New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
Baseball Rules
Weather Storm
OF Many Years
Game 8 Defence Remains as
Strong as Ever-Fear :
to Experiment
By w. I. Macbeth

Aside from the new division of world
series receipts relating to the playing
pool, IN which the men of all four first
division clubs of each major league
will share next fall, the rules govern
ing the great summer game have been
left just as they obtained for the past
many years.
There was a lot of talk, previous to
the two major league meetings in this
city last week, of radical action in the
matter of legislation designed to pre-
sent stronger attack against a de-
fence generally conceded to have
grown too strong. The talk ended
where it began. When it came to a
showdown those in control of the sport
evidently believed in leaving well
enough alone.
Few who have followed baseball
ciosely the last several years believed
the American and National leagues
would effect any startling changes in
rules. It was thought possible, how
ever, that the spitba,l might be at
tackled. Barney Dreyfuss, president of
the Pittsburgh Pirates, came East pre-
Pe+iS " tdhC q ldll OuL OIL InlS style
Of delivery, but he never got an oppor-
tunity to put the matter before his
confederates.
Precedent for Action
There was precedent for such action.
The American Association some weeks
ago barred the spitball, putting it in
the category with the emery ball."
resin ball. and their ilk. 1t was tho
intention of Dreyfuss to have passed a
rule that would bar the use of all for
eign substance in the manipulation OF
the sphere by the pitchers. Still, at
best, time limit of two or three years
TO permit major leaguers who depend
ed upon freak deliveries for livelihood
to adjust themselves to new conJi-
tions was expected.
One of the great faults of the gov.
ernment of organized baseball in re.
cent years has been a fear to expert
ment in rule changes. There has been
practlcally no rules revision since the
foul strike" came into being. Az a
matter of fact, the Joint rules corr
mittee, supposed to meet annually to
consider rules changes, has passed out
OF existence. Year after year the
game goes on under the same old plav-
ing code.
Uncertainty in baseball is one of tho
chief charms of the game. New blood
always contributes to renewed interest
Inc present rules governing play arc
eXcelient, but there are many smart
managers, students and fans who be-
ileVe they might be improved upon. At
!east, more experiments could be made.
II changes proved faulty it would be
easy enough TO go back to the original.
rms, OF course, because of the un-
certalntles of war, is bound to be an
exceptional baseball year 1t is not
the best time calculated for changes.
perhaps. But the fact remains that
the defence of baseball has mastered
the offence for the time. There is NOT
the action along general lines that pre-
vailed some ten years ago. In short,
the pitchers. through having so MANY
specialists, have welded too great
mastery over the batsmen Dreyfuss
or any one else might do real service
by striking more even balance of
power.
Certain influences in the groggy In
ternational League which consn;red
toward the overthrow of Ed Barrow.
former president, are now working
1rantlcaiiy with view toward saving
this prominent Glass AA organization.
ne outlook at best is very. very bad.
A body blow was struck the Interna-
tional League last week when the Ma
Ilonal Commission refused to grant the
big minor territorial protection through
indefinite suspension of business opera-
ton.
Two of the eight International League
CUBS are anxious to battle on in the
lace OF all financial handicaps. These
are Toronto and Baltimore. In case a
promising circuit could be reorganized
,,here is little doubt some angel might
be dug up to assume the debts of the
bankrupt Buffalo club and start new
deal. "e"
AT the moment of writing it apnears
the greatest anchor to windward fo,.
the storm-tossed International craft is
the possibility of Sunday baseball be-
ing legal1zed in this state. Rochester
Is just now on the fence, but would
SWING into action if allowed TO pIav
Sabbath games. f'
oonh Hanzei, who won a number Of
pennants pen IN Rochester at time when
ene Irahcnlse there was worth some
quarter of million dollars. ia said 70
have taken an option on G. r Chan;r,s
Rochester stock for $4,000. Camel
VINO IS manager of the Kansas Citv
cIuD OF the American Association -
supposed to be acting for Rochester
business men.
sunday baseball in the Empire State
would guarantee a compact circuit ~
eight clubs, seven of which would he
abie to operate on the first day Of the
week. The franchises of Montreal ann
hichmond, of course, would have to be
transferred to cities of this state. Svra-
cuse IS quite anxious for higher
classihcatlon. Albany would be willing
10 pay for the same privilege. Newark
ana providence would not hesitate to
operate IN a compact circuit in wb;ch
oaSeoall every Sunday was guaranteed.
1t would seem, then, that the Inter
national Leagues fate rests directly
on the Sunday issue. This point is
likely to be determined within the
next few weeks-certainly before the
next meeting of the international.
scheduled for March %. Those SUP,
posedly on the inside insist the Sunday
law has as good as an even chance ~