The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-05-16
Game today with Cleveland, 4 p. m


Once again has The Washington Times
scored a hit with the baseball public
by having The American League adopt
q rule which adds TO the enjoyment Of
the spectators and protection Of the
players, without in the least molly
eoddiing the great game Of baseball.
The latest innovation made at the
suggestion Of The Times is contained
IN an order by President Ban B John
son 70 the umpires in his circuit TO see
that the field is kept clear OF the bats
masks, brooms, windpads. and other
paraPhernalia, which were a constant
menace TO the life or limb OF every man
running after q ball in foul territory
near the plate Why these tmpedIments
Of the game and impediments TO good
fielding were ever allowed 70 litter Up
The feld is one of the mysteries which
win never be explained. but when the
folly 0f II was pointed out TO President
Johnson he at once agreed that Il
should be abolished, and instructed his
uTIpires accordingly.
Wiz Remove Menace.
So far, the umpires have not become
accustomed 70 enforcing this latest rule,
and the broom and gloves were in evil
dence Saturday when Washington aC-
compIished its great feat Of beating
Cleveland 1 TO 0. and thereby winning
two games IN a row. But give them
time. Il viii not be long before the
change Is accepted as a matter OF
course. and the Masks PADS, brooms,
and so forth. will no longer be an eye
sore 10 the fans and a danger to the
men who make a living out Of the na-
tional pastiTne-
The scoreboards on the fence, with a
patent device indicating who is at bat,
and keeping e record Of the balls,
strikes, and outs, are also the result OF
Al agitation carried by The Times
against the oId-fashioned score cards,
which were nothing else but petty
swtndles, IN that they very, very seldom
told exactly who was IN the contest
Tines idea Works Well
The rule adopted last winter inhicting
a penalty Of s. on any team captain or
manager who does not tell the umpire
Of = change in the lineup, and q similar
hne upon an umpire who does not an
uounce the change 70 the spectators.
was also adopted, after its necessity and
uractfca bility had been pointed out by
rhe writer Of this column II has already
proved Of great benefit to the fans and
uewspapermen. as Umpire Bill Evans
lA LEEA--E-
While We are far from being z pro-
feEsiOnal TefOTue-, we are for such in
novaIionS as tend 10 make the game
more attractive for all hsnds. Need
less Inconvenience should not be tOler-
ated any more than CErclessness which
imperiIs the life or limbs Of an athlete,
and there are many points IN this con
nection which have not yet been cover
ed BY the rules
Should Consider Fans.
When all Is said and done, baseball
Il stiIl in its formative stage The mag
mates have been so busy developing the
playing side. and perfectinS the organi-
cation OF the interests involved. that the
comfort OF the fans has largely been
ueglected-as has that OF the newspap
men, by the way. Enabling ian 70 en-
Joy a contest more by such simple means
as keeping him well informed on the
pIayers has become q matter OF growing
Importance, President Johnson, Of the
American League. deserves the thanks