The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-03-20
| ALKING
IT OVER
BY JOE WILLIAMS
NEW YORK. March 20.

NEW YORK. MaTcn ~
THE director Of physical educa-
i ton at Wesley university has
cOntrived a code of craftsmanship
under which it is hoped eat least
BY that director that the college
baseball games of the coming
season and subsequent seasons will
be contested.
THE code" he writes. o. is intended
to emphasize the fact that baseball
is a game to be played without in
reference from spectators. without
chicanery through the noisy dis
concerning Of players and with a
rigid respect for the precepts Of
ethical conduct.
Listed among the solemn ambitions Of
the code OF sportrmanship are:
IA tradition Of courtesy to visiting
teams on the part Of the most players as
we'll as the spectators.
2. The abolition Of shouts from the
stands designed to rattle and unnerve
pitchers.
p The diScouraging Of coaches on Che
base lines from addressing unseemIy re-
marks to the opposition
I. The urging Of PLAYERS not 10 protest
decision Of the umpires BY disoourteous
words or actions.
s. The discontinuance Of such sharp and
sinister practices as yelling get back" or
lookout to an opposing PLAYER about to
make a catch with the view Of confusing
him.
sA strict departure from the taWdry
professional manner Of employing freak
deliveries in the box stopping to pick
MP dirt at the bat in an attempt to dis
concert the pitcher and thus draw base
on balls.
an Of which IS perfectly lovely and
very fine as far As 1t goes. but I hardly
think st goes far enough No specihca-
lions are made for uniforms. Naturally,
it would be hcathenism TO wear The vul-
gar hannels which the professionals ef-
feet. Perhaps silk middeS, velvet rompers
and hair nets would do.
And. Of course. there should BE- an in
tervaI for the serving of tea and jelly
waters, in the English cricket manner, and
instead Of a dugout the players should
be provided with divdns upon which they
may repOse between innings.
TINE current idioms Of the game
l. would have to be discarded in
favor of a softer and more eloquent
speech. If I properly sense the
spirit of the suggested reform the
mere mention of such vulgarisms as
seeking the old tomato" and buzz
one past his chin would be Suffi-
cient to spoil the whole afternoon
for everybody. It places no Excess
sive burden on the imagination to
picture a faithful account of a game
played along the lines of courtesy
for all and fun for none. 1t would
read something like this:
''The violets met the PanSies here today
In a baseball match and very delight
full time was had by all. There
plethora Of splendid tossing on the part
OF both of the boxmen. and frequent
manifestations of speed upon the base
lines.
Throughout the match the hitsmen
kept up an inspiring drumming with
their msces and many long graceful
smashes were dispatched to the outer
territories. lev OF which were captured
and firmly held by the adventurous per-
6onS stationed in those distant points.
The match was marked by a warm
ting display of friendlineSs and etiquette
and was conducted in the chivalrous spirit
Of one for all and all for one. Your cor
respondent believes that II can truthfully
be said that the thirteen spectators. |
eleven of whom left after the second in
ming, never saw anything like 1t before"
Ny apologies for the foregoing tosh. |
Courtesy and frendliness on the field of |
sport are all right. Nobody has any quar-
rel with the idea. whether it applies to |
professionals or amateurs. But I believe |
there is such thing as carrying these |
idealistie theories to hilarious lengths.
AM hoping secretly that the first |
L. game played under the Yves
Ieyan parlor rules breaks up in a |
beautiful riot and the umpire is
chased into the next county.
Too many of our fine old native |
institutions have been legislated |
into decay already.
q
I'm for keeping basebalI-or
what's left of it-pleaSantly rOwdy