The Washington herald., 1909-02-26
By WILLIAM PEET.


nounced last Tuesday are all very fire as
far as they go, but in one instance, az
least. the men who made the change did
not go quite far enough.
The rule that does not permit the scor-
ing Of a stolen base when a double steal
Is attempted. and one Of the runners is
is a mighty welcome change And
the new ruling that gives a batter the
credit Of sacrifice hit on a fly ball that
ought TO have been caught is also ap-
proved by the baseball fans. But II is
the rule that gives q pitcher or catcher
an error If a batter reaches first after q
third strike that does not look right.
The change makes It compulsory to give
a pitcher an error if the third strike goes
wild. or the catcher gets an error If he
permits the third strike to get away from
him
Now. there IS nothing said about q run
that is scored from third base on : Wild
pitch or a passed ball. OF Il runner
advances from first 10 second OF second
70 third on a passed ball or q wild pitch.
Why has this rule been drawn So fne2
Is il an oversight, and. II not. why dis
criminate between Two plsys2
Surely, il is q most glaring error. il the
catcher has a passed ball. that permits
a runner to scoot home from third with
q score that nay prove the winning tally
Of a game. OF If the pitcher makes wild
heave and a runner comes across .he
plate Indeed, such z battery error Is
more damaging than If a batter gets 70
first after having three strikes called on
him
There is certainly room fcr improve
ment here, and the rule-makers should
look it up
The following tslegraphic dispatches. re-
ceived last night. are OF considerable in
terest to every baseball ian:
Philadelphia Feb 5--The final act IN
connection with the transfer OF the PHI
adelphia National League baseball club
took place this afternoon al a meeting
Of. the old executive board and the new
owners held at the Offices OF the club in
the Real Estate Building, Broad and
Chestnut streets
Although the meeting was called for Z
o'clock noon, some delay was occasioned
by the absence OF James Potter. the man
who Is understood 10 have rounded I'd
the small stock owners, and thus af-
fected the sale which has stirred Cd the
baseball world
All manner OF states nave been named
unofficially-but no one in authority
would state positively who the new
Philadelphia National League chiefs were
TO be
The delay in the matter OF getting
down 70 business was helped along by a
visit Of the new owners TO the Hunting
don street grounds this morning. Nr.
Shettsline. the former Phiilies' president.
conducted the tour Of iEspec-
ton.
Spoken to as regards his new position
with the club. Mr- She1tsline said:
1t suits me perfectly We viii now
have a president 70 take the responsible
ity, treasurer TO look after the finances.
and a manager who will run the team.
All this viii relieve me Of a lot OF re-
sponsibility and allow me 10 DO that
which I am supposed 20 Go without a
thousand and one other worries
The first business OF the meeting was
the resignation Of the old officers. THIS
was quickly accomplished. Ed Hyneman
being the first to leave the meeting, fol-
lowed by J. Potter
Following the meeting former President
Shettsline announced his own resignation
as well as that Of Mr. G. 3. z. Martin
This. ended the proceedings so far as
the old Philadelphia club was concerned.
The new officers viii be:
President, Israel ". Durham.
Vice president, J. P McNichoI
Treasurer. c T Wagner representing
Clarence WoIff)
Secretary. William J. shettsline.
Manager, William Murray.
Hot Springs. Ark. Feb. 25.-Southern
League clubs whose managers have be
sieged major league officers with requests
for catchers were given another setback
to-day. when Manager Lumley. OF the
rejected offers from Memphis
for any of several backstops on his list.
these days; Brooklyn needs all we've
got -
Boston. Feb. 25.-The Boston Nationals
have been awarded Pitcher White by the
national commission. Plttsburg and St.
Louis also claimed him. He pitched two
no-hit games in the Ohio State League.
and won twenty-eight out Of forty games
last year.
Big Cy Falkenberg is slated by Cleve-
land for transfer 10 Toledo.
Storke, the Pittsburg third baseman. is
on the market. He's a good youngsteT
The Southern League has adopted a
40-gsme schedule, starting its season
about April Is
Frank Chance is figuring on making
the Chicago Nationals four-time winners.
Other good men lave had the same an
bition. but none Of them made good
! Lee TannehIlI, Of the Chicago Ameri-
cans. is by far the greatest fielding third
basemsn in the world to-day. says Clark
Sriff1th- He sure is some third bssemsn-
IN another week the baseball fans vii
get something they'll consider worth read
g.