The Washington herald., 1913-10-16
National Commission Author
ity Needed to Compel Play
ers to Behave Themselves.
OTHER SPORTING GOSSIP
By WILLIAM PEET.


Because the st. Louis Browns and
Cardinals refused to come under the
supervision of the National Commission
for their recent post-season series, the
games ended in a fine fiasco, were poorly
patroniZed, and as result it would not
be at all surprising IL rule was passed
either calling Off games of this nature
in the future, or else making it COM
puIsory, that the National Baseball Com
mission take charge and assume all the
responsibility.
When the supreme court of baseball
assumes control of a fall series between
rival clubs, the players know that all
games must be conducted in a sports
man-like manner, the public has con-
fidence that everything is open and
above board and the arrangements Of
contesting teams are required to put up
good-sized forfeits to assure all con-
cerned that the rules will be obeyed.
AS everybody knows, the Browns-Car-
dinals series in st. Louis recently wound
up in a disgraceful fist fight, Pratt, Of
the American leaguers, and Beck, of the
rival clubs, coming to blows because
Pratt claimed Beck called him an insult
ing name.
This series was not played under the
supervision of the National Commission,
because the clubs declined to fork over
10 per cent of the receipts TO the ''cOnD-
mish," and the players themselves made
mess of things, their respective man.
ayers being unable to help matters.
Neither Pratt or Beck. who started
the rumpus was fined, according to re-
ports. but had the commission been in
charge, both would have had to pay
dearly for their disgracefuI conduct.
In times past the National Commission
of organized baseball was considered
very much of a joke but these days the
fans have become TO realize the impor-
tance of this body and know that with
them in charge a pOst-season series is
sure to be properly handled.
Because of the intense interest mani
Tested in the worlds series last week
an unusual pitching feat was accom-
plished over in Pittsburgh and almost
entirely overlooked by the majority of
fans No pitcher in either of the big
leagues has accomplished such a strike
out record in a number of years, as did
Vean Gregg Saturday in the first nine
innings at Forbes Field. in the game be
tween the Pirates and Maps for, during
this period he induced fourteen men to
20 out 10y the flaming route. In lSSi,
dence Grays, struck out twenty -one Bos>
ton batsmen in a nine-inninG contest,
and this stands as the record for the
National League, but in those days the
twirling rules were not the same as they
are now. The modern strikeuut record
for nine-inning clash is sixteen, which
was made by Glade. of the st. Louis
Americans, or July Is. 1901. against the
Washington club. This was equaIed on
July g 1905, by Rube WaddeII of the St
Louis Browns, in a game against the
Athletics.
Gregg, however. was hUrling on a cold
day in the middle OF October, and in
stead Of showing weakness as he pro
gressed, he seemed just as strong and
just as effective after he had worked
for nearly three hours, as he was at the
beginning when he famed two in the
first, two more in the second, and two
more in the third innings. Nobody went
out in this manner in the next chapter
hut Vean found a victim in the fifth and
two more in the sixth. He didn't add
to his list in the seventh, but featured
The eighth by striking out the side He
famed the first man who faced him in
the ninth and also ended this session
with a strikeout. Two in the tenth, two
in the twelfth, and one in the thirteenth,
completed his remarkable performance
Just fourteen of these nineteen Pilates
swung their bats and missed the third
strike, only five being called out.
Exactly fOrty-five batters faced Gregg
in the thirteen innings and only three
reached third base-in fact just five ad-
Vanced as far as second. The ten who
CONTINUED ON PAGE ELEVEN