The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-05-07
COMMENTS ON SPORTS
BY RABID FANSTER
BLAcKouT THE PITCHERS!

herence to a rule that had never
been enforced in the past, Saw
yer's BARRIERS Monday night con-
} vincingly knocked the Marines
out of first place and established
themselves as leaders of the city
softball league.
Requested by the Marines to
furnish their pitcher with a top
shirt of dark color in compliance
with an official rule, the BARRIERS
threatened to withdraw from
the league if they were, compell-
ed to abide by the regulation. A
resultant argument caused con-
siderable delay and neared phys
ical violence as the dispute wax
ed hot. 49,
Finding the Marines determin-
ed, majority of the SaWyers
overrode a minority decision to
quit, complied with the rule and
marched on the field to hand the
Leathernecks their worst drub-
bing of the season.
This column does not condone
or condemn the stand taken by
either the BARRIERS or Marines.
In measure, both were right
Certainly, the Marines were
within their rights in insisting
that Memo Castro, chosen starting
Sawyer pitcher, change the
! light-hued shirt he was wearing
to one of darker color. In pre-
vious games, Marine tosser
Charlie Spakes had been forced
to comply with the rule and re-
Gently was compelled to wear a
black service sweater backwards
because a white IN" appeared
on the front. 1t is no wonder
then that manager Lieut.. M. 0.
Donohoo remains firm. in his
stand that all other league clubs
must abide by the uniform regG-
lation when playing his team,
What is sauce for the goose. is
sauce for the gander".
1t is generally recognized that
the majority of equipment used
by civilian clubs is below stand
ard. When one realizes that in
variably civilian managers must
dig into their own pockets for
money to purchase necessary
! equipment, it is not hard to un-
derstand the situation. AS an
ardent sports enthusiast remark
ed Monday night, "The civilian
teams are lucky to have any at
all'iH Uniforms have been pur-
chased by individual business
men of the city. Otherwise, the
| players would appear on the
field in everyday clothes.
Service units have their own
athletic funds, created by de-
Quoting a certain percentage from
all purchases made at the post
exchanges or canteens, By this
method the service teams may
be fully outfitted with up-to-
date equipment, an advantage
not enjoyed by civilian, clubs.
But to get back to the rule in
question. Spalding's Official
Guide for softbal requires that
"when playing under lights, all
parts of the uniform except shoes.
cap and stockings worn by the
pitcher shall be of the SAME
DARK COLOR, with no letter
ing or trimming on the front Of
the uniform"
| BARRIERS contend that if one
rule is TO be enforced, all should
be put into practice. They could
have added that ALL require
ments of ANY ONE RULE should
be adhered to. II the Marines or
any other club wish to enforce
the regulation pertaining TO a
pitchers uniform they should
not overlook any part of the
rule. II is clearly stated that the
shirt and pants and sweat shirt
of a pitchers uniform must be
of the SAME DARK COLOR.
Not one of red or black or blue
and another of green or grey or
white. But ALL OF THE SAME
/ COLOR. If just this part of the
rule was strictly enforced, prac-
tically every game played this
season would have to be thrown
out. We have noticed only two
pitchers whose uniforms comply
with this rule and one has not
yet appeared Oh the mound
1t is not a question of enforcing
official softbail rules in the city
league but one of conforming TO
the situation existing therein.
Our sincere opinion is that it is
unthinkable at present TO at
tempt enforcement of all pro-
fessional or amateur rules and
regulations There should be a
happy middle"
We believe, however, q pitch
er should be REQUIRED TO wear a
Uniform of some dark color The
batter viii then have at least a
fifty fifty" chance.
-~--a-----------a