South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-01
ALL TO HELP MAKE
A. A. SCHEDULE
Every Club Owner to Have a
Hand in Mapping Out
Playing Dates.

CHICAGO. Feb. I. ~ With the
schedule meeting OF the American
association less than a month away.
the presidents and managers of the
eight clubs are studying railroad
time tables and calendars with a
view 10 drafting a playing chart.
The schedule meeting 10 be held
in Milwaukee on Feb. IS, promises
TO be a lively session for. instead OF
appointing a schedule committee 20
work out the problems. every club
owner will have his say-so. Thomas
J. Hickey. president OF the associa-
ton, has advised every club owner
20 draw up a schedule and present
IL for consideration. There will be
at least eight charts and possibly
nine offered. as Hickey is drawing
up a schedule himself.
All To Have Hand.
I'VE have decided TO have every
club owner have a hand IN the
schedule making, so as 20 avoid all
arguments later in the season that
they we're not treated fairly in the
question Of dates" explained F'res't
Hickey. I'm previous years a COM
mittee Of usually three or four draft
ed tie schedule and while il al
way has been apparently satisfac-
tory to a majority OF the clubs.
there inevitably has been "a howl
from some one in regard 10 holt
day and Sunday dates. We hope TO
do away with these protests under
the new plan"
Although there has been some
agitation for an earlier opening,
Pres't Hickey believes that 14O-
game schedule viii be adopted and
that the season will start early in
May instead OF the middle OF April
as ir former years The decision %
abolish the southern training camp
program, he said. probably Will be
carried out 10 the letter. although
some OF the clubs, including Mil
Waukee and one or two others, may
train away from home. \. T..
Timms. president OF the Milwaukee
club. contends shat high. chilling
winds sweeping off Lake Michigan
make it advisable TO train in some
,ther city Peoria. Beloit and Mad
IN have been mentioned I'm this
. 1nection.
Down on Freak ri hing.
rest Hickey viii make a de-
termined effort TO stamp out the
spit BALI and other freak pitch
sug. In order 10 have a thorough
understanding IN this regard. the
managers and eight umpiTes will be
called into a conference. day or
90 .
10 discuss the rules.
Il am going 10 have all the man
ayers and umpires meet in Chica-
go and go over the entire question
thoroughly. so there will be no eX-
cuse for a pitcher not conforming
20 the rules" Pres't Hickey said. Il
do not anticipate any serious trouble
as the rule was passed by unani-
nous vote. 1 believe all are now
agreed that il will be a good thing
I predict that producing a Hvelier
batting contest will help the game
10 such an extent that TO one will
ever want to go back TO the old
system"
Predictions that the rule will be
difficult 10 enforce are not serious
~ considered Dy the American as
socia ton executive, who maintains
that the umpires will be able TO de-
tect any tampering with the ball.
The first Offense Will cost the pitcher
a SIS fine and the second violation
will result in more drastic punish
ment. The umpires will be instruct
ed TO throw winged" balls-balls
that have been damaged from the
cOntact with the grandstands or 9TH
er objects-out of the game.
The next call for the army. Pres't
Hickey believes, will give the club
owners a better line on the num-
Der OF players who will be lost TO
the military service.
To date not many have been
taken" he said However I be-
Iieve we shall have no trouble in
obtaining players under and over
the draft age to supplement those
who have dependents and thus we
shall be able 20 maintain a good
standard OF play"