Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-18
A Base Ball Strike.

a crisis has arrived In the affairs of
organized base ball that may cause seri-
Gus developments. The other day in New
York player, perhaps the most popular
and by many patrons of the sport regard
ed as the most skillful performer in the
game today, angered by the repeated
verbal attacks made upon him by spec
tator in one of the stands, climbed the
barrier. and after sharp exchange of
epithets engaged in fisticuffs that left the
man badly battered. Upon a formal
report of the case to the president of the
league, who CHANGED to be on the ground
in person. he suspended the player indefi-
nitely. His fellow players have notified
the league official that If the suspension
is not lifted to give the player chance
to offer defense they will refuse to take
part in any more games. In other words,
they threaten to strike,
One of the factors In the success of
the game of base ball in this country has
been the improvement in the discipline on
the playing field. From the beginning of
the sport the conduct problem has been
perplexing. This has been brought stead
lily to the point of solution by giving the
umpires more authority. and especially by
sustaining them in their rulings and dis
ciplinary measures. The ''rowdyism''
which formerly marred the games almost
daily, quarrels between players and UNI
pires. long wrangles over decisions. has
been practically eliminated. to the great
improvement of the sport When on rare
occasions players engage in physical vio-
lence they are severely punished by sus-
pension. and in all such cases the testi-
mony of the umpires is taken almost
without question.
In this case the player broke one of the
unwritten laws of the game, which for
bids any intercourse whatever between
spectators and participants. The action
taken was that which would have been
taken in case the player had assaulted an
umpire or another player. The rule in
base ball is that no player is justified
in protesting against anything that oc-
ours. OF course, players are human and
are subject to temptations and the vic
tins Of bad tempers. and spectators in
dulge in personal criticisms of a most
exasperating character. Perhaps from one
point of view it was not at all an unworthy
action on the part Of the Detroit player
to have vigorously punished tormentor.
But il must be remembered that he had
his recourse in an appeal to the police
If the object of his anger persisted in
heaping personal abuse upon him. or he
could have started his fight after the
game had ended. His conduct in going
into the stands to fight in the middle of
the game was inexcusable, however great
the provocation. 1t was unfair to his
team, for If he had been arrested and
Jailed for assault his club would have lost
his services, even as they are now lost
through suspension. The demand of his
associates for his restoration pending an
investigation puts the case on an awkward
basis and it is difficult to see how 1t can
be granted without violating a principle
that has been in vogue in base ball for
years, that the player Is supposedly guilty
if he SO much as swings fist, and that
suspension must precede inquiry. On the
other hand, 1t is hard to see how the
game can go on without serious trouble
if the league executive enforces his order
and the entire club refuses to play. The
spirit of revolt once aroused is likely to
spread to other clubs. and unless there is
the wisest of management professional
base ball may receive the most serious
blow of it's career through a general
strike of the players on question OF
principle