Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-05
Opinions Of National League Nag
mates on the Blunt" Question.
STRONG CLUBS AGAINST TIE WEAK
Only I've AddHiaeaI Votes Needed
{ to Gary Thodgh Wagner's Idea.
ASE BALL g o sSIP

To ascertain, as far as possible Just what
the sentiment Is among the base ball mag
mates as to the abolition OF the blunt sac
rifice," The Evening Star has written the
different officials of the National League
for their opinion on the subject. Thirteen
letters were sent opt, including one to Pres
ident Young. OF this number, eight replies
have been received. Presidents Wagner,
Watkins. Ebbetts and Muckenfuss favor
the abolition of the hunt, with men on
bases. And Presidents Robson Brush and
Soden are lin favor of Its retention. s,Presi-
dent Young Is. cut of town and no reply
could be obtained from him, while Presi-
dent Hart OF the Chicago club is chairman
of the rules committee. and on this account
he refused to express an opinion.
The replies Of Presidents Wagner and
Watkins have, already been published in
full, and have proven interesting reading
President Ebbetts of the Brooklyn club
says, in part:
IT favor the abolition of the blunt sacr.-
fee when runners are on bases, for the
reason that believe the public, who sup
port the game, would be better pleased and
entertained by the more open play which
the adjustment would bring about
B. 8. .Muckenfuss, the newly elected pres
ident of the ST. Louis club writes as fol-
lows: So
Il think the public prefers seeing clear,
full-arm hitting, and for that reason favor
the entire abolition of bunting In my es-
timation the doing away with the 'bunt'
would add greatly to- the interest Of the
game, as it would develop hitherto I'M
known hitting abilities, triple the outfield-
ing chances, and put more life into the
game. Nothing in the game so much de-
tracts from its charm bad bunting, and
there are not six players who can success
fully resort to this. parlor artice. Let us
have siugging the ball, and plenty of it.
ia wi nj nile
every club except Baltimore, and swell the
gate receipts; and none of us are in the
business for our health
OF those who favor the retention of the
blunt sacrifice, President Frank De Hass
Robson leads off with a most entertain
ing letter of considerable length, the gist
of which Is as follows:
Il think it would be very unwise for the
league to NEEDLE in any way with the
rule rules governing sacrifice or 'bunt
hits l think it is entitled to the same
position in base ball that an AL pitcher
is. The fact is that the players who are
successful making sacrifice or 'bunt
hits today in the National League are by
no means the heaviest men in weight
ror are they the heaviest batters, and as
ball players consist of men weighing from
100 to 21O pounds, each one having some
slight advantage over the other either as
a pitcher, catcher or fielder. therefore, l
believe that player who is a successful
sacrifice hitter is entitled to as much praise
and credit as an All pitcher. If any one
will study carefully, the makeup of the
twelve different clubs they will find that
each one has az player or two who are dis
t:nguished for some point in their playing
that other players do not possess. In med
ding with the tuies regarding sacrifice
or 'bunt' hits We are simply legislatfng
against few bail players who have be-
come efficient hI this one line. 1t is like a
state government undertaking to make
laws to govern a Few institutions which
laws are unconstitutional because they are
not applicable to alL'
l. John T, Brush, Az president of the Gin
of them lalr when; it comes down to, base
ball politics. or rules affecting the game,
writes as follows: ~
Il am in favor of what is termed the
'bunt' hit, which is productive of brilliant
and exciting results at times, whether
there are runners on the bases or not. A
batter is entitled to his base if he can get
it upon any ball that he hits into fair terri
tory, whether it be in front of the plate
or over the head and beyond the reach of
the outfieders. All fair territory is open
to his and skill and fully as much
skill Is exercised in dropping the ball
just out of reach of an infieloer as there is
in getting 1t away from an outheider. II
not more. The infeld being in fair terri
tory, why not use it? You would hardly
expect rapid base running If we compelled
the base runners to run backward or on
all fours and yet that would be about as
sensible as it would be to sa! that the bat
ter should not use the infield in which to
place a base hit If he could successfully
accomplish it,.
Ar other popular magnate who favors the
retention of the blunt is President Arthur
II. Soden of the Boston club, who writes as
follows
II am not in favor of the abolition of the
'btnt sacrifice believing 1t to be of great
benefit to the game, especially with one
or more bases occupied To successfully
bunt the ball and advance the base runner
requires mora skill than to hit the ball
over the fence for home run. The bunt
hit. often attempted for a sacrifice bunt,
but frequently resulting in a base hit. is
greatly enjoyed by the spectators, and
gives abundant Opportunities to first and
third basemen and pitcher to do brilliant
fielding. which the patrons of the game
justly appreciate and enthusiastically ap-
plaud. l am strongly in favor of retaining
the sacrifice bunt hit believing it to be
one of thu most, scientific and expert fea-
lures of the national game"
The four presidents that have not as yet
written their opinions for The Star are
Reach of Philadelphia, Freedman of New
York, PulIiam of Louisville and Won Der
Horst OF Baltimore. The latter's opinion
can be easily guessed at, while the New
york president caring little for the rules
OF the game, would probably vote with his
friend Soden o. Boston. Reach can be also
placed On this side, while Puliam would
most likely lean toward the abolition of the
pint summing the situation up in this
probably result about as follows:
Favoring the retention of the bunt sacri-
hce-Boston, Nsw York, Philadelphia Bal
timore, Cleveland, Cincinnati-6
Favoring the abolition of the bunt sacri-
ncea-Brooklyn, Pittsburg, ST. Louis, Louis
vile, Washington-5
NO opinion to express-Chicago.
rms comprehensive review of the "sacri-
nee punt legislation standing shows that
tnere IS a great deal more in the "opposi-5
tion than was to be expected, although
the most unfavorable part of the compiling
OF the opinion is that this opposition comes
entirely from clubs that have been classed
as weak. But tHhtfhere isran Opposition
IS encouraging Bt0 Messrs. Wagner and
Brown, the originators of the agitation,
and continuation of their missionary
work may result successfully in the near
only couple weeks more and the league
schedule will Be khUwn, the plums picked
and the comRiaints laid away to rest
WITHIN the next two weeks the bats will be
strapped together, Did uniforms picked out
ana aired, and the start made for the south
by several of the clubs. The bali players
and managers are growing more hasty in
their movementAa as the middle Of February
approaches, and when the 18th is at hand
ana the routes OF games opened up they