The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-28
HAGNATES CHANGE
BASEBALL RULES
The League Has Granted the
Players Demands.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
WET nc IN mr. ~-o-n -
MEXICAN ASSOCIATION
YIELDS UP THE GHOST AND
QUITS BUSINESS.

New York, Feb. 27.-The National Base
bah league magnates today considered
playing rules. A rule was adopted which
does away with the international foul
ing OFF, Of pitched balls by a batsman.
The first and second souI balls hit by
the batsman, unless two strikes have al
ready been called against hiIa. shall
henoeforth be counted as strikes.
Rule No g. defining the position of the
catchers' lines, was altered so that the
catcher viii have to stand within ten feSe
instead of NINETY feet of the plate. This
places the catcher up behind the bat
throughout the game.
A rule making the pitcher deliver the
BAH to the baIsman a s soon as the latter
tekeS position at the plate was adopted.
should the pitcher deliver the ball to any
OLHef prayer Inan the plate, a Daii VIII
be called fer each delivery A rule was
passed which penaliEed one ball agaiuS
the pitcher III he failed to deliver the ball
60 the baJsman within twenty seconds
AFTER the latter has taken mis- position.
a rule was passed empC WeTing the UNI
pire To remove from Jhe game, and If
need be from the grounds, any player
guilty OF using improper language tC an
other player, captain, manager of spec
tator.
Written proof of the offense must be
submitted 10 the president of the league
WITHIN tWenty-four hours, and he may, d
me proof be satisfactory, suspend the Of
render from play.
Count as a Ball Against Pitcher.
a batsman may not henceforth take his
DdSe II hit by a pitched bail, but the bali
VIII count as ball against the pitcner.
Article 81 of the constitution was
amended 10 read that the Duard OF direct-
ors snail have the power of InfIicting pen
altles in cases OF forfeited games.
lE case az forfeited game the board
shail convene within a week and hear the
evidence. They shall decide what penalty
TO impose on the club offending.
At the evening session the magnabeS
summoned President Charles Power and
W II. Watkins of the American assOcia-
ton.
The American association practically
yielded up the ghost early in The after
noon Before night most of the members
had left Tor home. No official announce
meHt was made, but predictions were
fairs that the American association would
not begin the season.
Members of the association bitterly aC-
cuSe the magnateS of failing to keep their
promises 10 give financial aid TO their
ASSOCIATION ana tnuS causing It's demise.
The league was said to have promised
to finance the association in at least
three cities OF its circuit. Lack of funds
was the cause conceded for the aSSOcIa-
tons death.
the league had granted all the players
demands. The players have agreed to sign
league contracts under pain of SuSpen-
sion. The suspension, however, Is only
operative until the players organization
can meet IN a body and "a - on the matte
AS matter OF fact, the agreement signed
by President thinner amounts to nothing
more than an expression of good viii to-
ward the National league as against Ban
JOhnsonS organization whether the
players Tatify LimmeT's agreement o. not
the concessions made by the league Ill
hOrd good.