Evening star., 1923-01-21

II 1t were possible to play base ball
GA fields Of exactly the same shape and
dimensions. base ball would be the
most standardized outdoor sport except
tennis. Base ball men of vision and eX-
Derierce question the wisdom of stand
ArIzinS it tc the last degree. It will
never be possible for the fields TO be
made uniform. Many of the more pros
porous cities have fixed locations that
never will be altered and base bau men
consider that the identity and person.
atty Of each ground should be kept dis
ti'tct for the best interests of the game
The greatest base ball structure in
The world is now nearing copletion in
this city. The new Yankee stadium is
three tiers high and not unlike the
Coliseum of Rome as viewed from some
angles. If the concrete amphitheater
OF the New York American League club
had been built centuries ago it would
have been one of the wonders uf the
world. AS it is, it is the wonder Of tase
ball 1t is wholly unlike the Polo
Grounds and cannot be compared with
y because situation and conformation
are totally different.
Vets Oppose Ground Rules.
The question has arisen whether it is
not better that it shall have and pre-
serve distinctive identity rather tnan
an EFFORT be made to Standa rdize ii with
rs less grandiose neignbor The poirt
is brought up because the Yankees are
ABOUT to enter on period cf their exist
cnce on a playground nf their own. Old
base ball men say they should shart
their new field unrestricted by ground
rules and allow the players to perform
unhampered by artificial barriers such
leafs as they are capable of performing.
IN other words, all records beginning
April Is should be a part of Sthe history
OF the field and it's traditions.
This may seem an unimportant mat
ter. yet such, old heads as those of
Charley Comiskey. Bill Gleason, Clark
Grfthth, Wilbert Robinson, Jack
Doyle, Joe Kelly and others unite in
saying that a base ball ground can
>;Snd should have a personality They
add that all fans like a ground with
OUT ground rules.
The ideal field would be one with
out stand I'm the outfeld. 1t is these
outfield stands which have suggested
reconstruction of some of the rules to
make some plays better standardized
Would Give Records Value.
The shifting of the diamond at the
Polo Grounds which has followed the
remodeling of the stand really places
the Polo Grounds in the same class as
the new Yankee stadium so far as
preserving it's identity is concerned.
The same reasons that suggest that
the Yankee field be Unrestricted by
ground rules apply. II both fields
start unrestricted SuCn RECORDS dS
may be established Will have sure
and certain value.
II is only within two years that
there has been talk, of home runs
being too frequent. Fifteen years
ago. under the same rules. there was
talk Of their being too infrequent.
How long the batting furry will last
depends on the pitchers.
Tho standardization of grounds ap-
plies equally to Detroit, st. Louis,
Chicago or Philadelphia as well as
to New York. 1t is timely, with big
stands coming to have free and open
felds Not only should. the batters
init 'cn where they AMT" as Will
'!s Eceler used to advise. but they
should be free to "hit 'em further
than they are"
fcenyrirht. 1929