Evening star., 1903-12-18
SPORTS OF ALL SORTS
American League Rescinds
Obnoxious Foul Strike Rule.
SEASON LEN GTHENE ED
NEW ORLEANS RACE STEWARDS
SUSPEND OWNER AND JOCKEY.
Fighter Munroe Comer-Duffy to Run
in NewYork-Good Bowling
Games.
SEASON LEN CITIZEN ED

AT the meeting Oh the AHcTlCdll LED dS uC
i'll Chicago yesterday, by a unanimous
vote, is was decided to abolish the foul
strike absurdity. 1t was also agreed to
meet the National Leagues hunch in the
schedule and play 154 games instead of
40. The action of the American League
magnates in resembling the asinine rule
which practically declared that two parts
of an egg could be good and the other
part rotten, will be hailed with general
satisfaction by that large portion of the
base ball going public which knows the
difference between a passed ball and
cross counter
The National League pull-backs and
fossils, who always have and doubtless
always will consider change and "im
provement" as synonymous terms, who
have advocated the rule with much in
dustry, will in all likelihood see in this
action of the American magnates an eff
fort to get away from the spirit of the
peace agreement.
strike monstrosity ever gave a good rea-
son for its enactment. Hanlon declared
that it was formulated solely for the pur-
pose of heading off Roy Thomas; and
Jim Hart, who, with Ned Hanlon, claims
joint paternity of the rule. said that it
was good thing, because 1T shortened
the game. Against the contention of both
was the one irrefutable argument that
the new rule was not in the interest of
good base ball.
Though the resolution to rescind the
rule was adopted unanimously, it was not
until the matter had been discussed thor
oughly from every angle. Some of the
delegates who were against the rule
thought that any action on their part
might be construed a sort of open de-
fiance to the National, and an invitation
to another two-handed deal. Others were
Indifferent as to whether the rule was re-
tanned on the books. A majority, how
ever, favored It's repeal on the ground
that 1t was not conducive to the best ball
playing. and that 1t robbed the game of
much of Its spectacular interest Presi-
dent johnson himself took the latter
view. and when the question was finally
put to a vote not one club voted against
the resolution to repeal the rule so far
as the American League is concerned.
1t is to be hoped that this will be the
last we will hear of the foul strike alb
surdity and all other freak base ball
rules making
Though the majority of the delegates
were opposed to the extension of the play
ing season. in view of the action of the
National League in extending the number
of games from 40 to 154 1t is not clear
that the Americans could have taken any
other course without laying up trouble for
themselves later on. The Nationals had
committed themselves to the extended sea-
son. Had the Americans stuck to the 49,
game idea there would have been all sorts
or trouble when it came down to the QueS-
ton of arranging a non-conflicting sched-
ule. Experience has proven that the pa
trCnS of base ball, no matter what their
partisan affiliations may be. are averse TO
conflicting dates. Had the Americans stuck
to the shorter schedule they would have
been held responsible for the unavoidable
conflicts. and. incidentally, club would
have been put in the hands of the Ma
Uonals. .-4
1t is possible to give the public too muc.l
of q good thing. There is no doubt that 1j4
games are more than the general public
car comfortably digest. AS matter of
1act, there was some feeling in the Amer
lean League favoring the reduction of the
schedule to 126 games. This would give the
various clubs the chance of playing ex-
hlbltion games in the spring and practical
ly obviate the necessity of playing double
headers in the last half Of the season
The 15i-game pror ositon has been tried
before and proved L lamentable failure,
just as It will the coming season But IL
view of the Nationals initiative. there
wasn't q chance for the Americans dong
Anything else \ howl will doubtless go
up from the players, as their contracts will
be made to cover the extended season but
l. is the general belief that their insistence
uTon their pound Of flesh last spring and
fall has had much TO do with the determi-
nation of the Nationals to extend their
season.
Matters of minor import were discussed
by the meeting. The proposition to send a
committee to act with a similar committee
from the National to the coast to try TO
good to the delegates, who did not appear
TO think that the game was worth The
powder.
That the American League is stin in fa-
VoT of peace, despite its differences with the
National League. was shown by the fact
that a yesterdays session the action OF the
American League committee on the new ma
tional agreement was formally approved
and ratified. The meeting also decided on
the use of a players contract uniform with
that recently adopted at the National
League meeting. This will make it neces-
sary for player to report two weeks ear
lier for spring training or be subject TO a
500 fine.
One of the important developments of to-
day is expected to be q definite announce
ment regarding the new owners of the
Washington club President johnson last
night stated that the Washing on matter
had been adjusted and intimated that at
todays session the news would be given to
the public.
Taking time by the forelock. President
Johnson appointed a committee to go to st.
Louis to make arrangements for the hous-
ing of clubs during the exposition.
President Johnson thinks the meeting will
be able to get through it's work by tonight.
The officials of the league who were pres
ent at the meeting were:
Chicago-Charles A. Comiskey.
Detroit-S. F. Angus. Edward Barrow and
Thomas ]. Nayin.
st. Louis-Robert l. Hodges John E.
Bruce and James McAleer.
Cleveland-J. +. Kilfoyl and c. w. Som
ers.
Philadelphia - BENJAMIN Shibe Frank
Hough and Connie Mack.
New York-Frank Farrell and Clark Grif
fifth.