Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-02-08

of the Game will Note with In
| terest.
WASHINGTON. February flames A.
Hart, chairman, Edward II. Hanlon and
A. ]. Reach the committee OF the Ma
tional Base Ball League appointed TO rec
ommend changes In the code OF rules,
/ have submitted their report to President
Nick Young. The report is as follows:
I'VE recommend no change in rules Nos.
to 1S inclusive, which are those govern
ing the laying off Of a ball ground, but
| suggest the incorporation in the rules OF
| a foot note calling attention to an addenda
| 10 the playing rules. in when will be
| found direction for a simple way for lay
/ ing off a ball ground. which is as follows:
Lay tape line from the centre of back
| stop out into the field 2l7 feet, 3la inches,
TO second base. At 80 feet from back stop
place home plate with tape line dividing It
| diagonally. Between 100 feet Inches ana
| $50 feet 10 inches from the back stop, place
the pitchers plate with the tape line di-
viding II ct the centre. Then at l53 feet
| 7%4 inches from back stop drive a stake.
At right angle TO the tape line and GO feet
| 7s4 inches from the stake and 20 feet from
both home plate and second base, place.
first base on one side and third base on
| the other. This done. remove the stake.
Lay lines connecting the bases thus laid,
FORMING THE DIAMOND,
extending the lines from home base and
first base and home base and third base
| IN each direction TO the fence. thus form
! ing the foul lines and the catcher's posi-
tion. Parallel with these lines and 80 feet
away, lay the players lines. extending
| from intersection with lines already laio
| 70 feet. From this point lay lines At right
angles to lines just described. extending
| to the base lines AT right angle TO these
| and parallel to the base lines, Is feet dis
| tant lay the coachers lires. extending
| say 30 feet towards the outheld. Parallel
with and three feet distant from the base
| lines from home base TO first base. lay
| line beginning A. feet from home plate
and extending just past first base. on
each side Of home plate parallel with line
| from centre OF back stop TO second base
| and six inches distant from home plate.
| lay lines six feet long. running three feet
each way from a line through the centre
| OF home plate: also lay other lines parellel
with and four feet distant from the ones
just described; form these into pareiielo-
CRANE four feet by @,x fS-"I ~ ,limension-
thus forming the batsman's position. OBJ
| serve rules II. II and l3
I'VE consider these directions necessary.
| The rules as printed
ARE POSITIVELY CORRECT,
but being drawn from a surveyors stand
point. are so burdened with technicaiities
as TO render them almost undefnable by
a junior player or the average ground
| keeper.
I'm section 2 of rule Il. regarding ths
ball. we suggest the addition OF the words:
In the event of new ball being inten-
tionaly discolored or otherwise injured by
a player. the umpire shall. upon appeal
from the captain Of the opposite side.
forthwith demand the return Of that bail
and shall substitute another new ball and
shall impose fine Of s. upon the offending
| player
This addition g made so that the UNI
pire may more easily enforce the require
ment Of the rule
'In rule Il. following the word pitcher
is added While in the act Of delivering
| All' bdll ~ BdAs lil' 10 W it'A'NN NtA' A"tN
more explicit.
I'VE recomm end the addition 10 rule %.
| which relates TO players benches. a new
section. which IS as follows: Section .
To enforce this rule. the captain Of the
opposite side may call the attention Of the
umpire to "a violation. whereupon the um-
| pre shall Immediately order such player
or players 10 be seated. II the order Is not
OBEYED WITHIN ONE MINUTE.
| the offending player or players shall be
debarred from further participation in the
game and shall be obliged 20 leave the
playing field forthwith
"In section Of rule o. change is made
whereby what did read Rule Go section D.
now reads Rules 20 and CO.
ITO section OF the same rule. which
! requires the umpire TO notify the president
| of a forfeited game Is added the following;
| However. failure on the part Of the
umpire to so notify the president shall not
affect his decision declaring the game for
felted.' This is done 10 avoid technicality.
Section OF rule q. relating 20 substi-
tutes. is made TO read as follows: IN
| every championship game each side shMl
be required to have present on the field In
uniform a sufficient number OF substitute
players 10 carry out the provision which
requires that not less than nine players
| shall occupy the field in any inning Of inc
game"
In rule %. which defines the pitchers
position. IS added: m the pitcher falls 70
comply with the requirements Of this rule
the umpire must call n balk
] Rule 30. regarding baking. Is changed
] by inserting section Immediately aiter
the word long "as In the opinion OF the
umpire" and the addition OF Secuoh 80
which ls standing in position 20 pitch
without having the ball in his possesslon'
except in case Of q blocked ball. as pro'la-
| ed In rule 81. section @"
The section Of rule 81 which requires
players to be seated on the players
( benches although not changed much In
diction. Is
RADICALLY CHANGED
In effect. now reading: when their slde
goes to bat. the players must immediatey
| return 70 the plagers' bench. as defined IN
| rule %. and there remain until the Side -
put out except when called 20 The bat or
they become substitute base runners: pro-
vided that the captain or one player oi.y'
I (except that II base runners are OCCURRING
each and all. first, second and thIu paseSJ'
then the captain and on player or TWO
nlavers NAV occupy the space between ths
nlavers' lines and the captain 10 eaten
base runners" This permits but ono
coacher when less than three base run
ners are on the bases In the uniform of
tho clpb who nay stand in either box
-, - 3D.. coachers' box. This change