New-York tribune., 1919-12-11
Hermann Is
Ready toQuit
As Chairman
Head of National Commits
sion Also Offers to Assist
in Selecting His Successor
By Ray Mccarthy

1t begins to appear that there will
be a new chairman Of the National
Baseball Commission, chosen to sue
ceed Garry Hermann, within the mex.
few months. This matter has dragged
50 long that at yesterdays meeting Of
the National League at the Waldorf
Astoria. President Baker, Of the Phil
adelphia team, and President yeeck.
of the Chicago Club, asked for i'm
mediate action on the question. Other
wise they said they would resign from
the committee selected to pick a new
chairman of the commission.
Mr.. Hermann, president of the Gin
cinnati club, then stated that if the
sentiment against him continues-ten
major clubs are understood to be op-
posed to his chairmanship-he will re-
sign within thirty days. These ten
clubs comprise seven from the Ma
tional League and three of the Amerl-
can organization, it is said. The pre-
vailing sentiment will be learned at a
joint meeting of the two leagues to DC
held later on.
Hermann said that ne understood
opposition to him in Office still existed
and stated that not only would he re-
sign but would lend his aid in helping
the committee find a suitable new
chairman. He moved in the meeting
of Baker and Veeck be continued.
A long discussion on freak deliveries
was held by the National League mag
mates, but nothing definite can be ac-
complished in this as in anv Of the
other matters the owners discussed
until the joint session with the Amerl-
can League is held.
In discussing this matter President
Heydler said:
"The sentiment of our league about
freak deliveries is that they should be
abolished. We discussed the matter
at length and feel that all unnatural
deliveries should be done away with.
However, we realize that there are
several pitchers who have been in the
league for a long time, who depend
wholly on the spitball in their pitching
and to deprive them of this delivery
would be an injustice to them in that
| they would be deprived Of their livel-
| hood.
"Of course there are pitchers who
use the spitball occasionally, but they
you'd not be placed in this coterie
Only bonafide spitball pitchers who
are generally known as such would be
considered. OF course all newcomers
into the league would be barred from
using any freak delivery from the
start. The shine ball and other such
uSiASeiieo we Woulu dOOllSn enllrelV
However, no action will be taken in
this matter until We hold joint meet
ing with the American League"
President Heydler, Veec.l, of the Chi
cago club, and Dreyfuss, of Pittsburgh
were appointed as committee to con-
fer with the American Leaguers on the
matter Of freak deliveries.
Hear From Minor Leagues.
A communication from the mino,
leagues asking that a committee be ap-
pointed to- consider a new agreement
was taken up and it was suggested
that the matter be put over until the
joint meeting Of the two leagues.
The owners discussed the playing
rules and agreed it would be beneficial
to have rules committee composed
of members of both leagues. They
also want to settle the matter of what
constitutes a legal game: At present
there is considerable confusion on this
ruling, as was shown in the tie game
played at Cincinnati between the Reds
and the Braves last summer. Four
and one-half innings had been played
when 1T began to rain, with the score
a tie. The question then arose as to
whether the game should be thrown
out or put into the records.
A discussion was held on having a
uniform rain check adopted This
matter was put over until the meeting
in February. The magnates are also
in favor of having the rules regarding
the pay of umpires in worlds series
games changed and uniform price
adopted.
1t was announced that proposition
from Lloyd's of England had been re-
celved offering to insure the leagues
against rain