The San Francisco call and post., 1913-12-17
C|NC|NAT I t
HIT IS ON
ITS WAY
Powers of Baseball Likely to
LegiSIate 1t Out of Com
mission Next Year
By JOE MURPHY

The Cincinnati base hit" is likely
TO pass out of existence before the
followers OF the game are really ac-
quainted with 1t. It has lasted sea-
son in organized baseball, which was
entirely too long. and lawmakers of
baseball who are to meet shortly and
frame rules for the coming season
are about to put the crusher on Garry
Herrmann's crude piece of baseball
legislation.
The passing of the Cincinnati hit
will be welcomed by the players and
followers of the game, as there is
nothing to recommend IT. A player
is given credit for hit that he does
not deserve. while the pitcher is given
a black mark when he really is de-
serving Of credit
When the fans became acquainted
with this farcical rule, they voiced
their disapproval of 1t. The players
were always against 1t, as they real
lied that it was entirely without
merit.
The Cincinnati hit" is almost GER
tain to be abolished next season.
This is one Of the important matters
TO come up for consideration when
the baseball moguls meet shortly to
frame baseball rules.
Up to the season of 1913, the Gin
cinnati hit' was credited as field
er's choice.
The worst knock this particular
niece of baseball legislation sustained
was during the worlds series. In
one of the games Frank Baker, the
mighty third sacker of the Athletics,
grounded to Merkle. who was playing
first for the Giants. Merkle lost
Baker on his way to first. and Eddie
Murphy scored from third. Merkle
should have had either Baker or Muir
phv. At the same time Baker was
credited with hit.
Mathewson, who was pitching, did
everything that was expected of him,
but was a victim of Merkle's crude
work. but still at the same time
Mathewson was credited with allow
ing a hit.
The Cincinnati hit is really the
result of a players poor judgment.
They make a play for man on the
bases on a hit ball. The result is
the player reaches the sack before
the ball gets there. or else the throw
is wide. drawing the guardian of the
sack off the bag, and though he han
dies the ball perfectly is not in po-
sition to make the out. If the fielder
had played for the batter he would
have been able to make an easy out.
The pitcher. who is nowise at fault.
gets the discredit on the score sheet.
The lawmakers of baseball will make
no mistake in putting this rule out
of commission.
The California league is having its
troubles. The usually easy going
Henry Berry Of the Los Angeles club,
who is also the leading spirit of the
Fresno club of the California league,
is opposed to Happy Hogan of the
Stockton club putting Ham Patterson
in as manager of the Slough city
team. Hen thinks that Ham is too
much of a belligerent to run any
club and he is afraid that Patterson
might disrupt the league If he was
allowed to be the boss.
Berry has come out boldly and
stated that there would not be any
California league If Patterson was
in command OF the Stockton crew.
Apparently, Hap is not going to start
any throuble. and he is now looking
about for another manager.
Z
The big league moguls are worried
at the advancement made by the Fed
eral league, and it is predicted that
in less than two years the so called
outlaw league will be allowed to en-
ter the fold of organized baseball.
y X
There seems to be field big enough
for three major leagues Fielder
Jones, president OF the Northwestern
league, made the startling announce
ment that he is in favor Of the
launching of the outlaw Federal
league Jones is regarded as one Of
the shrewdest men in baseball. Jones
contends that a third league would
be benefit to the game