New-York tribune., 1920-02-22


few sales or trades were recorded.
The Boston Red Sox figured in the
only two deals of consequence, and
he Yankees in one of the most piran-
tic purchases of baseball history-that
WHICH brought Babe Ruth to the Polo
Grounds. But once the fight in the
American League has been settled the
masnates in the Joint meeting in Chi
cago showed that something might be
accomplished toward the betterment OF
The game.
For the first time in more than five
sears the rules committee actually
sanctioned. Radical changes were
made in the playing code and in tho
scoring code. Freak deliveries were
eliminated. 1t was made certain that
n future the players will get all of
he home runs to which they are en-
titled; there Will be no more losses
in circuit swats because Of technical
;.y. And the Intentional pass will find
itsalf IN the ash can along with freak
pitching. These various changes no
iodbt will meet with universal an
rrh;al.
There Is one danger. however. which
may creep in unless the major league
presidents have a care. The strict in
expectations Of the rules are left en-
iirely to the discretion of umpires.
This puts almost eutocratic power in
me hands of the arbitraters, who must
decide certain points which carry in
flexible and fixed penalties for viola
tion. It will never do for umpires to
carry animosites; the opportunities
for charges of prosecution are too
great.
Forr,o~I-- .Loro 49,, ~..
70 believe that certain umpires abused
authority. The opportunity for such
abuse has grown with the rules rev-
4ioa. 1t might be q Very excellent
idea for the presidents of the National
and American leagues to have check
on the srblters. Supervisors of um-
pires. if kept rowing unheralded from
city 70 city. would always have the
officials on the ou vive-and their
good behavior as we'll
There are plenty Of deserving ovet-
ans Of bygone days who could fill
-uch Office TO nicely and to whom
{. Cap, Anson, who offered himself
IS candidate for the craftsmanship of
The National Commission. Though ap-
parently forgotten by the present gen.
eration of National League magnates,
Ansor's loyalty helped save that or
ganzatIon in the days OF the Brother
hood war.
Even without Anson impressed into
service il would seem that the Ma
iional League could afford super
visor o. umpires this year The staff
can League would then be forced to
adopt d like system.
McGraw Due This Week
John j. Mc(,raw is expected in town
this week several days before the team
leaves for San Antonio, Tex. The de-
parture will be made early Saturday
morning. The same day, about mid
afternoon. the Yankees will sally forth
ior Jacksonville, Fla. On the train
with the Yankees will go many of the
Brooklyn players. 4 number of Yam
KEGS and Dodgers will sail Thursday
rom this port.
All three of New York's representa-
tivas are in high hopes Of improving
last seasons positions and business.
None will let the matter Of money
stand between him and the doube
AIMS. But at this late date it appears
hat each Of the three would have to
stand pat on the material now at hand.
There is little doubt that limit of
:our weeks for spring training seri-
odsly interfered with McGraw's train
ng system the last several years. In
The days OF his greatest successes the
eader of the Giants always put in six
weeks or more in the South. This gave
nm an opportunity to study his young
sters and to so place out the ones of
promise that they might be properly
developed. Limited to four weeks of
raining, McGraw could not follow this
system. He had to buy his players
ready made.
This season, it would seem, McGraw
intends to revert to the old method
that proved so successful. He is tax
ing South next Saturday no less than
forty-two players. many of them ex-
'remely young and unknown outside
semi-pro and college circles. Nc
Graw's 1920 training campaign will be
watched with great interest alike by
friend and rival.