New-York tribune., 1901-02-28
BASEBALL.
CHANGES IN RULEs-PLAYERs GET CON
CESSIONS

CHANGES IN RULES-PLAYERS GET CON
CEsSIONS
The National League baseball club owners met
again yesterday the Fifth Avenue Hotel Their
session began at 2 z. m. At the close it was an
nounced that the report OF the Committee on Rules
and Constitution had been under discussion
rule adopted which does away with the tnten-
tionaI 'fouling off" of pitched balls by batsman-
The first and second foul balls hit by the bats
man. unless two strikes have already been called
against him. shall henceforth be counted as strikes.
Rule No g. defining the position OF the catcher's
lines altered that the catcher will have
to stand within feet instead OF ninety feet, OF
the plate This makes the catcher be up behind
the bat" all the time.
Slow pitchers will be penalized this season. A
rule proposed by Zmnler this subject was adopt
ed II makes the pitcher deliver the ball TO the
batsrnan as soon as the latter takes his position
the plate.
Should the pitcher deliver the ball TO any other
place than the plate a ball will be called for each
delivery A rule was also adopted which penalized
ball against the pitcher If he failed to deliver
the ball to the batsman within twenty seconds
after the latter has taken his position
\ rule passed compelling the umpire to re-
from the game and, if need oe. the grounds.
any player who uses improper language to another
player, captain manager or spectator. Written
proof OF the offence must be submitted TO the pres
dent of the league within twenty-fOur hours, who
may. II the proof oe satisfactory, suspend the or
A
hit by a pitched ball, but the ball will count
ball against the pitcher. Several rules conflicting
with the changes named were stricken out or
changed to conform with the alterations.
Article LIF of the constitution was amended TO
read that the Board OF Directors shall have the
power OF inhicting penalties in forfeited games
In of a forfeited game the board shall con-
vene within a week and hear the evidence. II
shall decide what penalty to impose on the club
offending In the past the forfeiting club had TO
pay penalty forthwith and then walt months,
perhaps for decision on the merits Of the case
by the board. The penalty Is not payable under
the rule until after the Board Of Directors has
given its decision.
A recess was taken for two hours at o'clock,
and the league recOnvened on time. The magnates
az once summoned President Charles Power and
". II. Watkins. of the American Association The
American Association yielded up the ghost on
Tuesday. Before night most of its members had
left for home. No official announcement was made,
but predictions were offered by many men posted
on such affairs that the American Association
would not begin the season
1t was saii last night that Freedman had left the
had voted down 5ue Of his propositions. He is re-
ported said that he would not attend an
otter league meeting.
President Young yesterday announced that the
ague had granted all the players demands The
players have agreed to sign league contracts under
pain of suspension. The suspension however. Is
only operative until the players organization can
meet as a body and act on the case. The agree
n5eut signed by President thinner amounts to moth
the National League against Ban JOhnson's
organization Whether the players ratify Zimmer'S
agreement not. the concessions made by the
league will hold good