The San Francisco call., 1898-11-10
EASTERN MEN ARE ALLOWED
 ID PLAY HERE So Says the Only ' Emergency Board. THE RULE DISPENSED WITH PLAYERS SHOULD WATCH CARE FULLY AND LEARN. With National League Men Controll- ing the Teams Great Games
 Should Be in
 Order.
THE RULE DISPENSED WITH
PLAYERS SHOULD WATCH CARE
 FULLY AND LEARN.
By doe Corbett.

| League are to be congratulated. Thi | time 1t is for waiving that rule whicl | prohibited the signing of National Leagu
 players after certain date. For whil
 1t looked as though the patrons of tn | game on this coast were-owing to tn,
 rule lately dispensed with-to be deprived of the privilege of seeing these ''Easterl
 stars" In fact I would have imagined | but a month back that no Nationa | League player returning to this coaS | would be accorded the right of continuing | to labor at his art. It was entirely out O.
 the question for these stars to play
 and the first team which broke the rule was threatened with all sorts of punish
 ments by the supreme and only Elmer.
 gency Board.'
 All this occurred, however, before the
 return of the wondrous prodigies. What
 happened after was but natural, I pre-
 sume, and therefore should not be sub-
 say emphatically, for the reason that
 baseballdom Is very jubilant over the
 prospect of seeing star players and, ]
 trust, star baseball
 The Sacramento and Oakland teams
 were the first to break the rule. The first-named club on a week from Sunday last pitched Jay Hughes, the lad who so nobly maintained the record of Cali fornia in the East last summer. and the last-named team played Mertes, also a Californian, who did himself and his State credit while setting Chicago a-fire by his wonderful playing and base run ming during the same period.
 Before these games were started a pro- test was entered by the opposing clubs. They claimed that Eastern men were barred, according to agreement, and therefore no club had a right to play them; The games were, however, al- lowed to proceed, and note was made of the protest.
 In Sacramento a. tremendous crowd turned out to see Hughes pitch, while in the city here a good-SiZed gathering was present to witness the great Sandow." !" These little incidents were not lost sight of, and so, at the next meeting, these protested games vs. the Eastern player were the only questions of importance.
 They were discussed with great serious ness, the result being that the Sacra- pelled to forfeit those games in which Eastern players participated and the rule prohibiting these men from playing was abolished, with the proviso that no league team should employ more than one.
 In bringing question of such moment to successful ending the board certainly did display an unreasonable amount of wisdom, and is to be congratulated. Never did they accomplish a more laudable feat, if it may be called such, and surely no one will dispute their right to run for of flee in the near future. To have barred the Eastern players would have been, in my opinion, suicidal move. There Is not d IdIl III the SIdJ6 WHO IS not longing to see them perform, and no one can doubt the equally important fact that they will improve the players and necessarily the game.
 I have said on a former occasion that what the majority of teams in this Pa cific Coast League need, and badly, is leader. l reiterate that statement and also would suggest, to the various man. agers, that they put these men in com plete control of operations on the field As the league board has allowed each done, I imagine, without offending any one They are more experienced in up-to- date methods, and 1t is these methods l that win games.
 A player like Mertes has had no more experience at baseball than has had Fred | Lange or Tip O'Neil, yet MerteS has | played during this advanced age and is, | therefore, in a better position to impart | National League methods and ideas, | which, every one will concede, is the | ource of all scientific and improved base )all points.
 This league of ours can stand a terrible ot of coaching and advice on many points If the game. The players have not had Tn opportunity to see the game as 1t is League, and should submit willingly to lny advice offered by these opponents of he art who will from now on be playing n their midst. l myself consider it an elegant opportunity for the amateurs to ,ick up and learn the game in all its de- 
 watch these men at all times. When at ,at and on bases during critical situations ieep an eye on them. They have many ways of earning runs which are un amiliar to the boys of this coast, and one ,annot learn too much about baseball. Then again these men can make numer- nen playing with them cooperate. It will be quite difficult for them to consum- nate plays If their colleagues do not work n unison. for they are used to superb