The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-01-29
RULE CHANGE
OPPOSED BY
BALL MEN
lBr Leased Wlrel

s i F tBy Leased Wlfe5
Caicago, Jan '2s.r-Balr players who
are wintering In this city found time
to express themselves on the propos-
ed change in the rules ergarding base
stealing, which wouli allow that a
base runner could mol be tagged out
after oyerslIding or oyerrunning sec
ond or third base. The thing was
brought out by Charles Murphy last
wee, who was prompted 10 it by a
suggestion from the veteran Ted Sui
livan Murphy talked SO favorab%
OF it that It was thought he might
suggest it at the next melting OF the
rules committee, OF which he is a
member
or nine big league players consult
ed not one favored the change.
Billy sullivan the veteran backstop
mar for the White Sox, was one Of
the players who talked against the
rule. IT'S no good, said Sully,
ana ! can't believe it would ever be
passed. It would give the base rum
ner 4 chance to dc too much kicking
on the decisions and would lead to
a wide slide so it would be hard TO
tell whether a man touched the bag
or not. Part Of the base running
game is to steal a base and hoad it.
Sweeney Would Need Rifle.
Another catcher who spoke on the
proposed change was Eddie Sweeney
OF the New York Hghlanders, who re-
sides in this city. I'D need gun to
pick off those base runners was the
way he put it. Its hard enough to
nail them now but If they had a
chance to slide past the bag and tag
it with a toe while passing the catch
er would have to throw as accurately
as a rifle shot to get the bah ut the
right place.
Joe Tinker, the shortstop Of the
Cubs, who tags about as many as on
the middle bag as the man in the bic
league, was loud in his protestation
I'VE get a OF of them, coming back
was the way he put il, and | don't
want that chance taken away. Be
sides, think it bad for the game. In
stead of building mp the proficiency
of the base runner ii would detrac
for it would make his task lighter. =
Arthur Delvin, third sacker for thu
new YORK Giants and considered ius
about the dandiest in the Nationa
league, also winters here and his opin
ion was sought. NO. wouldn't wan
to see it," he said, Those fellow
tear into third base hard enough now
to cut a fellows legs off, and if the,
al, f,lfdinn
they'd tear in al the harder
Schaefer Sees New Trouble.
Germany" Schaefer, member 0
Washington's infield and formerl,
with Detroit stopped his motor ca
long enough to declare himself a
being against it. Say, | don't nee
anything like that to steal bases
can hook my toe over the cushion
ard hang there Let the other fe
lows learn to DO it, too Every tear
would be signing lot of collect
sprinters and they wouldn't stop III
til they hit the left fled fence Fo
that reason it would delay the gam
and be pad thing for baseball
Charles OLeary of Detroit's nfiel
objected to it. The prettiest part {
the game is the baserunning and th
best part of base running is to be abb
to steal a bag and hold it" he sale
Frank Roth catcher for the Red
and once with the White Sox, agree
with sullivan and Sweeney the otl
er catchers, that it would put to
much of a handicap on them.
Among the retired big leagures VIII
talked against the proposed chang
was Jimmy Callahan, old-time Whit
Sox man, and Chick Fraser, one
pitcher for the Cugs, Boston National
and Phllies.
If other practical baseball men loo
a the proposed change in the sam
light it will die a quick death