after striking
az it three times.
Z. By refusing to strike at three balls
pitched over the home base and within the
legal range.
8. By taking his position at the bat out Of
the regular order of batting.
The risks of outs the base runner encoun-
ters are as follows:
!. By failing to touch first base after
fair hit bali, before the ball is held by a
fielder on first base.
2. By running outside of the lines Of the
base path from home to first base.
3. By failing TO touch any one base when
running the round of the bases.
4. By being touched with the ball in the
hands of fielder while OFF a base.
5. By interfering with fielder in trying
to catch batted fly bail when on or near
base lines.
s. By hindering fielder from catching q
thrown ball.
Z. By being hit by a batted ball while
running the bases.
s. BY failing TO get back TO base he left
when fair hit ball was caught on the fly.
8. By a similar failure to return In the
case of a foul fly catch,