The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-02-12
is TABOO
Lively Antipathy Toward Spit Ball
Likely to Snow the Old
Delivery Under
This Year.
rBy III. C.. Hamilton United Press
Staff CORES nnndent.

This Year.
rBy III. C. Hamilton, United Press
Staff Correspondent
NEW YORK, Feb. 12-The spitball.
the emery ball, the rosin ball, and all
the freak deliveries big league pitch.
ers have thrown into the baseball
rules in the last decade will be pris.
oners at the bar when the board OF
directors OF the National league goes
into session here today
Following the lead of Governor
John X Tener, president of the Ma.
tional league, and other leaders in
the national pastime. Barney Dreyfuss
Of Pittsburgh, chief agitator Of the
elder major circuit, will be here with
his grip packed full of dope on a
suggestion to shoot the malefactors
at sunrise He has gained the sup
port of a number of influential men,
and, in view of the fact that the
American association, one of the most
powerful of minor leagues, already
has cast freak deliveries among the
discards the prisoners may be forced
to walk the plank.
Usually drastic reforms bearing on
rules of the game have to be looked
over and viewed with suspicion from
every conceivable angle before the
powers of base ball decide to do any
thing. The ati ack on freak deliver
les during the winter, however, has
been SO strong that more than usual
Incentive for a complete separation
is present. Governor Tener is so
strongly opposed to the spitball that
his influence, thvown into the lists.
is, certain to have a decided effect.
Governor Tener is one man IN the
National league who generally gets
what he goes after. If he should de-
eide today that he wants the scalp
of the spitball, emery ball, and its
various cousins and other near Tela-
lions. why the deliveries are quite
likely to be scalpless.
Governor Tener's objection to the
deliveries is based mainly on the fact
that they are not hygie1ric, that they
are disgusting and unnec essary. Often
the National league president has eX-
pressed his dbspleasure toward the
spitball in rather strong terms. He
has declared it to be his belief that
the average fan doesn't care con-
tinental whoop about star pitcher
when he has to watch that pitcher
first spit on ball, then throw 1t up
to the batter with the catcher ready
to catch the saliva covered sphere.
The fielder, too, gets his, if the ball
is hit, and if he doesn't watch his
step, he is likely to toss the ball over
the grandstand when his fingers come
in contact with the wet spot on the
ball
At the same time the major leag-
llers are quarre1ing about the spitball
and otner such matters, the Interna
tional league either will be passing
in it's checks or getting ready to put
over a wobbly league to open the
next season.
Ed G. Barrow has turned in his
resignation as president of the league,
and it probably will be accepted.
Arthur Irwin, business manager of
the Toronto club, is a candidate for
the Office.
IBy H c. Hamilton, United Press
Staff Correspondent
NEW YORK, FEB. 12.-With the
spit ball the chief offender before
the bar, the National league will go
through the motions here today of
ratifying a schedule.
That, however, is just an incident
of the annual schedule meeting of
the elder major league, for there are
other questions seething in the minds
of the magnates.
Charles Ebbets, president Of the
Brooklyn club, has several things he
wants to tell his brother magnates
about He has something that will
make change, handle the war tax,
massage the pitcher and throw out
offending fans. His machine, he de.
clares, will be exhibited to the gaze
of the baseball public today. Whether
the rest of the National league likes
ii or not Ebbets is going to install
abattery of the contraptions at Eb
bets field.
Some changes may be made IN
rules, which will permit clubs to PLAY
off postponed games at any time. AS
1t is now. the last series is selected
The shortened schedule, with its
compulsory double headers Of course
makes that a bad feature. The rule
probably will be amended.
The International league was still
hemming and having about it. L
neither has decided to go ahead no.
quit Ed G. Barrow, former presi
dent, is now manager of the Rec
Sox, his appointment having beer
announced last night. The league 1.
expected to continue with some modi
fications.