The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-01-06
HOUGHTON WANTS TO.
CHANGE DIAMOND
Suggestion Causes Much
Comment in Baseball
Circles.
tBy Associated Preys)

NEW YORK, Jan. 6.--While there
IS little, IL any, possibility of read
Justment Of the professional baseball
diamond as recently suggested by
president Percy d. Haughton. OF the
Boston National League Club. the
proposed changes, as outlined by the
Harvard football coach, offer a wide
feld for speculation as to what
would be the result II such altera-
lions were made. At the present
time the diamond proper is in reality
square measuring ninety feet 10
side.
The bases are considered to 10
ninety feet apart and the distance
from the home plate to the second
base Is 1877 feet 3as inches. The
pitchers slab is moi exactly halfway
Between the two points but is located
so feet 6 inches from the plate and
65feet 3 Is inches from second base.
( Haughton suggests that in order 20
egua1ize the offensive and defensive
strength of tho pitcher and batter II
might be found advisable. upon In
Nestigation. to move first and third
bases five feet nearer the home plate
and decrease the width of the plate.
II this were done It would change
the entire aspect OF the baseball dia-
mond, which would become, roughly,
kite-shaped. AS 1t Is especially slip
ulated that second base Is not TO be
moved the result would be that the
distance from home plate TO either
first or third base would be IS feet
and the distance from first to second
and from second to third base APP
proximately 95 feet. These figures
are based upon the angles of the
base lines and do not take into con
Hideration the base-bag proper which
Is fifteen inches square and consider
ably shortens the distance to be Gov
cred by the base runner who is, OF
course, safe as soon as he touches the
bag.
Itswould shorten the distance that
the batter would have to run in or
der to be safe after hit and for the
runner attempting to score from
third The regular playing positions
OF the infielders, in all probability
would have to be shifted, as there
would be an additional ten feet of
fair field to be covered by the four
players. The first and third base
men would be enabled to play closer
10 the plate for a bunt, but at the
name time the batter would have five
feet less to run in order to reach first
safely. The pitcher would be able to
watch runners on first and third more
closely, as these bases would be a
tribe in front of his instead of at
right angles as they are at present.
There has been no change in the
rlta ~ -
ball diamond since 1915. when the
rules were made TO read that the dis
lance between first and third bases
md home plate and second base
must be AZ PAGES. There has been
considerable discussion as to Just
what "paces" meant, but the gener-
Rlly accepted inference is that a
pace is equivalent to n yard. In
order to clear away all doubt the
rules were changed in 1855 to read
That the diamond must be a square
eyeIy side Of which measured ninety
Decreasing the width OF the home
Plate would naturally give the pitch
er less 7leeway for the manipulation
p his curves and shoot. At the pres
ent lime the plate is seventeen inches
vide and If two or three inches were
clipped from the white rubber the
hprler would have to come nearer
growing" the ball in order to regis
Ter a called strike and the batter
( would have less area to protect while
waiting for ball that suited his idea
/. pf what he could hit safely.
Changes in the size and form of
the home plate have been more fire.
qnent than alterations to the playing
diamond. For some years previous
10 1900 the plate was a twelve-inch
square so placed that one angle point
ed directly at the pitcher and the
greatest width was seventeen inches
from the points that would be repre-
scented by first and third base on the
larger diamond. In 1900 the square
plate was discarded for a five-sided
plate measuring seventeen inches
The base; S4s inches on the sides
hnd twelve inches on the two angles
that form the point which still faces
The pitcher as he delivers the ball.
"