New-York tribune., 1920-01-27
Rule Changes
Would Benefit
Dian1ondCame
Committee Has Chance to
Accomplish Much Good
at Meeting Next Month
By w. ]. Macbeth


month. The attitude OF baseball pro
moters generally by the way. Tor
years has been reflected in the rules
Not since the foul strike rule came
into effect, about fifteen seasons back
has an innovation been attempted in
the manner of play of Americas great
summer game.
This lack of initiative, lack Of char
acter to experiment, is typical Of the
business men in whose hands rest the
destinies OF the game. There has al
ways been a disposition to let we'll
enough alone; to operate along well
established lines of routine, simply be-
cause it has always been customary so
to do.
Few men associated with baseball
have ever grasped the truth that base
ball has developed into something
broader than its initial forms of pro-
motion. Supposedly wise business men
attempt to run million dollar steel
and concrete plants after the fashion
of the cramped, wooden stands of
twenty years ago were run. And
all this simply because of custom or
tradition.
Showmen Succeed Best
There have been few isolated cases
where business men grasped the big
idea that baseball is now more than
sport-that it is a show business.
and as such demands occasional
changes and side lights. Charles Webb
Murphy, who made more than a. million
dollars out of the Chicago Cubs in a
few years, was the pioneer Of the new
thought
John J. McGraw Is a Snowman at
heart. And because OF the fact his
Giants always have been great money
makers. Harry Frazee, of the Boston
Red Sox, is of a theatrical turn of
mind. His team has been most sue
cessful. No one has been so active in
buying, selling and trading players as
he. He gives his fans new faces. And
they like it, no matter how many ham
mers my be thrown his way from time
to time.
Goodness knows it is time to pay
some attention to the rules. The same
code is supposed TO apply to both
major leagues, for instance. But each
of the two pute various interpretations
even on the rules of play. The infeld
fly is interpreted differently by the
umpires Of the respective leagues. So
is the balk. These are but examples
cited of many
Freak deliveries arc soon to be put
on trial by the solons. A few weeks
ago some of the radicals had the spit
ball, shineball and their ilk relegated
to the eternal bowwows. The propa-
ganda has died out There seems little
chance that any action against freak
pitching will be taken. That would
mean initiative, disposition to gam
bic. And the magnates like TO play it
safe at all times, though the long suf-
fering public would relish something
new, even if it should turn out to be
foolish.
Victory Is What Connts
Those opposing the spitball and the
shlnehall say the deliveries should be
condemned because they tend to slow
up the game. But usually it viii be
found that the umpires in charge are
responsible Some umpires have the
faculty Of making the boys hustle from
start to finish. They finish their days
work we'll within two hours regardless
of who may do the pitching. Other
officials have a hard time beating the
curfew if there Is any run scoring to
speak OF.
For every argument there is
rebuttal. Some fans love long drawn
out pitching duels; others love slug
tests. Some revel in keen scientific
analysis; others have certain idols for
which they go out to root But after
ali the main idea is for the home team
TO win, no matter how. if victory is at
tained by sportsmanli1e methods.
Many magnates believe there is too
little hitting in modern baseball. They /
believe that more hitting would mean /
more action. and consequently more ,
to attain the superlative in swatting
while building up stats to minimize
-hc swatting Of rivals.
Pitchers swear that every time their
;raft begins 10 master the batsmen the
rule makers are ready to present new
landlcaps. They stand in solid front
IS opposed 70 elimination of freak de
lverles. And so the arguments fy
asst and thick. And nothing is done.
f the rules committee will only give
is new rule or two-even a little one
the public will be willing TO take a
'hance.
Former New Workers Shine
The American Association averages,
'eleascd yesterday, recall the names of
many athletes who formerly pastimed
more or less nobly with greater New
I ork's three major league representa-
ives.
There is Tim Hendryx, Yankee out
ielder under Bin Donovan. He proved
mighty useful with Louisville. second
'lvlslon club, landing the batting cham
'ionshlp OF the league with percent
lge OF .36S, over a stretch of l3 games.
)!he OMara, former shortstop of the
dodgers, hit .3is in 1Ao games for
indianapolis, the second place club. He
vas the third best hitter being topped
$50 by Wilbur Good, Of the Kansas
lty champions, wao had .34o
Our old friend Reals Becker. of the
hree-tlmc champion Giants and the
hampton Phillies. also Of Kansas CITY,
1T .a52. Ham Hyatt, once famous with
ne Pirates and fank in 1918, led the
.oledo club with .328. Elmer Miller. of
st. Paul, with the Yankees several sea
ons, showed .3l4 for l54 games. The
.nclent and honorable Jack Lelivelt, of
ne Cleveland Indians in the long ago
nd Yankee under Hal Chase, hit -
veil as .2S7 for Minneapolis
some OF our other old friends didn't
10 so well. George Haias, who promised
o much for the Yankees last spring in
Jacksonville, Fla, hit only fairly-.273
for st. Pau. Lutte Boone. of the
ame club, showed go. Gossett. OF
indianapolis, a Yankee catcher in the
lme OF Frank Chance, batted only 248
toXle Roach and Rollie Zeider, also
K Yanks, hit .234 and .233 respectively
ack Martin, one time Yankee. trailed
n with .231. Gus Getz. who viii be
ar ,,1h y l.