The Washington herald., 1913-02-27

who struck Billy Patterson" &c.
created so much discussion that some of
those who tried to solve them went to
asylums for the feebIe-minded. and there
is one play in baseball which, unless IL
is solved soon. will send some scorers
and fans the same route. Here is the
play in question:
Running Oh any base. Batsman hits
groundcr mot i buntD To intielder. Latter
could by perfect throw. retire batsman
at first base, instead fielder throws to
head off runner nearest home. Runner
beats throw. Both runners safe.
How to score the play has aSitat-d
hig and little league circles, semlproies-
SIGNALS and amateurs for years. The
scorers have argued over il, the players
have Wransled about it, and the fans
have discussed it. No one has Yet dis
covered solution which will satisfy all
hands and yr- give full credit or penalty
to the players figuring in the play.
The play is usually called "helder
rhuiCe,' that is, the scorers reason that
the infielder had a choice of two bases
10 which to throw the ball, and that II
would not be right to penalZe hlm Tor
using Judgment which turned out to b"
slightly faulty because of the neetneSs
II foot OF the man going to second paSe.
by calling the play ''tielders choice
th. batsman is given time at bat, anu
not "A base hit. and Yet the runner au-
vanCed and the batsman reached hrst
base and no error was charged.
On the other hand. other scorers hSure
that il would only br right TO give the
hatsman base hit, since no actual held
iuE error occurred. and the chances OF
rh,. side at bat have been materially ad-
lanced. The latter Interpretation or the
play has recently been designated by
I'lrd I.icb. Of the New York Press. as Il
''Cucimuati base hit" because the pra'-
to-. of giving a hit on II is bell"Vec 10
have. originated in the home of the Reds.
Arguments of SCORERS.
Probably no play in tn" gam" ever
caused so many arguments among Sc"T-
rrS and there appeared no way 10 effect
d cumprrmiS~. Their" are arguments Tor
and against Luth ways Of scoring the
i!ay.
tn" matter was thrdsncd out last Week
al the. meeting of the Baseball Writers
Association Of America, in New York.
The question was turned over 1" S'"r-
ing rules committee. appointed 10y Presi-
G.nI Jackson, consisting II Jack Ryder.
Of Cinrinulr!. chairman: Thomas KlCe "l
Eruuklyn. secretary. and George l.. Nc
Linn "t Philadelphia. and r. q. l-icb
and William Hanna. II New York.
T.is committees will thrash out the
}mutty Tr"nIrm 1t Is up |" them To-
uiIh, Il decision. No matter which way
lu..y decide. .ml.ss some new solution
,In he thought OF. il Will cause the MEM
hers of the c"mwItt"~ to he criticised,
ip- II SONS im3u>SIal" To- make all
hands agree.
The prubl,.u l.. one whirn greatly in
l. ,.S;s league officials With the play
hriuG scored ha~' it in some cities
aud "A 'ncld-r's cnuIrr IN others, II IS
impossible /" s"rUr" uniform scoring.
Thus in cincinnati. Pittsburg. and Phila-
dclphia last season National League
Official scorers GaT" the hatsman credit
f.. - base hi. In all of the other cities
t.. , ;tur,S ar.. at u WIS scored mere
:. ~ A ''il, iI,'r'> ,hni".." T Us. in thu
..::.> ra::'I players It c.cdIt fur has''
hits which "n similar PLAYS in other cities
b. ri::.'d t'l"m iu h.. charged with a tirlc
., hat, and th"'r batting av RACES sui
Tered.
Pr. sidcrt Johnson. Of tHr American
League. suggested that the members Of
i"e Bas. hHl Writer'S Association should
take a v"t. on III" Subjects. SO that.
with tie ,iiui"m Of the ma jority OF tn"
l~adin.- scorers OF th" country to guide
nIm. h" '"ud instruct lis official scor-
''s and thHs g.t uniform scoring on thc
play
Credit for Bn>rrunners.
/" tEnlaag over in" Ilay- PERHAPS the
s-":.r> iaN" been looking at i through
IT, wr"nE md "I The glass. They have
h""n figuring -utIIclt upon what credit OF
H"merit to Civ. t. tn" hatsman and have
lost track OF IL" nan who really makes
such play pn>sIhlc-the bas.. runner. 1t
is the has" runner who. through either
q quick start f.0m the base, or I!cetness
"f foot. beats out tn" throw to the ha.
near - home. and yet he does not appear
t. be taken into consideration.
Under the scoring rules the runner
would be credited with a stolen base. The
rUIe for stolen bases roads:
=. Sfnlnrn h.. Sln,tld t,d Il L.