The sun., 1916-12-15
SUGGEST CHANGES
TO HELP BATSMEN
National League Owners Dis
cuss Problem Of Putting
Curb on Pitchers.
HAUGHTON SEEKS REFORM
~ q. LIEB.


That Increased pitching efficiency ha,
reduced batting and produced a cor.
responding decrease in the attractive.
ness Of baseball for the general public
was the trend Of a discussion al tho
third session OF the National League In
the Waldorf-Astoria yesterday afternoon.
Changes In the playing rules were
offered as remedies.
The subject was preached by Percy
Hau2hton OF Boston, who said he re-
GREETED to see the decline and practica,
elimination OF the 900 hitter and the
pitching ~ascendancy which brought about
such a decline. He believed the rules
should be amended SO as to increase the
batting.
During a general discussion on playing
rules various means were discussed TO
bring about more hitting. One sugges-
ton from John Foster OF the New York
club would abolish the second foul strike.
In other words. only the first foul ball bit
by a batsmsn would be recorded against
him AZ a strike.
John Heydler. secretary of the league,
offered the suggestion that batsmen be
awarded first base on three balls instead
OF four. He argued that the records
show that the leading batsmen get by
Tar the greatest number of bases on
balls and does not think cutting down to
three balls would greatly Increase the
number OF bases on balls. II being his
opinion that a pitcher could get them
over as readily on an avera.ye batsman
with three balls as with four. Further
more he believes 1t would tend to make
pitchers more careful and would greatly
help base running. as pitchers would be
able to pitch few waste balls.
blame ArtiaciaI Aids.
On further discussion II was the op,n.
Ion OF the league that the present batting
decline is largely due to artificial, pitch
ing aids. such as the spitball. The resin
ball and the emory bail. The last two
already nave been eliminated and II now
ie suggested by the National Leaeue to
do away with the splitter. However. in
the event that the splitter IL ruled against
by the joint rules committee the Ma
tlonal League suggests that II be not
eliminated until after two years Of warn
ing has been given the pitchers. NO tina.
pitchers using this delivery may have n
reasonable opportunity OF learnin; and
experimenting with other forms OF tho
pitching art.
As the National League OF itself IA
powerlese To change the rules IL wis de-
'ided that all suggestions for improving
batting and base %running be made d..
rectly to the president of the leasue. who
will submit them to the joint rules com.
mittee at its next meeting.
Secretary Heydler g :nounced that the
n'net, -eisnt postponed games in the Ma
tional League last season were the great
est number Of postpoNemen;s the league
ever had In any one season.
Pass Cp Minors Demands.
The National League will brea:. away
from its new union hours to-day and will
20 into session at 10 In the morning.
Despite the fact that the National
L.easue magnates already nave been In
session three DAYS they ave not vet
touched the new contracts. changing tho
worlds series rules and other matters u
Importance,
The league lodged the question OF
OF the draft from Glass "A
minor leagues.
After p%arleying on this question the
League decided that the ques-
ton should he referred to the National
for action. after which il is
TO be resubmitted to the National League
for approval or disapproval." Simmered
this means that the National
refused to take the initiative in
tackling this question. the action to he
taken at the American League meeting
VIII practically decide whether or not
this reform will he granted.
According to Secretary Heydler. the
club owners expressed their in
lividual views. some OF them being In
and others opposed TO the PROPOSE
fion. However. the writer learned that
The men opposed to the elimination o.
the draft were In the majority.
The National League also referred the
creation of a new board of arbitration
In hear disputes between major and
minor leagues to the National Commits
sion, but announced that II was 'the
sense OF the meeting that the National
.eague has no objection TO minor league
re presentation on a new board which In
% consider solely disputes between major
and minor leagues"
Prior to the league taking this act on
The club owners listened to "A lengthy
argument In favor Of the new board sub !
nitted by clyde Shropshire. owner OF the
club II chairman OF the Ma
'ional Associations committee seeking
he new arbitration board. According
% Secretary Hcydlcr the Southern Asso-
representative presented a strong
showing that the minor leagues
'hould have a voice in decisions which
affect them as much as the majors. HIS
argument carried enough weight to win
M affirmative vote from the National
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