The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-04
WOULD LEVEL BOX
Latest Great Evil on Diamond
Is Center Mound.
Pitcher Stands on Pedestal and
Shoots EN- Down.
BATTER AT MERCY
Joint Rules Committee May
Abolish That Advantage.
Minor League Skinned" Dla-
mOnds Have Highest Slabs.

New Pork. Jan. 4-President Johnson
of the American league, who is CLOSE
student of baseball, and Umpire rianA
O'Day. and other baseball men, 1ncluu-
ing Comiskey, Connie Mack, Cnance,
Fred Clarke and Clark Griffith, are
biIsv thinking over the proposition
which involves the removal OF the
raised pitchers box. This change was
not suggested until recently, ana IL mas
found so many advocates that at thS
meeting of the joint rules commlttes
of the big leagues it will doubtless re-
ceive serious consideration. The raised
box has been generally overlooked, nut
the rule permitting it has been violated
in so many instances that the matter is
now widely discussed.
With the mound built up so that the
top of it is two feet higher than the
home Mate and the three corners OF
the diamond pitchers now have a
tremendous advantage. Those who en-
plov speed a greater part OF the time
are enabled to intimidate batsmen py
hurting the ball down hill with terrlflc
momentum. They are in a position to
see the corners of the plate better. and
in that way can keep control or the
hall with more effective results. BY
putting the pitcher on a. level with the
batsman it is argued that the latter
would go to the plate with more conf
dence, and that the hitting therefore
The pitcher would be unable to enjoy
an unfair advantage and would be
forced to exercise more care in his de-
livery.
Give Hitters Better Chance.
Tt is pointed out that such men as
Mathewson, Coombs and Johnson
would not have so many batsmen at
their mercy and that with more hitting
the games would be 1ivelier from the
Spectators standpoint. Baseball men
who have looked into this matter In
sist that there is no good reason why
the pitchers box should be raised a.
ALL unless it is for the purpose of keep
ing the hitters in subsection. When
the box was on a plane with the plate
there was plenty of first class pitching.
but the records show that the batting
was heavier and that runs were more
plentiful. The raised box, it is said,
was originated by the old Baltimores
of 10 years ago, and it has been grow
ing evil ever since.
That the average manager believes
that the success of his team depends
chiefly upon the effectiveness of his
pitchers is shown by the fact that twice
the number of twirlers are carried
Then three or four first class pitchers
were sufficient, whereas nowadays a
major league team is not considered
Well equipped unless seven or eight
bexmen are on the payroll. The argu-
ment that good pitchers make win
ming team is illustrated by the success
of the Athletics. winners of the recent
worlds series. Minus such great hurl-
ers as Coombs, Bender, Plank and Nor
gan, Connie Mack's team would not
have captured the series with the Cubs.
whose pitching staff was made up Of
inferior or weakened timber. Common
sense shows that the ability to keep
opponents from making hits and runs
is the most important factor in de-
veloping championship team. yet it IS
argued that in accomplishing such re-
suits pitchers should not be allowed
to have unnatural advantages over the
men who handle the bat. That is why.
the present crusade against the raised
box. the elimination of which would
decrease the pitchers effectiveness, has
assumed such vigorous proportions,