Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-26
TO IMPROVE THE GAME.


Rules Committee.
The rules committee of the National
Base Ball League, in session at New York,
has chiefly endeavored to do away with
senseless Kicking by players on the field
and to prevent the use of ruffianly Ian
guage. If the committees report is ac-
cepted by the league and the umpires en-
force thu power reposed In them, one of the
greatest puisances Of base ball will this
year be abolished.
The re ,ort advises that ANY player other
than tt captain leaving his position in
the field or leaving the bench to question a
decision Of the umpire shall be fined so for
the first offense, and for the second offense
quired to leave the field forthwith. Players
violating the coaching rules shall, upon a
repetition Of their offerse, subject their en-
tire team to surrender Of all coaching
and any player removed from a contest for
using bad language shall be Ineligible to
play in championship game for the next
three succeeding days"
The committee evidently realized that the
present rules against noisy and senseless
coaching and kicking are stringent enough,
but that the fault Is In their non-enforce-
ment, for they made the following recon-
the duty of the umpire to enforce the rules
as they are written, regardless Of his per-
sonal opinion. This shall especially apply
to section Of rule Sc, and In the event Of
shall be fined SO for each offense. upon the
sworn statement of the captain Of one Of
the opposing teams and two reputable wit
nesses. whose affidavits must be forwarded
to the secretary Of the league within twenty
four hours after the offense.'
One Minute to Leave.
A player who has been ordered out Of the
nv ha for fpc lfp,
henceforth be allowed but one minute to
leave the field, instead of five minutes as
heretofore.
The rule regulating the length and thick
ness of the bat has been altered, leaving
only the provision that the bat shall be
round and composed Of solid. hard wood
Soft wood bats will not be permitted.
A radical change was made regarding the
style Of gloves or mitts permissible for use
in the field. A new rule has been formed
as section of rule 10. It was as follows:
mo player, except the catcher or first base
man. shall be permitted to wear padded or
lined mitts or gloves"
This does away with the use Of heavy
gloves in the infield or outfield. although
players in those positions will still be al
lowed to use heavy unlfned or unpadded
gloves.
Rule 45 made two out" when a player
batted out of turn, the offender and the
makes only the offender "out.'
The ruling on trapped" balls was
changed, making 1t necessary that two or
more men shall be on bases when the play
Is made.
Foul Tip n Strike.
The foul tip will, under the new rule be
considered as strike If the catcher catches
1t while under the bat" The rule reads:
"a ball tipped by the batsman and caught
by the catcher within the ten-foot line is
strike"
Section 2 of rule IA was changed a bit,
the last clause being struck out and the fol-
lowing substituted: Alternate or new ball
80 delivered to pitcher may be discolored
by him, but by no other player, but in 50
doing he shall resort to no other means
than by rubbing with his hands, and shall
use no foreign substance other than earth,
and said ball shall not be rolled or passed
from player to player"
All balls rolling or bounding foul will
hereafter be called foul balls, according to
the change in rule 80. Formerly a ball
dropping inside the foul line and rolling out
was fair ball. new definition was given
to the bunt. 1t was embodied in rule 40
and reads: "a bunt hit Is q deliberate at
tempt on the part of the batsnan to hit a
ball slowly within the infeld so that 1t
cannot be fielded by any infielder in time TO
retire the batsman."
OF course. the committees recommended
lions must be approved by the league to be
binding.