The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-12-16
|New Baseball Rulings Aid to Game
CHANGES HELP
PLAYERS, BOOST
FANS INTEREST

- -
NEW YORK, December 16.
Lack of sensational trades made
the major league meetings just
ended appear the dulleSt In years.
But after taking stock today, base
ball men agreed they did more to
affect the game itself than was
made in a dozen previous meet
ingS. =,
They adopted a uniform ball
with the thinner cover Of the
American League and the higher
stitches of the National League
ball, move that will meet with
the hearty approval Of all fans,
They accepted two far-reaching
changes in the playing rules. One
is tantamcunt to giving the pitcher
the right to take three steps in
making his delivery; the other
eliminates deliberate dropping OF
a fly ball by an outfielder to
force a double play.
PLAYER LIMIT RAISED
These rules will be in force
everywhere baseball Is played.
The kid on the sandlot; the semi
pro, the collegian, and the minor
Lacquer will play under them.
And they will be just as ms,ch IN
force in Cuba or Japan C6 they
will in the United States.
The majors raised their I,!aysr
limit from % to IS, which WG.a /
be of more than academic interest
to the bleachers, but the bleach
erite will be interested In the fact
that the American League will
have night ball for the first time
in Philadelphia and Cleveland,
and the indications are every club
will be playing under the lights.
So much for the broader out
lines. What about trades? What
effect, if any, will those made
have on the pennant races?
BOLSTER HILL STAFF
The Yanks, who need little, actu-
ally bolstered their already formid-
able pitching by sharing Hide
brand from the Browns. The Red
Sox got Denny GalehouSe and
Rookie Tommy Irwin from the
Indians and Eden Auker, Jake
Wade, and Chef Morgan from the
Tigers.
The Tigers got just what the
doctor ordered when they landed
Pinkey Higgins from the Red Sox
to play third base. They also got
Archie McKain, an m-and-out
southpaw.
These deals help both clubs but
still leave them q few parasangs
away from the Yanks. The In
dams have done virtually nothing.
OF course, they got Outfielder Ben
Chapman in the Galehouse deal,
but what are they going to do Tor
a second baSeman? They must get
somebody but If they are to do
so they win have to give some
thing more than q loud cheer.
The Senators, White Sox, Ath-
letics and Browns have done moth
ing, and plenty Of it. Connie Mack
could trade Bob johnson or Wally
Moses tomorrow but he won't let
them 20 although it Is hard to
understand how he could finish
worse without them than ne dld
with them.
GIANTS, CUBS IN BIG DEAL
The Giants and Cubs stole the
National League spotlight in the
deal that sent Manusco, Leber
and Bartel to Chicago and brought
ODea, Demaree and Jurges TO
New York. But what are they both
going to do for a first baseman?
/ OF course, Gabby Hartnett talks
about using Phil Cavaretta and
Bill Terry seems high on "zeke"
Bonura, but those aren't pennant
winning first basemen.
The Brooklyn, Dogers made a
six-player deal with the Boston
Bees but are eager to make some
more trades. They sent First
Baseman Buddy Hasset, Out.
fielder Jimmy Outlaw, Pitcher
Fred Farmhouse and an undiS.
closed amount Of cash to the
!. Bees for Outfielder Gene Moore,
!; Pitcher Ira Hutchinson, and Third
Baseman Joe Strip.