The Cordova daily times., 1917-01-20
WANT TO CHANCE SIZE OF BALL
 DIAMOND
(By Associated Press.)

NEW YORK, Jan. 19. - While there Is little. if any, possibility of read justment of the professional baseball diamond as recently suggested by Pre- sident Percy D. Haughton. of the Bos- ton National League club, the pro- posed changes as outlined by the liar yard football coach, offer a wide field for speculation as to what would be the result if such alterations were made. At the present time the dia- mond proper is in reality a square, measuring ninety feet to side.
 The bases are Considered to be go feet apart and the distance from the home plate to the second base is 127 feet 3-S inches. The pitchers slab is not exactly half way between the two points. but is located 60 feet inches from the plate and 66 feet 3 3-S inches from second base. Haugh- ton suggests that in order to equalize the offensive and defensive strength of the pitcher and batter it might be found advisable, upon investigation, to move first and third bases five feet nearer the home plate, and de crease the width of the plate
 If this were done it would change the entire aspect of the baseball dia- mond, which would become, roughly, kite shaped. AS it is especially stipu- lated 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 85 feet, and the distance from first to second and from second to third base ap- proximately 95 feet. These figures are based upon the angles of the base lines and do not take into considera- tion the base bak proper, which is fifteen inches square and considerably shortens the distance to be covered by the base runner, who is, of course, safe as soon as he touches the bag
 It would shorten the distance that the batter would have to run in order to be safe after a hit and for the run. ner attempting to score from third. The regular playing positions of the infielders. In all probability would be shifted. as there would be an addi- IinnQI nF fott fsa cred by the four players. The first and third baseman would be enabled to play closer to the plate for a bunt, but at the same 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 trifle in front of him in- stead of at right angles, as they are at present.
 There has been no change in the shape or measurements of the base ball diamond since 1845, when the rules were made to read that the dis, tance between first and third bases and home plate and second base must be 42 paces. There has been consid. erable discussion as to just what a pace" meant. but the generally ac, cepted inference is that a pace" is equivalent to yard. In order to clear away all doubt the rules were changed in 1855 to read that the dia mond must be square every side oi which measured ninety feet,
 Decreasing the width of the home plate would naturally give the pitcher less leeway for the manipulation ot his curves and shoots. At the ore sent time the plate is seventeen inch es wide and If two or three inches were clipped from the white rubbe, the hurler would have to come near CT "grOoving" the ball in order to re glster a called strike, and the bat ter would have less area to protect while waiting for a ball that suited his idea of what he could hit safely Changes in the size and form o the home plate have been more ire quent than alterations to the play ing diamond. For some years previous
 to 1900 the plate was a twelve incl square so placed that one angle point ed directly at the pitcher and tn
 greatest width was seventeen inche
 from the points that would be repre- scented by first and third bases on tn
 larger diamond. In 1900 the equar plate was discarded for a five side