Waterbury Democrat., 1902-02-12
BASEBALL NOTES.


 BASEBALL NOTES.
 Rules to Govern All the Leagues of
 Baseball
 And the Hartford Post writer has awakened at last, has he. We had supposed he was still sleeping and dreaming of ''Rube" base ball. We did not imagine for moment that he would come out of his shell of wisdom to tell Us just what to do and how to do it. So we are guilty of writing up to-date base ball news with q question: able ring to it, are we? And we are still enjoying our boyhood happy days. We feel fattered. indeed, and as we gaze into the broken mirror with which our "devil' has been playing polo, we wonder if the streaks of gray are not freaks of the imagination. Well, it is pleasure to be told that you are still lad. even though you are not. We are hitting the s'pipe" even now, but we have changed our brand of dope" Tn fact. we have been often reminded that we could buy better tobacco if we only half tried. Even the "deyil" made kick. and now that our es- teemed Hartford friend has reminded us that we have been ''pipe" dreaming, we decided to make the change at once. We will never do it again, never. Tell the doctor we are sorry, and the next time we meet-well, we will have something better than 'pipe" stories No more base ball stories un- Io 41, ko Jo4o xr-f+1 nT1f n questionable record. The edict has gone forth from Hartford and we bow in submission. We have used "we" in this little skit because i've" thought ''we'' might need a little assistance Perhaps the Post sage can lend US that aid.
 The joint conference of rules com mittpes representing the National league, American league and Nationas Association of Minor leagues, as ar ranged by A. c. Spalding and B. E. Johnson, wound up yesterday at Buff | falo after a most successful session. The American league was represent 1 ed by J. F. Kilfoyle, Frank Dwyer and Connie Mack; the National league by James A. Hart, A. J. Reach and Henry Chadwick. the latter represent l ing Edward Hanlon; the National As sociation of Minor leagues by T. H. l Murnane, NJ. H. Sexton and J. H. Far rell. F. T. Powers called the meet l ing Q order, this being the first sem blance of organized ball' as engin- eered by Spalding and Johnson. It was the sentiment of the meeting that the rules to govern baseball this year should be made uniform, soN that there would be no confusion among colleges | and schools, which look to the pro- fessionals for a governing code.
 The principal topic discussed was the foul strike rule which prevailed l only in the National league last year. This rule called all foul balls strikes and caused much grtmbling among l players and cranks. Hart was in ia. yor of retaining the rule, but after q long argument he found himself in the minority and then advocated 2 compromise, with the result thai rule A was changed to read that a line should be drawn through first and third bases straight across the field the balls falling short of this line on 1 foul ground to be called strikes. and the balls falling beyond this line to be called either strikes or fouls ia the discretion of the umpire Rule IT was amended so that the catcher must stand within ten feet of the home plate throughout the game "A line was added to section l of rule B allowing the pitcher not more than one minute to deliver the ball and not exceeding five balls to warm up It was agreed to recommend thesr and other minor changes to the yari. ous leagues for final adoption. The following telegram from A. G. Spald. ing was received by the meeting:
 Tn the interest of professional baseball and as an argument in favor of future joint conferences of riva baseball interests sincerely hope al participants in this Buffalo meetine will realize their responsibilities anC harmonize individual views for the special purpose of formulating 8 uni form code of playing rules that vii best serve our national sport.''
 The fact that this conference has been held without interruption is par. ticularly satisfactory to. Spalding fol it was hinted several days ago tha1 Freedman intended to serve Johnson and others with injunction papers as soon as they got inside the state boundary.
 Under Bristol date the following appeared in the Hartford Courant to day: There is considerable talk 1T town of forming rival base bal league to compete with the State league, and it is understood the pro moters have excellent backing. 4 I number of prominent base ball enthusi asts about the state are also interested in the scheme and it is more thar l probable that such league will be certainty this summer. Bristol wa never outdone in the line of base bal q by any town or city in Connecticut