The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-08
PITCHERS HANDICAPPED.
New Rules Which Are Apt TO Better
Batting advantages.

Batting Advantages.
New York. March THE spring meet
ing Of tho National League OF base ball
clubs was held at the Fifth Avenue hotel
to-day. The clubs represented we're Boston,
tittsburR, Cincinnati, Chicago, Washing
ton, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Louisville,
Cleveland. and Brooklyn.
A new national board Of arbitration was
appointed consisting OF Messrs. Young,
Soden and Vanderhorst.
The evening meeting at which the play
ing rules were to be revised, was an open
one. John T. Brush read the findings Of
the committee on playing rules, which
were as follows:
Rule 5. The pitchers boundary shall be
marked by white rubber plate II inches long
by inches wide, so fixed In the ground as to be
even with the surface, at o distance Of 90 feet
olncaes from the southern corner OF the home
plate, so that a line drawn from the center of
the home base to the center OF the second base
Will give inches upon either side.
A CHECK ON wRANGLING.
Mr.. Brush said this would remove a very
Objectionable feature OF wrangling between
oontesting teams and the umpire about the
pitcher being out Of his box. The box Is
removed entirely and the pitcher
placed back five feet from his
present position, and he is confined to
single place from which Co pitch the ball
Mr.. Brush also said that the committee, in
looking INTO the matter, could see no reason
why the pitcher should have four feet in
which to walk around in and the privilege
OF delivering from either corner of the box.
THE PITCHERs POSITION.
In addition to the last rule was No. "a.
defining the pitchers position as follows:
The pitcher shall take his position facing the
bstsmau with both feet square on the ground
foot ia front of and vii N
pitcher plate defined in rule B. lie shall not
raise either foot except Ia the act OF delivering
the ball, nor make more than one step In such
delivery. he shall hold the ball before delivery
fairly in front OF his body and Ia sight of the
umpire When pitcher feigns to throw the
ball TO a base be must resume the above posi-
ton and pause momentRrily before delivering
the ball to the bat
Players benches must be furnished by a home
club and placed outside OF and not nearer than
twenty five feet from the playerg lines, one
such bench is to be for the exclusive use OF the
visiting club and the other for the home club.
and the players Of the competing teams shall
occupy their respective benches during the
progress of the game.
FLAT BATS RULED OUT
Rule IS aboIishes tho fiat bat as follows:
The bat must be- made wholly Of hard wood
except that the handle may be wouad with
twtne, etc, 10 not over eighteen inches from
the end. 10 must be round, not over 2IS inches
ia diameter in the thick part, and not over ~
inches in length.
Rule 80, defining the balk, is a model
of conciseness, but it leaves a rather
wide field open for Interpretation by the
umpire. 1t says: "A balk shall be any
motion made by pitcher TO deliver ball
to bat without delivering it."
Rule 6j says:
A time at bat is the term at bat of the bats
man. It begins when he takes his position and
continues until he is put out or becomes "a base
runner, except when because of being hit with a
pitched ball or Ia any case OF an illegal delivery
by the pitcher, or in case Of a sacrifice hit pur
posely made TO advance base runner which
does not result in a base hit.
Mr.. Brush said the above were the prin-
cipRl changes In the rules