Evening star., 1908-12-20
DIAMOND SAME AS
FIFTY YEARS AGO

Directly after every base ball season
the question arises as to how to better the
national pastime. This is invariable. de-
spite the fact that every year sees the
game in a more flourishing condition, at
tended by larger crowds, the races closer
and the fans more enthusiastic.
The question came up during the meet
ing Of the American League. and the alb
stract view OF the matter was taken in
hand and gone over thoroughly by large
number Of the magnates present.
The lengthening Of the distance OF the
plate and pitchers box, the enlargement
of the gloves for outfelders and catchers.
the fcul-strike rule and various other
changes that have marked the progress
Of the game during the last decade came
up for discussion.
After all was said, George Dovey, presf-
dent of the Boston Nationals and really
a newcomer in base ball. compared with
the men to whom he was talking, had the
following to say:
~ have tried 10 make a careful study
of the game and there is one thing about
it that strucl3hme as decidedly peculiar,
although AFTER going deeply into the mat
ter l saw the reason for it.
THE changes in the game are talked
Of every year. Some are mild. but the
majority are radical. Did 1t ever strike
you that the diamond has never been
changed? History does not show IN a
single instance where any diamond played
on by a ball team of any standing what
soever differed with the diamond of to-
day. that is, ninety feet between the
bases.
AT first thought this decidedly pecu-
liar that some one had not thought to
work some change on the diamond in an
effort to better the game, increase the hit
ting and at the same time save the
pitcher. l studied the matter and found
that such a change would be SO radical
that it might eventually ruin base ball.
Now Just think OF it. SupposnS that the
distance from the home plate to first base
was only eightynine feet Just take one
foot Off that distance and what would be
the difference?
Just this. All Of you have seen prob
ably hundred more bail sames dur
ing a season than l have, SO it must strike
you even more forcibly than it struck
me. But how many times have you seen
a feet runner who would have beaten
out an infield drive had the base been one
foot nearer. 1t happens every day Oh
the base ball season and it would mean
that the pitching would take a downward
tendency and the little chills that shoot
up a mans back on one of those close
plays at first would depart forever. And
let me tell you that l believe that it Is
these chils and feelings that one expert
ences on a close decision that makes the
game of base ball what it Is.
And something Of the same thing might
be applied in case the base was moved
one foot farther away. Supposing that 1t
was ninety-one feet? What then? How
many times have you seen the fleet run
ners beat out an intield hit by the merest
fraction of an instant? This would all be
done away with and no-hit games would
Immediately become popular l believe
that tile makers of base ball have all fig
ured this out just as l have. and l be-
lieve that this is the reason the diamond
has never been changed They found
the right spot long years ago l can
rot find In base ball history vino was
the real founder of the base bal, diamond.
but | do believe that he hit upon the
right spot after some very deep study
and experience. and ! bel eve 1T ~
rulemakers of today have agreed that
1t is the happy medium and have let IL
alone"