Morris tribune., 1910-12-30
STORIES
0nnHun
The Great Baseball
Brainstorm of 2OO2.
By BOZEMAN BULGER.

SlS LdCSu H. "A IGlll. uISllLS ulSuSu lOOh
ing man briskly rose to his feet from
the cushions of this temporary cozy
corner, and the multitude cheered.
He was the president of the United
States.
Standing near the chief executive
and supporting his uplifted arms were
his four umpires. In a moment they
moved down the aisle toward the field
while the crowd broke into another
cheer and the players bowed in re-
spect. These umpires were loved by
players and public alike.
New umpires, suppose?' Dan tim,
I idly inquired of the stranger.
New? Well, l should say mott"
| exclaimed the accommodating stran-
ger. They were appointed by the
president soon after baseball passed
under control of the government and
, have been in the federal service for
the past twenty-five years.
Funny, too," he continued. "They
were appointed from different political
parties, but the president selected them
from the clergy, and since that time
these political appointments have gone
to ministers"
Suppose they have but little trouble
with the players who happen to be of
different political faith ?' timidly asked
Big Dan.
"Trouble" and the stranger looked
incredulous. Never heard of such a
thing. You must not read the papers.
Why, when they put that new amend
ment to the federal constitution. max
ing it a felony for ball player to Ques-
tion an umpire's decision and high
treason to show him violence. all talk
in baseball ended.
The president had finished his speech
and a slight breathing spell followed.
The players Immediately broke ranks
and began throwing the balls around
to get their arms warm. Dan under
stood that thoroughly and asked no
questions.
Presently the gong sounded for prac
tice on the field, and the crowd stood
with barred heads in honor of the oc-
casiOn.
In a minute the new white balls were
flying around the diamond, and Dan
was delighted. A moment later run
ners were brought out to test the ac
curacy of throws to the bases. This
was all very pleasing to Dan, but he
was suddenly startled by hearing the
captain of the club yell "Change!'
The runners then switched and be-
gan running toward third. the first
baseman whipping the ball over with
precision.
Running backward, eh?" and Dan
again turned to the stranger.
"Oh. no; he's perfectly right" spoke
the expert of POOP You know OReil-
Iy is much better left side runner
than a right. though be can go in the
other direction on pinch. An awful
good all around man"
Excuse me, my friend" said Dan.
'but p
"Oh. see," began the stranger.
perhaps you haven't seen the changes
in the 2O02 rules"
While the stranger was bubbling
over with excitement, Dan stealthily
turned to the rules on base running.
and this one caught his eye:
Rule /. section 5. The base runner inme-
diately after driving a ball in fair terri
tory shall have the right to run toward
the right formerly first basel or to the
left formerly third baSe), provided ne be
the first batter up in that inning. Every
succeeding batter shall be required to run
the same way in that inning.
'By the gods on high Olympus!" ex-
claimed Big Dan. That's the same
idea suggested by Norman ElberfeId.
great player in the year 1906"
Another look through the rules show
ed Dan that the names of the inield
positions had also changed. The four
men were called right first base"
cleft first base" right shortstop' and
cleft shortstop."
New York took the field, and Chi
die billiard. the great bunting sprinter,
was up first. and as he rubbed his
hands in the dirt the western contin-
gent started a fusillade of noise with
fifty canned brass bands all playing
"A Hot Time In the Old Town To
night"
Misty Cratheson, the New York |
pitcher who, by the way, was anxious |
to land victory, as it meant for him |!
the distribution of Democratic patron
age in lower New York, opened up |
with terrible burst of speed He was
a little unsteady, however, and huge |
automatic photographic appliance |
which hung suspended over the grand
stand had called off two balls in a !!
voice that reverberated for miles along |
the Hudson valley.
This appliance was so delicately ar
ranged that it caught the decisions of |
the umpire by wireless electric cur
rent, which was generated by the um,
pire behind the bat pressing the prop |
er lever on his indicator. The umpire !
held the negative pole while the ma
chine supported the positive. (
Seeing the danger of wasted speed. !
TratheSnn chanon6 his tacticS and hn- |