The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-17

upon when the joint committee meets in Chicago a few days hence.
 The foul strike rule which was in vogue in the National League last year will probably be the most important point to
 be considered. The American League and the minor leagues are opposed to the rule. The joint committee will consider a sug- gestion which involves the removal of the pitcher from the batting order entire | ly. It is set forth that few pitchers try | to bat because of the great amount of ex- ercise they have to undergo in the box, and that it would be well either to senft a substitute to the plate or allow the eight members of the team outside of the | fielder to do all the batting.
 TOTS to wild throws and muffed balls, which vii do away with the scoring of mfsplays on fumbles of hard-hit ground CTS.
 islated against the big mitt, restricting
 its use to the catcher Snd the first base
 man. at the same time allowing the other
 helders to use smaller mitts of a certain
 size and weight. But as the players have
 learned to use all kinds of mitts with
 pockets in them so that 1t is almost
 impossible to drop a ball. the rule makers
 may be called upon to legislate again.
 Max Fleischmann says in regard to the
 foul strike rule: 'T have thought the
 rule over carefully, and I believe I have
 discovered a happy medium. I think the
 pr esent rule should be amended remov-
 ing the penalty of strike for all foul balls hit beyond first and third bases' The American League will be represent ed by T. J. Loftus, B. F. Shibe and J. E. Bruce; the National Leabue by Edward Hanlon, James A. Hart and Max Fleisch-
 nans mann the IT mipor Po,lss leagues sy T H. MYE- H. Sexton and James H. O'Rourke Each organization will have a vote.
 The American Leagu will hold it's reRu- lar meeting at the Fifth Avenue Hotel vruil hn ha Gr~& the American League ever held in New York. Manager O'Brien has about made up his team for Birmingham. and the follow
 ing men will probably report about March l5 Catchers. Sam Brown, Hurley; first base. Thomas O'Brien; second base, Law
 Ter; short stop. McGuire; third base. Jim my OBrien; outfield, 'Cavender. Millar, Duffy, Marshall and others; pitchers, Keenan. Deaver, Campbell. Smith. There seems to be no doubt now but that Frank Smith will be with the Coal Barons next year, notwithstanding the fact that Lof- tus Of Washington thinks he has the big
 twirler cornered. "Smitty'' has written
 a letter to Coffee E. Jackson, saving that he will certainly be with Birmingham | next season and expressing surprise that anybody should think he would not re-
 turn to-the siag pile. says a Birmingham paper.
 The following bulletin has been issued | by President Kavanaugh in regard to the
 complaint of the management of the Montgomery club that other managers are tampering with the men signed with | Montgomery:
 Bulletin:-
 Little Rock, Ark, Feb g. -l903 To the Members of the Southern As sociation of Baseball Clubs The manage
 ment of the Montgomery team complain that the managers of other teams in the | association continue to tamper with their players, l desire to warn all managers l against such action. The constitution provides that no club shall be allowed
 to negotiate with a player under reserva- | ton, or cont act, to another club, with. | out first having obtained the consent of the club to which he belongs. The Mont | gomery management tells me that they | have not given such consent.
 All of the players who were under con. tract, or reservation, to the ChattanooRs | club have, by vote of the associa ton l and the action of the National Board n, Arbitration, been awarded to Montgom | cry, and any club in the associatior | wEich tampers with one of its players i, | liable for all of the penalties provided iy l matters of that kind.
 hope 1t will not be necessary to a1aiy l call attention to this matter. If If is | as President of the association. I shaI
 impose the penalties provided for in th, | constitution. As stated above the Chat.
 tanooga players belong to the Mont1ou | cry team and must go there, and mus
 play there, unless properly released. | w. M. Kavanaugh, | President.