The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-04-24
BALL PLAYERS
MUST BE GOOD
President Lucas Tells What
Will Happen if They Are Not.
WILL INSURE CLEAN GAMES
UMP1RES INSTRUCTED TO BE
FREE WITH THEIR FINES.
WILL INSURE CLEAN GAMES

President Lucas has issued his an
nuai letter to the ball players, man
agers Of teams, and umpires. which.
If followed out. will insure good clean
baseball at least this summer. It is
as follows:
To the Managers and PLAYERS of the
Pacific National League:
AS the championship season of the
Iaeiilc National league is about TO open
ueem 1t my duty, as president of the
league TO address a few remarks to you
relative To the approaching campaign.
GOOD. clean games, free frem rowdy-
Ism. Is what the baseball patrons de-
nand. By conducting our games in a
clean manner last season we gained the
confidence ana respect of the baseball
Patrons. and we want to keep It.
We must continue to present lively and
Cream exhibitions Of the national game
free from rowdyism or Sense.ess kick
ing. Nothing disgusts a baseball audi
thco 50 much as Wrangling and kick
ing over decisions of the umpire.
Senseless kicking and improper Ian
guage by the players viii drive the spec
tatorS from the game. The game cannot
exist without liberal patronage. We
cannot afford to lose any patron. The
players should control their temDers and
conduct themselves properly at all times.
Great harm has been done the national
game IN the past by gross misbehaviOr
on the part Of the players. both on and
off the ball field. The ball player should
curb his temper. There is no excuse for
any player 10 use indecent or improper
language, or rowdy tactics at any time
l shall hold you accountable for your
actions during the playing season. We
have promised the baseball patrons clean
bail, free from rOWdyiSm and we must
keep our promise.
We have engaged umpires OF national
reputation and they have been instructed
10 enforce the playing rules to the letter
They have power TO order any player.
captain or manager to do or omit to do
any action they may deem necessary to
game. ] have instructed the Unpires to
punish any manager, captain or player
guilty Of rowdyism or improper language
during the progress OF game by a fine
Of So ard prompt removal from the game
and grounds.
ANY payer leaving his position to dis
Pute or argue decision with the umpire
Will be fined s., and. for the second Of
Tense in the same game. he Will be re-
moved from the game
ANY manage. captain or player who
shall leave the players bench 10 dispute
a decision by the umpire. or shall make
any loud remarks whatever rejecting on
the umpire or any of his decisions, shall
Players ought 70 realize that the UNI
pire's decision of judgment cannot be
reversed, and all kicking against a
decision is useless and senseless.
Any player Of this league guilty Of
wilIfully throwing the ball, which is in
play, over the stands or fences, or 70 any
remote part of the grounds 10 delay the
game. will be fined so by the umpire.
In conclusion I desire TO call your at
tention to section q Of the constitution
of this league, relating to scaudalous
conduct. and which reads as follows:
The president of the league shall have
power to suspend for a definite period,
and to impose a fine not exceeding 80,
upon any league manager or player
guilty. in public, of gross misbehaviOr,
including intOXicatiOn. fighting. quarrel
ing. indecenCy or other scandalOus con-
duct. whether on or off the playing field.
during the season. where the same is. in
his opinion. calculated To bring disrepute
upon the Pacific National league or ma
tiOnal game
I intend to enforce this section 10 the
letter. BY needing the warning given
above YOU will save money, and heip
elevate our great national game
With best wishes, l am, respectfully,
W. H. LUCAS,
President Pacific National Baseball
League