Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-05
MAGNATES WANT TO
IMPROVE BASE BALL
BUT Umpire Evans Points Out
the Difficulties in
the Way.
By Umpire Billy Evans.

oWlfSIS OF Ddse pdli lIduCDlStS III PUth
major and minor leagues are anxious to
know.
The men who have their money invested
In the great national game are ever alert
to any reforms that may help the sport
ana incidentally increase their source OF
revenue.
Since the close of the base ball season
the fans have read about many sugges-
lions offered to change various features
Of the pastime. Some of the suggestions
pertained to the pitching, others to the
lack of batting. while still others to the
use of the spike and the many injuries
caused by it.
For many years the off season has been
the time of reformation. 1t has been
customary for fans, managers, scribes
and players to set forth their opinions on
base ball in general. Many of the
looked as if they might possibly improve
the game. but few If any have ever re-
ceived more attention than passing.
Evidently the rule makers have be-
lieved for several years that the game
was well nigh perfect. that the many
changes suggested were of little or no
advantage, few If any have ever been
embodied into the rules governing the
game.
The agitation for reform since the close
of the 1909 season has been stronger than
ever before. The campaign just closed
was filed with mishaps of more or less
serious nature. due to the use of the long.
sharp spikes base ball players use on their
shoes. While many of the accidents were
of very unfortunate nature, and many
stories were printed that in some cases
the spiking was intentional, feel perfect
" safe IN stating that practically every
injury was unavoidable.
Injured Many.
Tyrus Cobb, the great outfelder of the
Detroit team. perhaps spiked more play
ers last season than any other three men
In the league. Because of Cobb's well
known ability, because OF the high posi-
ton occupied by the Detroit club in the
rAce, because of the fact that in several
cases the men spiked by Cobb were
members OF teams regarded as Detrotts
most dangerous rivals, 1t was openly
stated that Cobb had Intentionally spiked
these men In order to weaken the Tigers
strongest opponents.
While 1t may often look from the stand
~ If Cobb was deliberate in his attempts
tn injure, yet I believe there are few
players who. If really asked for an hon
est opinion during the off season, when
they are not all excited over the pen
nsnt race, would swear that Cobb tried
to put different players out of the run
ming by the use of his steel spurs.
Cobb has a slide peculiarly his own,
unlike most others. Cobb does not slow
down before starting his slide, but hits
the turf at almost his full speed. One
Of his legs Is thrown in the direction Of
the bag, the other leg is usually high in
the air. while his body is thrown in the
opposite direction from the basernan. In
other words, when Cobb goes into a base
feet first about the only thing the run
her has to touch Is the spikes on one OF
his shoes. Thus the feat of touching
Cr.Ht &c h1r n f1<,,,t$ I1w,
gerous task. Then again there are many
basemen who do not fancy touching Cobb
any too well. and quite often in trying to
safely position themselves they get in the
very spot that makes the play dangerous.
Cobb Has Fade Away Slide.
Cobb's fade away slide Is the work of
an artist. It takes an artist In the art
OF touching the runner to show up Cobb's
slide. just as Cobb's slide shows up base
men, who rather fear touching him In
order to avoid possible injury. 1t was
always a treat for me to watch Cobb
try to steal third with Bobby Wal
lace of the St Louis Browns playing the
bag. or see him attempt to pilfer second
with Wallace as shortStop taking the
throw from the catcher.
4 There are any number OF American
League infielders who are very clever at
bic way of thinking no one has anything
on Bobby" Wallace. He is an adept at
handling thrown ball with one hand,
and unless the catcher happens to make
q throw that Is right on the runner there
isn't q chance for Wallace to be spiked
] have often seen Cobb go into Wallace
with terrific speed. Taking the throw
In bis gloved hand Wallace would hook
the ball under Cobb's foot and start him
of in some direction other than the bag.
I have often seen Cobb miss the bag at
least foot after being touched out by
Wallace.
One day. after a game IN which Wallace
had thrice thwarted Cobb In his efforts
10 steal without tho slightest injury to
himself. / said to him.:
IT'S funny Cobb seldom hurts YOU
hle touching him than any other base
runner. ] hear lots of players complain.
but never hear you say anything, no mat
ter how hard he comes into the bag"
any other runner to me. Billy replied
Wallace In fact, I would much prefer
touching Cobb with his finishadr slide than
some awkward fellow who Jumped into
the bag in any old fashion,
Such a statement coming from Wallace
always interested me. Never did Cobb GO
tnto q bag with Wallace covering that /
didn't watch Just how Wallace got the
ball on him. 1t was always a battle of
artists with honors about even.
Must Have Spikes.
To my way of thinking all talk about
abolishing the spike is foolish. The spike
Ia the one big asset of the ball player. He
must have his shoes so equipped that he
can make a quick start we'll as stop.
and can see no substitute that offers the
same possibilities as the steel spike.
To ANYBODY who has ever played foot
ball all this talk Of leather cleats taking
the place of the steel spike is a joke
More speed Is the demand OF every base
afll manager and owner, A man with
I'D feet suffers a severe handicap in
base ball. Nothing would more quickly
ruin the feet of ball players than the con-
slant use OF base ball shoe with leather
cleats-
IN the first place, the leather clear
would cause the player to suffer from
callouses on the ball of his foot. The
steel spike, while sinking into the ground.
often causes a player TO slow up from
callous. Contrast the leather cleats which
do not give a fraction OF an inch, and one
can readily imagine the result. Players
would be suffering from many ailments
which are at present unknown to the base
hall PLAYER and tho average manager who
has bumped into his share OF hard luck
will readily tell you that there are enough
things that can happen to a player with
out advancing any new possibilities.
, To ask bail player to work on a
grass infield or outfield with leather
cleats as his only means OF reinforce
tn.nt would he foolhardv. On a skinned
diamond IL wouldn't he 50 had, but on n
Aass diamond such as many minor and