The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-02-19
Three andT

From the standpoint of batting, one
Of baseball greatest parts, 1t is untor-
t,inate that the rulemakers in making
changes in the playing rules last week
ldft untouched the foul strike rule.
which in its present construction Is
one Of the worst penalties ever Writ
tenlinto the books.
Sturdy hitters who drive vicious line
drives along the foul lines in their
ERNEST endeayors to win ball games
are penalized day in and day out be-
cause they are good hitters. How many
times have you seen G clean-cut swat
ter miss a double or a triple by foot
or two and then return to the plate III
a .sholea as a reward for his fine at
tempt?
The spirit Of the foul strike rule is
to prohibit tactics, that would prclong
a game or wear down pitcher rs 1t
has been applied for years it over
steps It's usefulness by cncroacnlnG
severely on the premises OF the aver
age good batsman.
Tte baseball fan walked slowly by
The casket, shedding tears:
eAlasin he said, ~ knew him well
For 10 these many years.
/ loved him when l was a lad
My father loved him, too,
And to my two granddads he was
A faithful frieni, and true"
He dropped a rosebud on the box
While teardrops fell in showers.
The loved one slumbered underneath
wilderness OF flowers.
HE was a lover of true sport,
He boosted every game.
Now he is gone my life" he said,
sWill never be the, same.
Good-by, dear pa, farewell for aye,
Your life was long and sweet,
And now you're dead as Barleycorn,
Old Two-bit Bleacher Seat"
Baseball fans are mighty sick OF
warfare as waged by the magnates.
They were all fed up on the Mays deal
and also the numerous purchases eE.
gineered by prosperous clubs last sea.
son to strengthen in the hope of win
ming a pennant at the eleventh hour.
We're mighty glad there will be no
deals put over after July this year,
excepting those which sees player
change hands at the waiver price. LIE.
the managers start the season right
and if they haven't foresight in suffi-
Client quantity to guard against mid
season slumps that is their own affair.
Let them build up their own reserve
power at the start OF the season.
The less they say about war, record
prices and salaries, law suits and the
like, the better the fans will like it.
Primarily baseball is sport played
outdoors, and not indoors, and the fans
who pay the freight want to see &C.
ton ON the diamond and not action in
the courts.
Baseball prices are going up, but
the market editor tells US that other
things are coming down. So while We
have to pay quarter more for admis-
sion to the park we may be able to
buy hotdogs, pop corn and lemonade
at the old figure.
Babe Ruth is such precious NOR
sci that Colonel Houston, owner OF
the Yonkees, has decided to insure
him for the paltry sum of 10000
seeds.
The Brooklyn Dodgers Jared well
IN the schedule of the National league.
They drew 10 Sunday games at Eb-
belts Field. This Is more than was
allotted to any other Of John Heydler's
circuit The Giants got but 13 Sun
day games.
Wally Schang, former catcher for
the Athletics, now with the Red Sox,
has pair Of brothers who are follow.
ing In his steps. Quirin, an infielder,
and Clayton, a catcher, have been COB
bled up by the Baltimore Orioles.
Let's consult the ouiia board and
find out what Col Rupert really
thinks Of Ban Johnson now.
s5s