The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-04-17
Baseball Season Will Open
Under AusplclouS
Conditions.
INSTRUCTIONS TO UMPIREs
Eight Teams Lined Up Awaiting the
Sound of the Gong = Baseball as
Game-Its Hold Upon the Public
Where the Battles Will Be Fought.


the eight teams comprising the National
League and American Association OF
Baseball Clubs will be off in bunch for
the pennant race OF 1902. The scramble
for that little piece Of bunting, worth
nothing in itself, but hallowed by years
of strife and warfare, is Of the greatest
interest to thousands Of people.
Following the turf Is the fund OF ex-
citcment for many; others prefer the less
hazardous sport of golf. while still others
are devotees OF the small rubber ball and
cat-gut racket. that. with the smoothly
rolled court, go to make up the game Oh
lawn tennis. These and numerous otner
sports each have their quota Of enthusi-
astic followers. but few. if any. receive
the general attention that baseball al
ways commands.
The dyed in the-wool stand-up and
yell yourself hoarse fan, the real article
who cheers wildly and upon every possible
and impossible opportunity for the home
team" is found in every walk Of life.
From the man who day after day occu-
pies his 25-cent seat in the bleachers, to
the capitalist who invests in box for
the season, they are all alike when
long hit or a sensational play starts the
blood coursing madly through their
veins.
East vs. East; West vs. West.
1t is the greatest of all games. In
fact. baseball must be worth something in
itself, when year after year it holds the
popular interest with no other incentive
than the game alone. Few, indeed, are
the instances where betting upon the re-
suit Of certain game is done as regu-
lar thing. and then it is not usually the
fan proper VINO makes the wager. Base
ball has taken its hold upon the Ameri-
can public as a result of an inherent love
of sport. and it will undoubtedly retain
its grip for many years TO come.
Today the National League will start
upon its twenty-seventh season under
rather different circumstances than tina:
which have prevailed during the past. The
league has been disrupted, and does not
occupy a field entirely to itself, as pre-
viously. There is another major organi-
cation in existence, which is even stronger
than the parent body. Nevertheless the
National is still doing business at the
old stand, and will fill its parks with
enthusiastic crowds this afternoon
In the East the league race will open
in New York and Brooklyn. Philadelphia
will meet the Giants. and Boston Will zee
what il can do to the bunch representing
Trolleytown. Farther toward the setting
| sun there will be battle royal between
Cincinnati and the Chicago Remnants,
while on the banks of the far Mississippi
| the st. Louis and Pittsburg aggregations
| will encounter one another.
Umpires Instructed.
In preparation for the opening of the
season the following instructions to UNI
pires were issued yesterday afternoon by
| Nicholas E. Youngs secretary of the Ma
tional League:
| 1.-The office of president of the National
| League has been abolished for the sea-
| son of 1902 and an executive board IN
| vested with full authority to act has been
| formed for the purpose of conducting the
business of the league. Its members are
| A. II. Soden, of Boston; James A. HART
of Chicago, and John T. Brush, chairman,
of indianapolis. n. f. Young is secre-
tary, and the offices of the league are to
| be located in the city of New York.
''AlI reports of umpires that formerly
| were required to be sent to the president
of the league are in future to be for
| warded to n. E. Young. secretary, except
such reports as may be specially arranged
to go to the chairman of the board, and
| in all such instances due notice Will De
| given
No Fines for Players.
1.-THE imposition of fines upon players
and managers for violation of rules as
| provided for in the playing rules is sus-
| pended until further notice, and in lieu
thereof removal from the game or from
the game and field is substituted In every
instance where a removal from the field
occurs, q Geographic report containing
the fact and a brief report of the cause
must be sent promptly to the secretary of
the league. Whenever, in the Judgment OF
the umpire, the player deserves a longer
period than one day. he shall recommend
il. The telegraphic report shall be 1ol-
lowed by a detailed mail report of all vio-
lations of the rules, and the penalties I'M
posed.
You are the absolute master of the
field from the beginning to the termina-
| ,ion of the game You are invested with
full authority to order any player, cap
tain or manager. to do or omit TO 10 any
act which you deem necessary to main
tain your dignity and compel respect from
| PLAYERS and spectators. The entire re-
snons;bility of presenting the game in a
enortsmanlike manner and the elimina-
ton of ungentlemenly conduct devolves
unon YOU. II you succeed, you Will be in
dorsed. II you fail, you will be condemned
Your attention Is called especially to
rules 50 and 60.
Make all decision as you see them.
Never attempt to even up after having
made a mistake.
BE strict in what may seem to be trivi-