The Washington times., 1917-05-25
BEAN BALL RULED
OUT OF BASEBALL
Grif Has Worked Overtime
for Legislation.
COMMISSION TAXES ACTION
Player to Be Barred From Game
Upon Being Found Guilty.
COMMISSION TAXES ACTION
LOUIS A. poUGHER.

CHICAGO, May 25.-The bean ball'
has been legisIsted out Of existence
by the National Commission, base
balls highest court OF last resort.
Clark Grifnth, manager Of the wash
inzton club, has q large share OF the
credit going TO those doing away
with this nefarious style Of pitching
But for the uninterrupted fight of the
Ola FOX against the bean ball." It IL
doubtful II II would have been legis-
lated out Of commission at this time.
'sThe bean BALI is done for good
ana ALL" said Garry Hermann, chair
man of the National Commission, yes
terday, "and IL any one man is to be
credited with enforcing action 1t IL
Clark Griffth. HIS team has had
some experience with this illegal de
LIVERY and he has made complaint
after complaint about it. OF course.
other teams also had their kicks TO
make about II, and so the commission
has taken this action barring the
bean BALL
Player to BE Barred
ssNo heavier punishment can be in
nIcted by baseball leaders than ban
ishment. The only players barred
from the game since its inception
were crooked players Everybody
knows that. Therefore, when the Ma
tionaI Commission decided to bar
from professional baseball all pitch
ers found guilty of deliberately seek
ing to inture opponents by the use OF
the bean ball. It has used its most
drastic scheme for assisting the
game, especially its sportsmanship."
The Old Fox, needless TO say, was
tickled at the action Of the National
Commission. He has been fighting
this system as used by the worlds
champions for at least three years.
It was during a squabble over it last
summer on the Washington lot that
Sam Agnew punched Griffith on the
Jaw. Carl Mays had just come close
to hitting Mcbride in the head and
the latter had thrown his bat at the
Boston pitcher.
Good HurIeF Exonerated.
"a good pitcher doesn't need to
take chances OF killing q batter" is
Grif's explanation. mo regular
pitcher cares to hit a batsman, even
II he is the best man in the league.
] have not q pitcher who would bean
q man. even II OFoeTeu II oOnc.
furthermore, the average pitcher
would not, either 1t Is only the
second-raters who do this, and we
have some second-raters in this
league. Now they'll get what's com
ing to them. Most Of them will drift
back to the bushes. where they be,
long. The others will have TO cut II
out II they want to remain in base
ball"
The National Commission yester-
day decided that all cases OF +bean
ball" throwing are to be Investigated
by the umpires. II a pitcher Is
charged with using this illegal methou
OF pitching, he will be given a hear
ing. II found guilty he will simply
drop out OF professional baseball. The
lords of the game have finally come
TO realize the seriousness of the
bean ball"
Bert Gallia Will probably be on the
slab today against the White Sox.
Walter johnson is complaining of q
sore arm. In fact, he has made this
complaint ever since he was in Cleve,
land. He may not be called upon TO
work for several more days. though
he is working out each day.