The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1908-06-11
URGENT PLEA FOR MAJOR
LEAGUES TO HAVE REGULAR
STAFF OF SCORERS.
PRESENT PLAN IS UNJUST
PLAYERS often Not Given Their Dues
and Too Much Chance for Favor't-
ism-Time Is Ripe to Place the 20
sition on a Higher Plane-Some
Strong Arguments.
ey George L. Moreland.

absolutely correct and scoring thaI
will not SAVIOR of favoritism?
Never, so long as the present style
of scoring is permitted.
1t is a question If there are two Of
fetal scorers in the major leagues
who score a play alike. In my trav'
els throughout the cities | have found
so many kinds of scoring that have
often wondered how batter is to get
what is due him.
Many times one sees foot note, out
for bunting third strike. The rule
states plainly that it is simply strike
out, and the catcher should be given
a put-out.
In some cities the player who over
slides second or third base after hav-
ing successfully stolen the base is not
given steal.
There are several scorers (officiaD
that could not give you correct def
milton of a fielder's choice on his life.
Some scorers do not give player a
sacrifice hit when he Intentionally
makes one, if an error is made on the
play.
In some cases where a pitcher
strikes out batter and the catcher
drops the ball but gets the man at
first base, the pitcher is not credited
with strike-out
One of the greatest faults Of the
present style of selecting official scor-
ers Is that the scorers are selected
from among the sporting editors of
the different papers in the cities that
compose the major leagues. There are
good baseball men and honest ones at
that who know how to score, but a
young fellow just breaking in the bust
ness thinks he should have a whack
at the game and to prevent the said
sporting editor from getting sore A
certain city had no less than four Off
cial scorers in one season, simply to
satisfy the S. E.
| have argued for the last ten years
that the only way we will ever have
correct scoring is for the two major
leagues to appoint set of scorers and
have entire charge of the business.
Run the scoring of the game the same
as they do with the umpires. Select
competent men and pay them a salary
that would justify them in giving up
sporting desk, or select some person
outside the business. There are many
who could be selected that would do
the work as it should be done.
1t has not been so many years ago
that local men were selected to UNI
pire games. Did they prove salts
factory? Not in hundred different
ways. So why expect local men to
handle the scoring of game any
more than have a local man act as
his "umps?"
Baseball has outgrown its babyhood
days. 1t is now one of the greatest
business propositions of the country.
Why, then not have competent Off
cials? Have we not two of the great.
est men at the head of the leagues that
ever handled the affairs of the two or.
CARNATIONS? Have we not the best
umpires than can be had? Then why
not have set of official scorers to
take charge of the other department
one that causes more arguments
among the fans than the rulings of his
Jumps"
1t would not cost such great
amount to have men appointed who
could tour the circuit like the nm.
pires. Each club in the two leagues
now pays a stated sum to have the
work done, so that the money would
almost pay a mans salary per day
The travelling expenses and hotel
board would not cost fortune.
An owner of club pays good money
for a first-class player, the 16 climbs
pay big money TO hire two good presi-
dents, and the latter engage first-class
men to umpire, which the club own.
ers pay for. so why not select eight
men who can score a game as it should
be scored?
Another argument that holds good
is that it would stop a lot of getting
square with this or that PLAYER 81
would not give that guy hit on apy.
thing was the comment of scoror
one time, but he charged the feldo.
with an error, and | have known
cases where there has been no mon.
ton of hit at all, neither was an
error scored, just simply beat the hat.
ter out of hit because he was M
friend of the o. S. 1t would also e.nu
all arguments from certain orartanp
about how do you expect to beat snch
and such a batter out in hitting VIA
he gets everything?
1t has been known where a r,avo.
got hits when rank errors were 80
simply TO have him ahead Of 200 aue
So in so and so" city This wonis
be a thing of the past If official sco.aIa
were appointed and sent around rs
cities as are umpires.
The above argument is nor mado .,
any selfish reason, but because II e.
the truth and will be acknowledged b.,
all fair-minded sporting editors y
This is Frank Chances tan,h -,
in the game all with a. 'Noi