Evening star., 1922-02-07

Tsaprovide for any other r1ethod
Wsuid mean that the scope of this
rule would be materially abridged.
Frankly. the only safe way to go
about ii would be to repeal the rule
completely and if there were votes
for different rule. to make the best
change possible.
There were instances in the games
played in 1921 when thirty players
Snd more were used" heSe occurred
Frequently as compared with other
years. In one game there were thir-
was over. 1t is apparent to any one
that substtutions in such cases
would pretty we'll eliminate the old
Fashioned idea of team play. When
dad and granddad' Dragged about
their mines it meant something. 1t
did not mean that enough players
for four mines could be hooked to-
Gether in one contest.
100 Many Cooks
A game in which substitutions are
made SO freely loses its attractive
ness" TO the spectators in the first
place because such contest becomes
a scramble. and in the second place
because the spectators probably do
not know one-third of the players
of the players who are lifted out.
1t has been suggested that the
presidents of the major leagues be
given authority to limit the number
of players TO be used in a game. If
both leagues or a half dozen leagues
voted their presidents that power it
would apply so far as each league
was concerned. But suppose that one
president said that not more than
twelve players might be used and
another said fifteen and a third said
eighteen. The result would be some
more of the hit-and-miss base bal
which cannot give any better sat
faction than the overuse of PLAYERS
d game.
1t is impossible to make rules fu:
base ball other than ground rules. in
which buildings and fences act a.
hazards. without altering the uniform
lty or the sport. 1t is question
whethSr any league president would
care to assume the task of specifying
how many players could be used in Q
contest. The rules read now that it
is allowable to substitute at any time,
ana II a case were to come up in
WI hch there was some disagreement
about the substitution the president
would be in hot water at once because
of league rule which confiicted with
the base ball code
Would Curtan Pinch Hitting.
1t would be possio ole to make an
amendment to the playing rules which
could state positively the exact num-
Der of players that any team might
put on the field during a contest. If
the force were cut down to twelve it
is certain that it would result in a
curtailment on the part of some man
ayers of the use of pinch hitters in a
more or less successful effort to
change their luck.
Those who were brought up in the
base ball school of the old days be-
lieve that the substitution of play
ers has become ridiculous. 1t is PROB
able that they will have to wait a |
long time for a change while the clubs
are permitted to carry so many p'av-
ers. When manager begins to shift
players for luck and because ne las
come to the last of his resources mem
tally he doesn't care whether he uses
one or ten. 1t is simply fight
against lost hope. and while he has
any players left he will keep it up
Some club owners wish that the sub
stitution of players might be decreased.
but while they really have the remedy
in their own hands they are not as
of players were cut down numerically
very likely there would be fewer sub
stitutiens.
Distance for Home Runs.
The question also has been raised
whether, in view of the present heavy
batting, the distance for a home run
should not be made more than 235
feet. There is no reason why it cannot
he if the rule makers wish to change
their definition of a home run. The
limit.-of 235 feet is directly traceable to
the old National League ground at Bos-
ton. That was the distance from the
plate to the nearest outfieId. fence on
that field. Fences were built high to
keep the ball from going over them. |
but they were built so high that it also
was agreed that if the ball did go over !
it should count for a home run, that's
where you got home run for a high
ball.
Copyright. 1927