The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-24
MURPHY IN BAD.
Players Take Exception to Cub
M Boss Plans.
s-
He Would Let Baserunners
Overrun Bags.
~
CUT THE FEATURES.
Abolish the Slide and Fade Away
for Safety.
Hand Passes Out on Three Balls
Too.


Chicago, ILL.,, Jan. 24.-h Presloent
Murphy of the fiag-winning CUBS
wants some really and truly sueses-
lions tending to elevate the national
pastfne he'd best consult the every
day celebrities who play the game and
who are camping out during the WIN
ter months within the connnes Oh
Cook county. Then, mayhap, the WeSs
side advocate of higher basebaIi Woulu
pigeonhole the idea of deprutaHzlhs
base running or granting the patesr
three balls instead of four before lanu-
ing free passage to first.
Objections galore were heard today
from major league stars VINO were dp-
preached on the topic. true the pray
Murphy in the interest of their respec-
tive weIfares. by guarding against the
possibility of injury while running al
top speed, but the other SIDE OF the
problem is presented when one STOPS
to consider the feeling Oh the plaSeAS
doing defensive duty.
Under the rules proposed by Mr.
Murphy pertaining to base running the
game would lose many OF It's most
spectacular features" SAID Bllly sui
Sox. tonight Speed marvels like
Cobb, Bush, Harry Lord and Collins
would have the freedom of the infle!d,
and it wouldn't be long before the
hook and 'fade-away slide would
pass out of the game. Then, TOO, the
rale would demoralize inside basepall.
for instead of sliding, the runner
could keep on sprinting with more as
surance of safe passage to second or
third, even if he should overslide eth
er bag.
THE suggestion that Mr.. Murphy
r. IND a 6Q
three balls instead of four, as is now
the case, also looks to me like a step
backward instead of ahead. Under
these conditions the battery men would
have scant opportunities to pun OF
brilliant plays, and managers would
dare use only their pitchers who pos
sess unerring control. P1tch-outs, ior
instance, would be kicked into the dis
card, for the pitcher would not care
to waste any balls in pinch.
Ed Sweeney. the bonnie backstop-
per of the Highland clan, happy in
the possession of much gray matter
and baseball knowledge, as well as a
deadly whip, seconds every mot1on
made by the veteran Sullivan. The big
Yankee cut loose as follows:
Would Need Gun.
Tell EN- for me that the proposed
rules would spoil baseball. In either
case the defensive side of the game
would be reduced to point where
scientific exponents of baseball could
not show to an ordinary advantage L
know I'd need a gun to stop base run
ners headed for second or third with
the knowledge that they would not
be called out III the event they hap
pened to overrun or overslide either
sack. Both ideas are jokes.
There is only one change needed
to my way of thinking continued
Big Ed, switching the topic. THE
rule makers can score knockout If
they pass a regulation prohibiting
coachers from grabbing base runners
and pushing them back to first OF
third when the said runner is trying
to take another base on drive
There's one chance for the reformers
to get in their heavy work"
Loud roars of dissatisfaction eman-
ated from other celebrities, including
Arthur Devlin, third baseman of the
New York Giants; Joe Tinker ano
King Cole of the Cubs; Frank Roth
last season a windpad artist with The
Cincinnati Reds; Herman Schaefer
utility member of the Washington Ma
tionals, and Charley O'Leary of the
Detroit infleld. All these hearties are
wintering in Chicago and all are
against the idea sprung by the Cut
magnate few days ago.
President Murphy is still missing
but report today had it that he wal
sojourning in Cincinnati preliminar!
to starting for New Orleans, where HI
will complete plans for the training
trip of his champions.