The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-05-01
MANY CHANGES IN
BASEBALL RULES

Baseball managers and players are
just beginning to realize that the
changes in the rules for 1920 VIII
make a radical change in many plays
in base ball, once they are thoroughly
dIGested. Cmpires have been teach
ing the players in the exhibition
games which were being played in the
South in order that the men might
be ready for the start of the cham
pionship seasons. Ii has dawned
upon those who have tried baseball
under the new rules that there is 10
be a new baseball game in some re-
spects in the future.
The rule makers undertook TO
abolish much Of that which was
freak" in baseball, and ii appears
that they have succeeded better than
they anticipated. They are entitled
10 credit The artificial methods, To
complicate pitching have been we'll
eliminated. II was a good thing for
baseball when Presidents Heydler
and johnson, Of the major leagues
signed their approval of the revised
code.
After such vital changes were
made in the rules The publishers OF
spalding's Baseball Guide decided
that ii was the proper time TO make
"A radical departure in the manner OF
presenting the rules 70 the baseball
public They have introduced inno-
vations which are SO complete and
thorough that for the first time the
rules are. as one put it, made easy
Owing to the constant increase in
baseball interest and the great va
riety OF topics which must necessar-
lily be treated 10 keep UP with in
creasing interest, the Spalding Guide
has grown in bulk from year to year
until within the past decade Il has
not always been an easy task to carry
a copy Of the guide in a pocket
solely for rule reference. In this
years issue the rules with "knotty
Problems" have been bound in sep
arate covers and ingeniously attached
to the inside cover of the guide.
Those who wish to detach their copy
of the rules from the printed matter
of the guide will find it possible 10
do so and will not injure either vol
ume in doing it If they wish 10 leave
the rules in the regular guide volume
they will be able 70 do SO. 1t Is
plan which originated with the Amer
lean Sports Publishing company aud
Is certain to meet approval with
spectators and players.
II is assured that the changes in
the rules this year will necesSitate
constant reference to their text. The
publishers tor that reason have de
parted from the usually closely print
ed code and present the rules in
large. easilyy rad type with all the
changes indids ID by being printed in
italics Favo.a- iy as this departure
will be red wed the real feature OF
the guide is the explanation Of each
rule by John r. Foster, the editor.
It win be admitted that no one is
better equipped to assume the task
than Mr.. Foster. and the method OF
printing the explanations in size Of
type smaller than the text of the off,
cial rule. will serve TO distinguish one
from the other. Mr. Foster also has
compiled a marginal index to the
rules which will be Of no end of value
for quick reference in any discussion
which may come up during bail
game.
As in former years the ''kno;ty prob
lens" will serve to eniighten PLAYERS
and fans" on some Of the involved
points which are discussed by various
clubs during base ball season. Since
their introduction several years ago,
there have been fewer inquiries on one
or two points which always seemed to
confuse the beginners However. other
disturbing situations always arise on
which the baseball enthusiasts seek
information and there is always nearly
volume OF letters of one kind and an
other which are mailed to the editor
from all parts of the world about base
ball problems.
Mr.. Foster deserves much credit for
the efficient manner in which he has
produced this years Guide II has
established standard in the present
alton OF baseball rules for the future
It has also set an example for the
codification OF rules of all kinds of
games, In year in which there
will be more references to the base
bali rules than there have been for
the last five years 1t has made the
path easy for the fan" That may
seem very broad statement. but
perhaps 1t is not as broad as 1t should
be. 4.f''' .'49'e'~'"' ''.-'''t"".r ~ ''
This cracking under the strain
stuff is the hunk InmehndY made