The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-01

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
The Joint Rules Committee of the Amer
lean and National leagues will both meet IN
Chicago this week to frame laws which
will govern games in both leagues.
As the playing rules of the two leagues
differ radically in only one respect-the
foul-strike clause being ignored by the
American-that once generally. condemned
law will be the axis OF contention. II there
be any. h.
National League has demonstrated that II
Is an Improvement In some respects, pul
the American League as a o'oS' mas al
The men who will act for the National
League are James A. Hart, chicago; MAJ
F1eischmann, Gin Gincinnatl5 ca and te Nsa who
will confer with them at Chicago are Jonn
E. Bruce Of Cincinnati. representing the 81.
Louis American League team; Ben r. Shlpe
of Philadelphia and Tom J. LOTUS OF ue
Washington club.
The American mas not coun-
mitted itself to any proposed acton on tne
Fleischmann has thought much over the
matter, and has a compromise suggestion
which he probably will stand for at me
Milford, Jr.. Of the. Cincinnati Enquirer,
Mr.. Feischmann said:
MODIFICATION is PROPOSED.
II think 1 have hit on a happy modhi,
C2IlOn Ild WAu v CShAo ~
vet remove the one objection that can be
urged against it. 1 like the rule, Everynody
does on better acquaintance. MY Idea ID
that tho good there ia In the rule can
easily be preserved by an emendment re;
moving the penalty of q strike for all foul
balls that are hit beyond first and thira
1T doesn't seem quite right to call a
strike for a line drive from the bat p q
pelehanty, a Lsjoie or a Wagner. that nits
tionably the batsnan who merely tips the
ball Is fooled nearly as badly as the 0ns
who strikes and misses the leather alto
gether. I would continue that penalty Tor
fouls Of that sort, and remove it from the
long drives. I have not yet framed any
amendment, but !. will bs an easy matter
When the foul strike rule was Incorporate
ed In the National League rules many play
ers condemned It, but good batters say that
1t makes little difference, and pitchers BEN
edt by It, for there are plenty. of sdckers
who can stand UP before an ordinary pitch
ef and foul of q dozen balls that he could
mans Park last season this monotonous
foulfng was a feature of several games. In
one tine at bat a Boston player tippea
and was retired.
DOHAN TO REMAIN AN AMATEUR.
Jimmy Dohan. the former Notre Dame
p 1~isIsfii !. ne The ion S;nciS S0aside sey . de sTawa
that he signed no contract, but that he
agreed to go South with the Browns for
San!s; parents areDts'o oS,e &c s to- him pla Hsase prof 1s-
sional ball, and for that reason he may not
join any league team McAleer will have
As It now stands, the Brown twirling
corps looks strong enough to win a pennant
II provided with good support in the field
not including pitchers. The prospect is full
of promise. Jack Powell and Frank Dona-
hue, those two old reliables. are reported
in fine shape. Bill Reidy writes from C1eve-
land that he is anxious for the season to
open that he may demonstrate McAleer's
wisdom in retaining him after he had ex-
year. '.~F4fteen-inning BIZ has fast ones
as well as tantalizers and slow ones. In
addition, he is a player with a sound heart
and good nerves, a fair fielder in his posi-
ton, though a woefully weak batter.
sUDHOFF BEST IN SPRING.
Billy Sudhon Is always good in the spring
and fall. and fair in the summer months.
Billy does not like the going on hot days.
but blustery April winds and the pleasant
chill of autumn air are his elements. Sud-
h sSn sai 1ast a s5 pnssing reputation gsnaris a as a 1i plnsR
Whalen from the Pacific Coast are most
f1attering.
worthless. 1t is not a question of pitching
ability so much as physical fitness. Sievers
was a star with the Detroit team last sum-
shoulder during a ffteen-inning pitching
duel against "Rube" Waddeli. He was
compelled to retire for the rest of the
bedcOu. ne ldceu the bTOWuS q lew times
and won two games from them. He writes
Jimmy McA1eer that his arm is as good
as ever. and IL he proves that statement by
have no trouble making good. There seems
to be some doubt expressed, however, as
to whether he may not be allowed to ex-
tend himself for fear of endangering his
arm
NOT STRONG BEHIND THE BAT.
Too much attention cannot be given to
the catching department Last season Nc
AlAor GfQfad that HE nftcharS u-oeo hapdf--
capped by having light weights like Ma
lcney and "Jiggs' Donahue behind the bat.
8ugden. as long as he could avoid accidents.
was q steady receiver and a good coach
and help to pitchers. But old Gold Molas-
ses' is deficient in throwing, though no
base runner can steal on him with impu-
nifty.
When . member Of the old Pittsburs Pi-