The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-04-22
PRESIDENT d. b. JOHNSON

BhiucS uB'tISU Jue DlB tcuUlS Oh Inc major
league. Early last summer predicted the
reorganization of the Western league and
expressed the belief that it would meet
with decided success. There is no reason
to change the tone Of that belief. The times
are proptious; the circuit is strong and we'll
arranged; good men are behind the various
clubs; teams seem to be we'll made up, and
last of all the league has Mt its head m ex-
ecutive officer who is in himself tower of
strength to the organization.
have the pleasure of personal acquaint-
ancc with President Ban johnson of the
Western league, and what is said of him
herein Is matter of knowledge, not of
hearsay He was associated with the sport
ing department of the Cincinnati CONNER
cial Gazette in 1885, when reported the
Cincinnati games for that paper. In later
years he took up the baseball work of The
Commercial Gazette and became one of the
most pronounced "cranks'' In the west
During the excitement of game Ban was
accustomed to grow wild and woolly. A
cowboy on crusade was mot in it' with
him on such occasions. twas nothing un-
expected In Cincinnati to see the present
presiding officer of tho Western league
leaning far over the front of the press box
and paying his wordy and not ambiguous
left handed respects to the offending UNI
mobbed on the Cincinnati grounds, but had
such an assault occurred it is most prob
able that Ban would have cast the first
stone.
1t Is of such baseball stuff that President
Ban johnson is made. He is in the game
heart, soul, body and creased trousers
There Is nothing lukewarm or uncertain
about his love for the sport His knowl-
cage OF the science is not entirely theoretic-
al. In his school days Ban was a catcher
for the Marietta (O) college team and
was accounted the best amateur catcher
In the state. With mind that is entirely
impartial, a will that is forcible and an en-
thusiasm that is powerful Mr.. johnson. it
seems to me, Is bound to be the right man
IN the right place for the Western league.
That he Is prime fighter was proved by
his hearty, whole souled work as secretary
OF the American association during the
latter's war with the National league in
1891.
Every year the National league appoints
a committee of three to revise the PLAYING
rules, and every year the committee pro
ceedS 10 do the revision act whether there
is need OF revision or not. They utter the
sentiment of Flanagan of Texas, What
are we here for?" and straightway begin to
paw over the playing rules like so many
something must give way before them sim.
ply to Justify their appointment.
Ihese rules committeeman usually are
'magnates," who can tell the difference be-
tween the home plate and the bat bag, but
not much more. If ball players like Arson.
Comiskey, Ward, Hanlon, Pfeffer. Tebeau
or Nash were put on the committee, "revi-
sion" would not be INDUCED in for the mere
sake of making n showing.
The last rules committee made more mis-
takes than Bob lngersoll ever laid to the
credlt OF Moses, the ancient lawmaker and
the original rules committee of one The
most glaring asinine blunder of the bunch.
however, was the abolition of the tran
ball. !" TO do this the committee submitted
rule which was adopted and which saws.
The batsman is out if he hits fly bali
that can be handled by an infielder while
frst base is occupied, with only one out"
In recent game Arlic Latham put the
seal of Righteousness upon that rule I'm n
way that should call for it's repeal forth
with There was man on first base; one
man was out; the batsman popped up fly
which threatened to hit Arlie on the head
unless he moved or put up his hands. He
moved-got out of the balls way and let it
fall to the ground with dull, sickening
thud." Then he picked up the ball, tossed
1t to the pitcher and shouted:
; 1--WE don't have to catch that kind this
year, Mr.. Umpire"
McQuade, National league umpire, was
officiating, and he called in rather sheep
ish way, "Batter's out" And he was ont
according to the rule as revised
Yet this is baseball playing as those
'puddin' head'' rules committeeman are
making it. Isn't it about time for Presi-
dent Young to name men on that commit
tee who will not monkey with the rules
unless there is need for changer 1t would
not be so bad if these rule butchers affected
only the playing in the National league,
but unfortunately they revise rules which
ara rsel hv evarv olnb