The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-10-23
BATSMEN MUST HAVE 4 CHANCE
TO SHINE IN GAMES NEXT SEASON
Popular Clamor for More Hitting Will Result in the Repeal of the
Foulstrike Rule-Spi Ball a CRYING Evil of the Odorous
M-easure-Hitters of the Old Days Were sluggers of Best Type

Practically the last vestige OF active
baseball for this season has passed into
| history. ard managers. players ard those
fans who are interested IN the politics Of
the game are watching the baseball map
for new moves.
At present great interest centers IN the
Rules Committee When that body meets
two handbags. against batters. the foul
strike rule and the spit ball" will be
brought on the carpet. and it is expected
that some lively things viii happen TO
both obnoxious measures
It viii be an easy matter to adjust the
foul-strike rule. but Il will be nc simple
problem to remedy the "spi; ball'' NUS
ancs. Pitchers Throughout the country
laugh at all suggestions to eliminate the
spit ball" They say that this VII not
be an easy matter. and seme Of them con
tend that II would be impossible to even
restrict the use of this effective pitching
asset
So far as batting Is concerned, It IS a
department of the game that is rapidly
going into decline. If the pitcher contin-
ues to get the upper hand for another
wear. .S1o hitters-tne kind that delight the
fun-wil be a. scarce as herds OF wild
buffalo.
Not so many years back a hitter that
could not slug and slap the ball around
the 800 mark was considered pretty much
Of a .iob at the bat But conditions have
changed. and the sticker who has an aver
age OF 80 is now considered a sturdy oak
wielder.
ONLY TWELVE so HITTERS.
Last season in the National League only
seven batters batted over 500. Just five
OF the American League hitters went bet
ter than the 800 mark.
Twelve men in the 800 class In the
major leagues and only one batting over
In the National League in 1ssf six men
batted over 40. Al Maui. Cap Arson
Dan Brouthers, Charlie Ferguson. Del!
Darling and Sam Thompson. Maui led
with an average OF .iJo.
The Philadelphia twirler participated IN
but sixteen games and the real leader was
old Cap Arson with an average of IN
T~wenty-eight men batted above go.
and there were no less than SiNty-eight
men in the 800 class.
1t is true that averages were abnormal
~ high that wear. but It Is equally true
that batting hes never been at so low q
stage as at the close Of the 1904 season.
The best basis for COMPARISON aga is the
ditions then were much like they are now.
There were two leagues, almost equal in
playing strength. They were the Amer
lean Association and the National League
"a lie liz
r,en batted over the 800 mark The lead
er was big Roge Conner OF New York
with an average Of 81 The inevitable
Dan Brouthers was second. The Amer
lean Association had nine $50 h'tters. two
above the $50 mark. with Pete Browning.
-3sl leading the van.
This was a total OF twenty 300 batters
as against a total OF twelve in 1904.
BAsE RUNNING GOING BACK.
Base were also better and give
the present day rule makers something to
explain In the American Association no
less than eight men stole more than fifty
bases. In 1856 Stovey of the Athletics lee
with ninety-six. In the National League
three men stole more than fifty. Hanlon.
Kelly and Andrews being the successful.
pilferers.
Only one man, wagner, stole more than
fifty bases last season. And make
the comparison more Odi0us Is the fact
that the present season schedule Is. or
was. fourteen games longer than the one
OF 1885. The year 1881 saw the. pitchers
moved, back five feet and 1t was then that
batting averages took a great leap Sixty
eight National Leazuers mounted into the
800 class
The American Association made an
equally remarkable showing over eleven