The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-28
BALL RULES CHANGED
And a New Office Created by Ma
tiOnal League Magnates.
Harry Wright Made Chief of Umpires
with Sa larry of 2,O00-Playing
Schedule Adopted.

NEW YORK, Feb. 27.-The baseball mag
mates were late getting together to-day, ii
being after noon before they got down to
business at the Fifth-avenue Hotel. The
only new face among the "twirle1s'' to-day
was that of Manager ComisBey, of Gin
cinnati The first work done by the League
to appoint Harry Wright, the former
manager of the Philadelphia team, chief
umpire. 1t is understood the position was
created especially to honor the veteran man.
ager. Mr. Wright's new duties require him
rot only to assign the various umpires in
the League to the various circuits, but also
demand that he sees, SO far as is in his
power, that the unpires do their duty faith
fully and honestly. The jsalary of the posi-
ton will be $1,000 per arinum and expenses.
The appointment met with the hearty ap-
proval of every player and magnate present.
The committee on rules and the magnates
of the clubs went into session to resume
consideration of the proposed amendments.
The session continued until late this even
ing. During the afternoon it was rurno-ed
that the New York club had purchased the
release of pitcher Meekin and third baseman
Tarrell, OF the Washington club for $500.
This was confirmed later by Talcott
At 715 Mick" Young came out of the
committee room and invited the reporters,
baseball magnates, players and others in
persons accepted the invitation Glasses
were passed around and the health OF
Harry Wright was proposed as THE father
then announced the result of the work OF
the committee. Some slight changes in
the wording of Rules Al. 80 and 81 were
made, and the new Rule 3S, made yeSter-
day, was changed to read follows: "A
bunt hit is a fair hit If the ball falls in the
infield."
Section V of Rule Sc was amended as foa-
lows: THE umpire may remove q player
for violation of Section 1 OF this rule in
lieu of a fine. but under no circumstances
shall he remove a player for violation of
Section ii of this rule, unless upon repeti-
ton of the offense, as prescribed in Sec
tions /, II and Ill"
I'm Column shall be placed sacrifice
hits, which shall be sacrificed to batsman
who. when no one is out or when only one
is out, advances a baSe-runner a. base by
a bunt on a sacrifice hit which results in
putting out the batsman or would 50 re-
suit If handled without error
The secretary was instructed to Issue a
weekly official bulletin showing the standing
of the clubs at the beginning OF each week.
The Philadelphia club difficulty was ar
gross receipts. Mr.. Byrne of the Brooklyn
club, exhibited the design OF a silver cup,
value $500, which an unknown admirer pro-
poses to present to the League, 10 be known
as the trophy cup" and to be played for
in a series Of three. five. seven or nine
games by the clubs standing first and Sec
ond at the end of the season, the cup to
be the property of the club winning it three
seasons in succession. 1t was also suggest
ed that the net proceeds of these games be
given to the players of the two clubs. The
umpires for the season have not yet been
selected.
,rhe final act of the magnates was to ac-
cept the report Of the schedule committee,
after which the committee adjourned until
the latter part OF November New York
gets two games at home with the Cleve-
lands on Memorial day and Brooklyn two
on the same day with the st. Louis. Chi
cago, as usual, gets Independence day,
when she will play two games with the
Quaker City club. Boston gets two games
with the Chicago on Labor day. and Pitts
burg also meets the Bostons for two games
on their home grounds on the Fourth Of
July. Cincinnati plays at Boston on Me-
mortal day, and is at home on July 4, with
prooklvn