The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-20
CHANGES
Recommended in the
Playing Rules,
COMMITTEE REPORT
Every Caught Foul Tip
Should Count a Strike.

Washington, Feb. 19..The committee on
The revision of the code of playing rules of
the National Base Ball League has pre-
pared its report and forwarded it TO Pres
ident Young. The report is signed by the
three members of the committee-Messrs.
Hart, Hanlon and Reach-and recommends
several changes.
The committee has changed the wording
Of nearly all the sections pertaining to the
balk ball, but the only radical changes
from the old rules have been made in re-
lation to the pitcher when in his position
throwing the ball to a base to catch a
base runner mapping. In the new rule
any motion to deliver the ball to a base
with delivering it is as much d balk as if
the same motion was made to deliver the
= ball to the pitcher 1t is also a balk, if
the recommendations are adopted. for
1.-THE throwing of the bali by the pitcher
10 any base to catch the base runner
without first stepping directly towards
said base Immediately before throwing
said ball. - A balk must also be called If
the pitcher delivers the ball when the
catcher is standing outside the lines of
the catcher's position.
In the rules bearing upon balls batted
outside the grounds the committee rec
ommends that if the ball goes over the
fence at distance less than 2S5 feet it
count for but two bases In the present
playing rules 255 feet was the limit
The committee recommends that in all
cases foul tip by the batsman caught by
the catcher while standing within the lines
of his position be called a strike This
recommendation will make every caught
foul tip a strike whereas year ago the
catcher had to be within the ten-foot cir
Gle to make the caught foul tip count as a
strike.
new section has been added to the
rules governing the retirementof the bats
man. The new section aims to prevent
the vicious practice of Intentionally in
iuring a catcher or umpire by striking,
them with a thrown bat. The section
reads
THE batsman is out if, when leaving the
nome plate, batsman Injuries the umpire
or catcher by the act of throwing his bat,
runs scored
To the rules concerning coaching. the
committee recommends that a clause be
added making III illegal by words or
signs to incite or try II incite the Specta-
tors to demonstration. ="
II Is evidently the intention of the COM
mittee to stiffen up the rules regarding
betting on the grounds, for in place of the
olo RUE, which simply stated that mo
club should allow betting or pool selling
upon Its grounds the committee recon-
mends the following more elaborate rule.
providing for punishment IN case of Of
mo club shall allow open betting or
pool selling upon its grounds, nor in any
building or structure owned or occupied
by it.. If there be open betting and the
attention of the umpire has been called TO
the ohense by the manager or captain of
the visiting team, the umpire shall report
the same to the president of the league
within six hours by telegraph the presi-
Dent upon receipt of the information.
shall at once personally investigate the
charge, and if the offense is proven he
shall award the game to the visiting club
pS score OF nine runs to nothing.