Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-09
SPORTS OF ALL SORTS
American League Meeting
Adjourned Last Night.
VERY HARMONIOUS
RUMoRs IN CHICAGO THAT BAR
ROWS MAY MANAGE SENATORS.
Meeting Of Trotting Board = Cresceus'
Time Thrown Out - Bowling
Misunderstanding Notes.


recess. the American League magnatss
concluded the business for which they were
brought together at Chicago and at Z
o'clock last night adjourned to meet at the
call of President Johnson in New York
some time in February
Whether. anything calculated to have a
lasting effect upon the destinies of the
natlonai game was done at this meeting
time alone will demonstrate. Though it
was tnought that the rules proposition was
passed up for good Wednesday night con-
siderable time was devoted yesterday to a
consideration of the foul strike rule and
the suggestion of the change to head off
the deadly efficacy of the spit ball." After
the various propositions had been talked
over from every angle, and the meeting
had gone so far as to take an informal
vote 1t was agreed to fall in with the
spirit OF the times and stand pat That
means that so far as the American League
Is concerned the foul strike will stand I'M
less the National sees fit to knock 1t in the
mead. and that the pitchers may befuddle
the DatSmen with the spit BALI until the
cows come home.
New rules to control the game were APP
proved and will be submitted to the joint
committee OF the two major leagues for
adoption. The most important change
agreed upon was that in the future
I pitched ball passing between the hip and
shoulder shall constitute strike A pitch
| ed ball between the knee and shoulder is
| called strike according to the present
rule. Comiskey of Chicago, Mack of Phila-
delphia and Kflfoyle of Cleveland were
named as the committee on rules, which
will confer with similar committee of the
National League.
Season May Be Shorter.
1t was also agreed to begin the playing
| season April IS and that the schedule
| should consist of but 40 games instead of
| 154. as last year. An effort will be made
10 n{,t of
| have the National League adopt similar
| program.
Though the magnates were wide apart on
| some OF the rules suggestions they were
unanimous and harmonious on ali other
questions For instance, when Uncle"
benjamin Shibe moved to make the salary
| of the president of the league $4,000 per
| annum during the life of the present
| agreement the motion went through with
whoop. and Mr.. Johnson was not given a
chance to refuse it.
The same proposition was made last sea-
son, but Mr.. Johnson, after fatty refusing
to accept the boost in salary from So 600
to 10000. split The difference and took
$I,2o0, with the understanding that it was
| TO run for one season only.
President Comiskey of the Chicagos
served notice on Manager Mack that he
would not waive claim to InfieIder Mullen
whom Connie had practically agreed to
turn over to Dick Harley of the Toronto
club. Consequently that capable infielder
Will start the season with the White Socks.
Manager Mack had a distinct understand
ing with Comiskey, however, that if Chi
cago did not retain Mullen he (Mullen) was
to be turned over to Toronto.
Little Talk Of Deals.
There was little or no talk of deals There
| is not club in the league that hasn't got
some sort of a swap in view but when it
comes to a showdown each wants more
than the other fellow is willing to give.
Jimmy McAleer is trying to make a deal for
Jesse Burkett. the human crab, as the basis.
Dut unless he reaches an agreement with
Boston Burkett will again play with st.
Louis Another report from Chicago says
that Freeman has been traded for Burkett
President Taylor of the Bostons sounded
Connie Mack regarding a deal in which
Baron Setback figured as the Boston end
Connie smiled gracousIy and told the
champions president that if he would sub
stitute Chick Stahl for Selbach he would
| hold the matter under advisement.
Barrows May Run Senators.
The Washington managership question
has not been definitely settled. 1t is thought
that Ed. Barrows, formerly of Detroit
and later of Montreal, has a good change
of landing the berth.
The league agreed to rule that will go a
| great way to heading off combinations be-
| tween major and minor league clubs. I'm
oOi TIC ioiilcI Iuie IIdJOT league cluD
could draft a whole bunch of players and
| then turn them back to a minor league
| club, after all the other clubs had waived
claim. In this way untold hardships have
| been worked upon capable and deserving
| players Under the rule passed yesterday
| clubs of the American League will have I'M
| til February to waive claim, and this will
| give them time to hunt up the records of
| the youngsters and to claim them if their
| dope warrants 1t. As this rule was sug-
| gested by Mr.. Bruce of the national COM
| mission. it will doubtless be adopted by the
| National League. Just how the former rule
| was abused is shown by the fact that the
| Brooklyn club has under reserve and draft
| fifty-sx players for the coming season. OF
| course, Hanlon doesn't want them for him.
| self. He couldn't try them all out if he
| wanted to. But he did want to protect his
| Baltimore club.
| Tom LOTUS was the only member of the
| alumni present. He had a lovely tanning
| session with Malachi Kittredge, the Sena-
| torial catcher.
| Next week the National Leaguers will
| hold their sessions in New York 1t re-
/ + hot fInxy xuyiH how n