The evening times., 1896-02-18
BRUSH Talks 5'BE[BlLL
National League Affairs Dis.
cussed by a Magnats.
NO NEW RULES ARE NEEDED
Regards the Transfer of Players as
Beneficial TO All COncerned-Mid
winter Situation Reviewed and IA
Prediction That the Coming Senson
VIII he a Profitable One.

John T. Brush, who is regarded as siu-
thority among the National League mag
mates, speaks very hopefully of the coming
season. Among other things, he said:
"Idonot think that any important changes
in the playing rules will be made. In "A
game where there are so many chances as in
baseball, and the necessity OF ha wing a
rule for every possible chance and point of
pIa V, it is alwi VS. easy to find opportunities
for amendments To the rules. The process
OF change has been going on for so many
years, and always in one dircction--that is,
always in the direction Of trying 10 Improve
the game and the conditions surrounding
it-that as they now stand they seem Ia
nave reached nearly, if not quite, tile acme
of perfection. or course, there are debata-
bic points In many Of the rules, but in ali
essential and important bearings The pre-
pondcrance OF evidence and opinion seems
to rest with conditions us they now are.
Usually the committee on rules has invited
suggestions of change from the various
club mana gemcnts, but have heard moth
ing of the sort this year, and / infer that
the committee contempia;es no radical
change"
THE PROSPECTS ARE GOOD.
Taking the various reports which You
have received, coupled with your own oh
servations, what is the baseball prospect
for next season."
The situation I'm niidwintcr never looked
more nattcring than 1t now appears. Last
year was the most prosperous since base
ball began in every city and league. Inter
est was manifested practically till the
close OF the fcason in all OF the leagues. 1t
finished in a blaze OF cory, and i'll almost
every city in which professional baseball
exists public interest has been Kept up
through the snowfall months 10 an extent
uBequaIcd perhaps since the unfortunate
events of 1Ssg-1sS0."
do you regard the transfer, of players
that is made between Clubs in the ma
tional league as beneficial?"
Certainly l do said Mr.. Brush, Il be
lievc that q club that never changed its
players would KILL or. at least. greatly re-
duce, the interest IN baseball IN its city,
whether II was at the top or tie tottoni IN
the championship race. Baseball patrons
want AMI must have change By this do
not mean that any ono wants TO sce a
prime favorite displaced. hut ttey always
want and demand that an apparent orman-
ifest weakness he strengthened by change.
There has been more shifting or players in
the national league this year than there
had been he fore for some time, and IL will
certainly benefit every club party to the
change. al d"
PLAYERS WILL DO THEIR BEST.
Every player who goes fxom one club
TO another will exert himself to demon
strate the IA ct that lie is better man than
the club which parted with him conceded
him to be. Players who become discon-
tented with their surroundings require
change much the same as an individual
who has lived upon one kind of diet until
he loses appetite and ambition. Where
club harmonies are disturbed a transfer
from one club 30 another is no doubt
most beneficial remedy"
Regarding the proposed rule to abolish
fines and remove a PLAYER instead, Mr..
Brush said: II hope IL won't pass. If
Capt. Ewing does not want a particular
player in the game he can take him out
without any suggestion from the umpire.
III the battle for championship hon"rs each
club presents upon every occasion its
strongest possible front. There should be
no power lodged anywhere which would
cripple team. and thereby reduce what
might have been contest TO the spectacle
OF farce by removing from it any ele-
ment of its strength. Up 10 date baseball
has been emincntly successful and ball
playe have been controlled by a system
of fines for ungentlemanly conduct to
fairly successful degree. The rules are suf-
ficicntly explicit and powerful in tie han lis
OF such men as Lynch. Hurst and Emslie
to hold in subjection any player in the Ma
tional League, no matter what his pro-
clivities, without resorting 10 n method
which would impair the artistic work OF
baseball team and nullify the best efforts
Of club mana cement"