The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-21

L.
Pittsburg at LeavenwOrth-
Springfield at Sedalia-
All over the baseball world the agi-
tation is again being renewed for the
adjustment of the foul strike rule
During May the writer's generally 1g-
nored it, but with the advent OF the
hot weather, protests galore are being
filed Figures that furnish food for
thought can be easily supplied. Ar
guments for or against the rule can
be furnished by the column, without
raising point not already argued to
death, but the fact remains that there
is need of some legislation to overcome
the handicap which the pitcher has
over the batter at the present day.
Each year finds the slant artist as
Stunning greater mastery. Up to the
middle of June of this year, there have
been siXty-ffve shut-Out games in the
National and American leagues That
either bespeaks wonderful work on the
part of the pitcher, or fielding par
excellence The credit however re-
bounds to the man with the brass
shoe-plate. Two fouls on a batter and
a chance strike will send him to the
side lines, with the cry of Strike
three, you're out" ringing in his ears.
In by far the ma jority of instances this
lays tremendous handicap on the
batsman- But that is not the vital
point. The foul strike rule abolishes
the old free and open hitting and
running game. for the unansWerable
D
/ less chance at the ball. The same
condition confronts the Missouri VAL
| ley league games. A review of the files
1 of this year shows a total number of
| % whitewashes up to June Is. That
/ is too many. 1t means 8 games de-
void of features from at least one
side-because a feature is always
4 born of hard hitting. Great fielding
and throwing are direct resultants of
4 heavy clouung. To say that the fea-
| ture of a game was the pitching, is
~~1~w 49, Il
| the opposing team at his mercy. If
/ this mercy business has been up for
| display and exhibition 2S times in the
Missouri Valley league in a month
/ and One-half, it is about time to take
away some of the pitchers power
and the quickest way at the matter is
| to give the foul strike rule its death
blow. Henry Chadwick, of New York
| the dean of baseball writer's, stated
! recently that he expected to send
flowers to its funeral some time this
fall.
o. H. Morris of Springfield. No, who
| contemplated buying the Topeka
team and then changed his mind
gave this as his opinion Of the Saints:
| Y on have three good men-COle,
Olson, and Schrant. Olson does not
hit the way he should, but he is worth
having on any team because he is a
gentleman You had a stronger team
than you have now before you let go
Porter. springheId's big first base
man, who was hit on the left elbow
by one of Carriers curves when the
Midgets played in Topeka week be-
fore last, is still out of the game from
the injury.
Bob Lawson has finally informed
Sedalia that he viii not pitch profess
siOnal baseball this summer He will
be in the town of the Goldbugs shortly
to talk over some business matters
and will then formally wind up his
baseball career. Sedalia fandom is
generally distressed over this news,
for Lawson was counted upon to help
the average column porceptibly by the
close Of the season He has been at
tending school in Indiana during the
winter.
Hard luck vail from the lola
I'm the north hedge of the ball
park every day one hundred people
2 watch the game. Some of these Deo-
see a game. But many of them are
3 moochers. If they haven't the money
to see a game and pay their way, they
ought to stay up town It is discour-
aging for a man to try to run a team
and not get people in to see the team
play. Unless the attendance picks VI
lola viii be without ball team in the
1 very near future"
9 Peck Harrington, who played with
. the Topeka team while Roy Bevis wal
. out of the running with a spraineC
5 ankle, has Joined Armstrong; bunch
3 at Fort Scott
= Pittsburg will see If an Indian in il
g team will help out things a little bit
= Blue Jacket from Vinita has beer
t signed for the sun garden
Il Here is an awful mess which tn
TTo~t Scott Tribune hands out to I'm
pire LoWery:
= sIf that man Lowery who poses n
q an umpire ever comes back to For
i scott again his reception VIII be warn
IF indeed. and if he ever ventures on tn
field and gives the team the worst Q