New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-12-21
HEYDLER Still IN
FAVOR OF Change
Thinks Idea Of Batter in Place
Of Pitcher 4 Good One

New York, Dec. c1.0ReJohn
A. Heydler. president of the Nation
al league, believes in the old saying.
III at first you don't succeed. try,
try. again" He has not abandoned
his idea of having batsmAn for the
pitcher and thinks that eventually
his proposal may find q place in the
game OF baseball.
Il still think it's good idea" said
President Heydler. And I'm not
alone in this position. either. have
had basket full Of letters endors-
ing the suggestion.
I'VE may not be ready for it now.
but have thought that We may yet
get around to it.
innovations are slow to catch on.
remember there was tremendous
uproar when an order went out that
the pitcher must keep his foot on the
rubber. The pitchers had been start
ing their deliveries away round to
one side OF the pitching rubber. Civ
Ing cross-fire effect to every pitch.
pitchers said they could not pitch
II they had to stand on the rubber
and one would have thought the
game would be just about ruined.
The late Harry Pulliam. president of
the National league at the time. said
the order would stand and if en-
perience In the spring exhibition
games showed that it would not
work, it would be rescinded. When
the plan was tried it was found
simple and no effort has been made
since to have the pitcher hop all
around the intield.
'As a time saver alone. the plan
Of having the pitcher relieved OF
batting responsibilities would be
worth while in my opinion. Now
pinch hitter is sent in for the pitcher,
and may be, il he is left-handed
batsman. the opposing manager will
decide to counter with a left-handed
pitcher. This takes both the pitchers
out of the game. If the relief
pitchers are warming up in a corner
of the outfield, as they do in some
parks. the new man has to be sum-
moned. sometimes with a wild Mav-
ing of arms and shouting. The
pitcher is finally brought in and the
game resumed. And then when the
side is retired the whole thing is to
be done all over again.
Figures showing how many
pinch hitters are used in season
for pitchers are amazing.
Il am not discouraged at the
failure Of the rather revolutionary
plan of having batsman for the
pitcher 10 be enthusiastically en-
braccd by both the major leagu, $
at it's first proposal. Baseball viii
go on, and if there is place for
the scheme it will finally be adopt
ed"
President Heydler thinks one Of
the greatest developments of base
ball liz In the umpiring. There is
no comparison between the umpir-
ing of today and yesterday. he said.
In the old days." commented the
National league executive in a remi-
niscent mood. "only a big man had
a chance to become a successful
umpire. that il. man big in stature
He had to look down over The
catcher to see the ball and decida
whether 1t went over the plate or
not. The idea OF following a curve
was not known then.
NOWADAYS little fellow can and
does make good umpire. He fol-
lows the ball and II 1t curves he
sees It.
There are great umrires. big
and little. but size Is not the de-
Gliding factor"
Umriring baseball games is din
fcut aud sometimes haza rdous but
there Is plenty OF room at the top.
The number of first class umpires is
not enough to supply the major
leagues. and scouts for the National
and American leagues are busy dur
ing the season Watching the UNI
pires in the minors The umpirins
end Of baseball is not the least de-
sirable opening in the profession.
The umpires do not get as much
money AZ the star players. but they
last longer. and as Tim Hurst said:
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