The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-20

catcher UP under the bat. That was a good
change. also. in taking the pitcher farther
away from the batter 1t gives the batter
a better chance To fix his attention on hit
ting the ball. because he does not need 20
be afraid Of an inshOot or know when he
| takes the bat in his hand that he IS also
taking his life IN his hand. I tell you il was
4 serious matter in those days TO get hit by
= bail from the strong arm %: one OF those
fast pitchers, IS ms own experience can
testify.
As Il looks now. there seems 70 he no real
| reason for altering any n n" existing play
Ing rules They seem = have reached per-
lection. but II is puosSible that some altered
/ conditions at present unforeseen may mako
4 slight change Necessary. but the change
viii b. slight
TIE morss OF Tic game have not changed
much. and the hunt - still a feature and
Kelly, Tiernru. Van Hsltren and l used iG
! IA the early SOS. and the Iatter-day players
are sun favoIing II. AMI the gentle art oE
bunting Is taken to-day as a matter OK
/ COu-ss.
Old Player Has Seen No Progress.
Old players are stll pessim.Stic about the
ount, 1 was talking with one the other day
you know. ard he can't see that Jne game
Eas pEgSrsss,d one ls;a Nhen ne neaFd
the oJlie.d. when in the Did days four were
considered sufficient. no exclaimed:
oh. its not ike the old days. when l
| played on the PhIlauelphiI team for FOUR
| years without the men being changed All
We HAD Were Clemens and mcclure az
/ EtI.E.elS, FfE4~'L. IsaIaal4all f4A w
a. pitch. re, Muivey. E~resaahan. Farrar and
myself in the inhslG. and Wood and Fo-
| g4rty in the OUtuelG. b
We dida I need 20 he nervous every
, time We made an error. and look to nave
one or more Of n hal! dozen substitutes
| take our place. AID We played bail, we DID,
and 10 mistake. foE We knew our JOBS We're
we could give these boys who are play
ing now carts and spades on lots OF things,
inside work and OJt. and best them We
had the hit and run game down fine. and
we dida't bUnt as much as they 90 now
I can't see now runs can be made BY SO
much bunting. Oh. for Tho coed old ume
back again. when the sw2ttluS game was
the tE!-g. i BE- isVe the public would rather
see the boys slug the o1Il and run. SHADES
q Roger CJnIOr. "BUcS Ewing ard Jim
G'ROurke, What would they think OF this
hurting business? II mlSes me- sick 10
and there are many Of the old-styie play
ers who feel the same Wly about Il ana
vet the hunt - all right The distance be-
tween the pitcher and the batter is q weak
spot In the infeid. Both the men OF the
battery are busy. and they are not looking
10 do any fielding. and 50 It seems TO me
tina. the bunting game Will result in a DIFF
ferCnt DISPOSITION OF the players, ike an
inheld third basema1 with short 70 AKA
can pitch and do his own fielding az the
same time.
game. and / believe that all that has been
done in the past TO make Il take the place
IL occupies to-day will not be a circumstance
70 what will 5e done in the next twenty
wears 10 make II take the place IN the heart
u the nation which has not been reamed
OF heretofore.
The players may net be as good as the
true II The local PLAYER idea becomes a TACT,
but the interest will BE- great. and, arter
all. the interest in the game IS the fountain
I predict a great future for baseball twen-
~ years from now.