Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-07
WANT A HEAVIER
PENALTY PLACED ON WILDNESS
Think Two Bases Should b Allowed When
Pitcher Hits Basemen Many Have
Been Injured by Wild Heaves.

Is not the penalty imposed upon pitch
ers for hitting batsmen altogether too
trivial? Should not these boxmen. who
posing batsmen, be made to suffer more
severely for their wildness, and some
thing more than the granting Of one base
be made the consequence OF their erratic
aim?
This is a question that has already
caused considerable discussion In big
league circles. The frequency with which
batsmen have been hit and the temporary
loss to some clubs in the race through
injury to valuable players have already
urged the managers Of the clubs in both
leagues to suggest that some change be
made In the rules that may have tend
ency to counteract the wildness Of GER
tain pitchers. :
Many Players Injured.
Through being hit by fast pitched balls
some of the greatest batsmen and players
in the game have been permanently dis
abled or slowed up in their work. In the
old days. John Burdock. always q 300 hit
ter, fell away off in his batting, and just
before he retired from the game was the
weakest batsman on his team. Freddie
Parent was never again as good as before
he was hit by pitched ball. Dannie
Hoffman was winged by Jesse Tannehill.
almost killed, and mas never since been
able to face left-handed pitcher with
any confidence. Birdie Cree of the High
landers was put on the injured list for a
long time through the same cause.
Lord had his finger smashed last
season and was laid off, and, a few weeks
| Ia
tains fingers with one Of his fast in
shoots. Inasmuch as this seeming wild
ness is something Intentional 1t Is about
time that the pitcher be made to suffer
a requisite penalty for his poor aim.
Not that the pitcher Intentionally tries
to hit or cripple a batsman. No one
imagines that a twiriers would be SO fool
ish or brutal as to inquire an opponent
1t is simply that deslreA to put the fear
of the Lord" into the bhtsnan that has
SO much to do with a pitchers erratic
aim
Oftentimes when a batsman assumes
the position to hit the pitcher sends the
first ball in just as fast and as close 20
the batsman as It is possible 70 osnxsr ~
Of the hitter and make him pack away.
He figures that the next ball ne can curve
over and thereby get the patsnan IA
hole. Sometimes that nrst Dali comes
too fast for the batsman to get out OF
the way. The ball strikes the hitter and
he drops to the ground as though snot.
The sphere may have struck him IN the
ribs or on the head. But he is Dauiy NUT
and oftentimes he is compelled 10 reeife
from the game.
Penalty Too Light.
What If the first base is awarded! what
satisfaction Is there in that? A team
may lose the services for weeks OF one
Of the best and most brilliant players.
And the only satisfaction for the loss OF
this valuable player is the granting OF
simple first-base gift.
II the man hit were allowed to take
third base instead Of first there would De
, fewer wild inshoots and FEWER men
struck. Pitchers would then be com.
PEELED to use a little more discretion. ano
SO many balls would not shoot by WITHIN
sixteenth Of an inch OF players
head. II the pitcher found that by nit
ting . man he gave that player th1ro