The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-23
SPORTS
REVISE THE RULES
Baseball Men Meet in Chicago to
Devise Uniform Code for All
Leagues.
New National Agreement Also Will
Be Discussed-Plans of Ameri-
can Association.

Magnates of the American and National
leagues met at Chicago to-day in one Of
the most important sessions of the year
meeting, in fact, which Is second in con-
sequences only to the famous peace" SEES
sion at Cincinnati.
The gathering at the Ohio city paved.
the way for the organized baseball for
which the fans have been longing, and
the meeting III Chicago is expected to
complete the settlement along the lines
suggested at the former conference. ~
With the two big leagues OF the coun-
try playing under uniform rules with a
non conflicting schedule and mutual re-
specting contracts baseball peace is an
assured fact.
There has been considerable discussion
about the adoption or rejection Of the
foul strike rule used by the National
league for the past two years, and there
will undoubtedly be more before the COM
mittees reach their final agreement.
In the minds Of most Of the critics,
however, the making Of the law uniform
is the all essential matter regardless OF
which rule is finally selected. At pres
ent the outlook seems to favor rejection
Of the National league law, but it is diff.
cult to tell what the committees will do
once that they are In session.
Manager Tom Lotus Of the Washington
baseball team, will propose some changes
in rules at the joint meeting.
LOTUS was inclined to be non commit
tai on the outcome Of the meeting, but
says he will fight.
want the pitcher taken Off his pedes-
tai and the ground keeper barred from
playing the game is the way he stated
his position. They have been raising the
pitchers box every year lately until he is
y cr., f1,off ~,
can't, see the rest Of the infielders any
more, and I want a law passed that will
keep the pitchers box even with tho rest
Of the diamond.
"Then am against these sewers along
the base lines, too. Some Of the ground
keepers have been using their sllovels so
hard and often that every bunt rolls fair,
making the ground keepers ability more
important than that Of the batter in max
ing hits. If I have my way, will have
all those ridges and tunnels abolished and
the base lines kept level as they should
be kept
President Sexton Of the Western Base
ball League, accompanied by Hugh Duffy
Of Milwaukee and r. r. Burke Of Denver,
arrived in Milwaukee yesterday. Presi-
dent Sexton announces that according to
an agreemnt with President Hickey of
the American association, the season of
both leagues will open April %.
The Milwaukee American association
team will open at home with st. Paul, to
be followed by Minneapolis; while the
Milwaukee Western league team will open
at Peoria and then go to st. Joseph
The Wisconsin State Baseball league
has decided not to enter the interstate
league which has been organized by Chi
cago managers. This will leave the field
in the southern part Of the state to the
interstate people and concentrate the
state league on the northern towns, which
have always been good paying baseball
propositions.
President Coppes will call meeting
this week to take action on the salary
limit, and it will probably be decided tc
arrange the schedule so that champion
ship games can be played toward the end
Of the season with the interstate league
The salary limit for a ten-nen team
for the league will probably be fixed al
$500 a month. The league now has the
cities Of Marinette. Oshkosh, Appleton
Kaukauna and Green Bay, with Stevens
Point, Fond du Lac and Neenah after
the sixth franchise.
Manager Hanlon Of Brooklyn is likely
to experience considerable trouble in his
efforts; to secure a strong pitching staff
for the coming season. Up to a day OIL
two ago he had intended to stand pat
Now comes word from the Pacific coast
that Pitcher Schmidt, the star Of the
Oakland club, has decided to remain ir
the west, and as a result Brooklyn will
lose a very promising adjunct to the
team.
Captain Burnside Winslow Of the Yale
varsity baseball team last night an.
nounced the appointment of Frank Dona
hue, "a member Of the st. Louis American
league team, to assist Head Coach Muir
ply In coaching the team
X Tom Parrot, who has played severa
professional seasons in the east has bee,
signed by Jack Grim as fielder on tn,
Portland team Of the Pacific northwes
league.
An army officer just back from tn,
philippines says everybody in Manila, sol
diers foreigners and natives. is worked u,
TO the highest pitch over the outcome o
the hsht for the baseball championship
by the six teams composing the Manil;
baseball 1eagu The fight is eStremel,
close. The members of the league ar
army, marines, department Of lake trans
portation, army transport service. the Ca
xite and the metropolitan police. ST.
months ago meeting that placed baseba
on a firm foundation in the Pacific pos
sessions was called by Colonel McCoy o
the volunteers, Colonel Heistand, adiutan
general of the Philippines. Captains Butt
French and Wood, and Mr.. Holt Th
result Of the meeting was the formation
Of the league and the election of Colone
Mccoy as its first president and the othe
officers as the board of managers.
NOTES OF THE TURF