Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-14
AMERICAN LEAGUE
WANTS CHECK "POP"
BOTTLE THROWING

Nv York, Dec. 13-The American
League at it's annual meeting today
took action to check what it regard
ed as two detriments to the national
game-home run hitting and pop
bottle throwing.
The club owners recommended to
the joint rules committee. represent
ing both the American and National
Leagues that home run zones be es-
tablished in all big league parks to
curb the abnormal growth of circuit
hitting and urged that steps be taken
to regulate the sale of soft drinks so
that fans no longer would be temp
ted to use the bottles as missiles.
The league, which closed it's 1928
sessions late today, also voted to
ril IS, and decided to establish a
fund of $4,000 to aid disabled ball
players or their families by setting
aside $4,000 annually for five years,
beginning in 1928. from the Ameri-
can Leagues share of the worlds
series receipts.
Adjustment of opening dates with
the National League, which. yester-
day decided to start the 1923 cam
paign on Tuesday. April II, was left
to the joint schedule committee with
the understanding it was said that
the older organization agree to
April IS as a joint date.
The action designed to cure home
run hitting was the result of 4 de-
cision of the majority of club own
ers that the increased heavy batting
was detriment to the popularity of
the game. While details of the zon-
ing play will be left to the rules
committee, members of which will be
appointed later by the presidents of
the two leagues, it was the general
opinion among magnates that mimi
mum distance of 800 feet be estab-
lshed, outside of which home runs
would be allowed, in parks where
short fences or stands abutting on
the playing field afforded easy marks
for heavy hitters.
Colonel Jacob Rupert, Yankee
owner, was understood to have OPP
posed the zoning scheme, which
among others would have a marked
eiLSCl vi Tic liOlllC oli 3SiiASS VIM y
of Babe Ruth, who established the
individual high mark for I'll time in
1921 with SO homers. The peak in
league home run records was reached
last year when batsmen in the two
leagues collected 1,054 circuit blows,
more than 100 in excess of the best
previous mark, 936, made in 1921.
Discussion of player deals through
out the day in American League cir
cles centered around the reported Of
fer of the New York Yankees to
trade Bob Meusel, Aaron Ward, and
a pitcher to the Chicago White SoX
for Eddie Collins and Dick Kerr. but
late in the day officials Of both clubs
said the deal was in the air.
1--WE have made the Chicago club a
definite proposition for Collins" Col
oneI Rupert said but as yet nave
received no reply"
1t was generally reported that the
deal hinged upon the possibility of
Kerr, who failed to report last spring
to the White Sox, being reinstated
by Commissioner Lands for, the 1923
season, but the latter declared he
had received no application from
Kerr and that SO far nothing had
been done in the pitchers behalf. The
commissioner pointed out that if err
had played against ineligible players
during the past season, he would
be obliged, Under league rules, to
remain inactive another year before
possible reinstatement.
Frank J. Navin, president of the
Detroit club, was reelected wee
president of the junior league.