Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-25
OLD SCORING SYSTEM IS
, REVIVED BY BAN JOHNSON
american League Umpires to Keep
Tabs on Games Won and
Lost.
ABANDONED TWO YEARS AGO
hHort of Baseball Writer'S Associa-
tlon Finally Bear Fruit-Fans In
terestcd I'm Who Wins or Loses
Games.

terested In Who Wins or Loses
Games.
NEW YORK. April 24-Ban John
son. president of the American League.
mas instructed his official scorer for
isi' TO keep tabs on the games won
ana lost by pitchers In Mr.. Johnson
major league. The announcement to
WIS erect came after Washington
ne"spaperman made a suggestion to
Gar Ban to return to the old games
won and lost system. In conjunction
with the earned run system. as the
National League has becn doing for the
past three years
The announcement would show that
president Johnson finally has seen the
lgh nj ana admits that the newspaper,
iieIl nave some rights. The Federal
league has made many changes and
REFORMS At no time in recent years
was President Johnson less autocratic
and more jovial than at the time the
nankees were sold last winter Perhaps
!, resident johnson has discovered that
!! rs Just as easy 10 be big in small
things a In big things
The fact that there is no official rec
ora III the baseball guides of the games
won and lost by American League
pitchers in 1913 and 1914 is entirely
due TO President Johnsoh's stubborn
ness and his former total disregard of
- r.
baseball what it is to-day and what it
was before the present baseball war.
han Opposed Old system.
IN the winter of lgl2-13l3. President
oonNson announced his league would
entirely abandon the old games won
ana lost pitching system. and only re-
cora pitching averages on the basis of
earned runs. During the same winter
a. scoring committee of the Baseball
o mf,ters $ A AS met at the re
bring the scoring rules up TO date. and
make changes which were then deemed
necessary.
The writer. was a member of the
committee, which represented the en-
are baseball writing fraternity Of the
Know who won ana lost the games.
ne committe" resolved that letter
nim to instruct his official scorer In
addition to the earned run statistics
AZ Mat time II was recognized that
WOULD give the critics. no line ON the
lufn6er OF games won by such stars as
iank Johnson and Bender, would
make II Impossible to toll If any pitch
would approach Cy Young's 5-n
lctory record or beat Cheshoro's
american Lengue record of forty-two
Reconsiders Action.
mere was no Federal League then,
M MI Johnson's answer VAS very
the Sporting Committee. II have
iecided 10 do away with the games
Won ana lost system. ana see 40 reason
ontinucd." Whether the writer's saw
n, reason to continue the records had
osso m, no weight with Ban.
Wiling TO listen 70 suggestion and
VII resume the old popular way OF
n tzing UP fiay work Of American League
han never, but IL IS TO bc regretted
hat through Johnsons stubhornucss
mere VII be a two years. break IN the
eaninS American League pitchers
y 'cw unofficial records were kept
those years. hut they did not get
org often. Five years from now there
ril! be no method OF asccrtaiuiug how
lany games Johnson won, as there will
ooks. Chief Bcnder's closing triumph
the American League. when he won
even,een games and lost three. viii
entirely forgotten as will Plank
81 campaign with tn Athletics
Thanks TO the bcoadness Of John
leydler, who originally invented the
arned-run system, the games won and
ost were carefully kept in the Ma
tonal League, and Chrisiy Mathcwson's
fi,nnimg record as well as tina, of
H. chron!clcd for future generations In
no baseball guide
johnson Changes Mind.
Yet credit should he given where
redit Is due. If President Johnson has
nally come 10 the conclusion that there
re other folk In the game who hpy.
ghts and who think and can see ahead.
is step in the right direction.
Johnson Is IA big man in his league
5nd big man In baseball. undoubtedly
ne biggest single force in the game
nee his american League launched
successful light with the National
league for major league recognition
Tor time, .Shortstop thought that
|ohnson had lost his punch. bl, bis
iastcrful business sagacity ana Der
| everancc in the Yankee deal last win
Pr would tend TO prove that the hio
! mer!can League Gear still is there
% the pinch.
l. In his career Johnson has met with
! Nv revcrses. and his ability TO crush
ll opposition 10 his views in his own
| hague. and very often on the National
commission. unquestionably has been
J! esponsiblc for some of the Cars dom
/ hecring conduct in the past
Al Yet in the last two years two of
! 3ohnsons most dotcstcd rival organi
atoms are fiourshing and Increasing
: power. One Is the Baseball PLAYERS,
paternity. headed by an old American
league player. Dave Fultz, incidcu,niiv
ne OF the cleanest characters in base
all The other is the Federal League
hich still refuses to bust
Bans failure to smash the lino-uns
Dave FultZ and jim Gilmore with
Zig Stick seems 10 have had n
hiding effect on Johnson's spirit. a. ii
as made him a much more Ikea n
Ear. Here's 10 the new Ban Johnsa
Iost Directs Spring Practice
ANN ARBnR. MICH. April 24-Witb
bach Field g III. YOSt here ~ dirnrt