The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-02

stealing, and Ritchey, Louisville, in
sacrifice hits. There were a number of
other players who We're a close second,
and any one of them may jump to the
front in his department this season.
| A NEW LEAGUE BALL CHOSEN.
The branch of the game in which the
public probably take the most interest
is in batting; a good batting contest
! is a delight to the faithful rooter' $
heart A plan has been discussed, and
will probably be carried out, which will
tend to increase this feature of the
game. 1t is the purpose to furnish a
special bali to be used in the league
games; a ball which will contain a
greater percentage of rubber than those
heretofore in use. The result is obvi-
ious, and the patrons of Baseball may
look for more work on the part of the
fieldeTs.
Another rule has been adopted to pre-
vent a waste of time and shorten the
games. The pitcher will not be allowed
to make a feint to throw 10 a base;
the motion to throw must be followed
by the actual delivery of the ball to
the baseman. This will doubtless in
crease the base stealing record.
Another rule which applies to the
catcher will be enforced this season.
He cannot, as heretofore, step in front
of the batter to secure a hunted ball,
but must remain in his position behind
the home plate.
Last seasons experiences taught the
advisability of separating the players
from the patrons in the grand stand.
Too much opportunity for conversation
between the two has often led to dis
order This season the players benches
will be far enough away from the stand
To ObViate this evil.
CHANGES IN UMPIRE SYSTEM.
An umpire may be fined or suspended
| for violation of mis- trust, or may De
removed if the offense is sut1clently
aggravated. The appointment of an
efficient staff of umpires VIII go 1ar
toward preventing the annoying delays
and breaches of discipline to which the
patrons of the sport had objected in
the past.
The schedule for this year contains
1874 games for each club-the same as
| last season. This will make the season
extend from April Is to Oct. 10. Each
club will make four trips and play
fourteen games with every other club.
There has been talk of dropping vari-
ious clubs and the reduction of the cir
chit to eight teams. The league season
will begin with twelve clubs as here
tofore. but there may be changes be-
fore the end. All depends on the course
of affairs during the spring and early
summer. The advocates of the eight
club league say that there are enough
star players to make up eight teams
that would have the hottest kind of a
fight for each seasons honors, but that
there are not enough for twelve good
clubs. of course, a crack baseball
player cannot be made to order. He Is
partly the result of training, but more
largely of a combination of quickness,
a. sure eye, and good judgment. These
are the essentials of a, successful base
ball player whatever his position, and
particularly in the batting department
Of the game. The minor leagues and
college teams, from which reinforce
ments are chiefly drawn, have not con-
tributed as many men to the big teams
in the past two or three seasons as they
did for some time before. Consequently
there is the cry of a deartll of baseball
talent If it proves to be well founded,
the reduction in the number of major
league clubs seems likely to occur, as
It will be more profitable and interest
ing to have eight star clubs in the eight
largest cities than twelve mediocre
teams in a larger territory.
EDWARD HANLON.
Manager of the Rrooklyr1 Club