I THE SPORTING<-'«VHI6HT, .105 »Y THE SPOKT\NG LIFt Hit. CO. CNTCRED AT PMILA P. O. AS SCCONO CLASS MATTER.

VOLUME 20, NO. 10. PHILADELPHIA, PA., DECEMBER 3, 1892. PRICE, TEN CENTS.

GET ODTJ)F THE RDT!THE KAGNATES' FOOLISH FEAR OF

"RADICAL CHANGES."

Increased PitcMng Distance and En­ larged Diamond Necessary to Hake

Base Ball More Attractive.BALTIMORE, NOT. 29. Editor SPOUTING

LIPS: Of course it was not to he expected that the meeting of the magnates at Chicago for only a few days would result iu any very radical change in the regimen of the came. The situation is precarious anil any remedy for present evils should receive more consider­ ation than the time there afforded. The ap­ pointment of a committee which has until .March to investigate, study and recommend was the proper tiling to do. How well this committee will doitswork the result in March will demonstrate. It is an indisputable fact that the whole welfare of the business de­ pends upon what the League will offer for tho entertainment of the public in 1S!)S. If it is to be no more,- or even something only ft trifle better than in the past season.it will require no prophet or the sou of a prophet to tell what will be the profit If that is taut­ ology let v

TUB MAGGOTSmake the best of it. There was a game once upon n time that was exceedingly popular. It consisted of so much action that enthu­ siasm was epidemic. Surely it could not be amiss to restore that game, and certainly the most conservative would not be justified iu calling it an experiment. Slight changes in pitching distance would not have the desired effect. There would be a trifle more batting in the beginning of theseason, before pitchers accustomed themselves to the new situation, but, as in all such slight modifications iu the past, the pitcher would soon master the trifling handicap and have the batter at his mercy again, and the disgusted spectators would shun the sport as they did in the latter part of the season of IS!)2. That, has been

TIIEOREAT DIFFICULTY in the past. Efforts to handicap the battery work are not unique. Something in that line has been done almost every year, but the handicap has been so slight that it was usually overcome with a little practice and brought about the same old dull game before the season was fairly well advanced. Now there is ample opportunity to make the sport what it should he. The chief difficulty is the timidity of magnates and their heeding the advice of players instead of patrons. To advocate making base paths 93 feet long causes much wise slinking of the head among players and magnates, who scoff at such a ''radical" effange. II it is to be done they want it done by the inch per season and thirty-six years to accomplish the whole thing, so as not to scare spectators,who would not know ocnlany that it had been done at all. Ho, too, the pitcher must be moved back only five feet, so that the spectators will not, notice a "radical" change from what they have nearly all disliked, howled about, and

FINALLY BOYCOTTED.By May 30 the five feet additional distance would he practically annihilated and pitch­ ers' games would ahuund fur the balance of the season to half empty stands. Now, what is the use of repeating the same experience from year to year when it is an easy matter to give the publie what it set the stamp of approval upon in the past. A bustling, robust game of action can he had by adopting the scheme of ninety-three feet base paths and removing the pitcher to the centre of the diamond, so why not do it. Is there any doubt about its increasing batting? No. Is there any doubt of there being more fielding and base-running to do if there is increased batting? No. Well, then, why not do it? "Oh, it's too radical." Why, bless their poor souls, the way that word scares all the frills out of them would make one believe they were once all Southern fire-caters. Well, now, give the public a chance to see fielders cat up base hits. Why, the poor fellows have actually been out of practice so for the last few years that they have

GOTTEN QUITE ECSTY, And do be merciful and give them something to keep warm on in the cola spring days. If they will not fix the pitcher in the centre of the diamond at once, suppose they try the progressive plan of moving him baek five eet tor the first month, five feet more the second month, and so on gradually until they eventually reach the limit in the centre of the diamond. Such a scheme might over- cnne their scruples of too radical a chaiiL'cat once. There are some magnates who seem to

'think it the proper thing to pull back and kick in the team of progress, others hold to making haste slowly,and still others who al­ ways advise letting well enough alone; but the general public is taking a hand in rule- making now, and are emphasizing theiropin- ions by letting the sport severely alone until all the magnates come to their senses and give them the old entertainment they pa­ tronized so well. The game-has been made by the players for years, and it has become too much an entertainment lor the partici­ pants and too little for the spectators, con­ sequently old patrons are permitting the players to

<K> IT ALOSR.One wants a scientific game entirely and the other desires an entertainment and amuse, mi nt. The magnates can choose between the two after weighing the question of which will be the most profitable. When there is a question of discarding any type of play the participants measure it with the rule ot science and declare for or against it in the degree of its "urettiness" or its being a factor in "game-winning." Spectators care noth­ ing whatever about abstract science in base ball playing, and only desire the old general whooping-up of robust athletics as exempli­ fied iu the old popular sport. If the com­ mittee on rules heed too much the opinions of great players at the expense of popular demand there will be the same sluggishness in base ball in 1S93 tiiat there was in the past season. It is simply impossible for the player to look at tho game from the stand point of the spectator, even if he is occa­ sionally a spectator himself, for his motto must necessarily be, science and anything to win the game. The spectator's view is from the point of

THUILLIN-G EXCITEMENT, and local pride only incidentally makes him desire to see to see the game won by a par­ ticular team. A club can win the champion­ ship, as has been done repeatedly, and yet the homo patronage be very little indeed. Why? Pimply because the game itself was not sufficiently robust to be an attraction. A pennant winner, with the scientific, uninter­ esting game of last season will starve itself in 1893. A game full of action tor every man on the team, with fluctuations common to nearly every inning, maae so by heavy batting, will do much to make a very un­ promising season fairly profitable. The scheme of slightly enlarging the dia.iiond and placing the pitcher in the centre of it, will have just the proper tendency toward restoring the old popular game and yet leave nothing strange to the accustomed eye of the patron. At first, perhaps, errors would be more numerous, but the

AOUITIOXAL PRACTICE afforded fielders would soon perfect them to the point of giving them as good a fielding record as at present. The art of liclding ne- cessnriiy increases in ratio with the batting providing a lively ball is not used. The

livelier the ball the harder and more danger- ins it becomes, and if any attempt to increase batting by such means is made there will be maimed fielders and such frequent changes in the personnel of teams as will be to the disadvantage of the sport. Spectators like to see a team intact from day today. The fewer substitutes it is necessary to use the better it .vill be. Besides, a lively ball always causes a game to abound in errors, not only because the ball goes to the fielder at

A GREATER PACE, but for the reason that on account of its elasticity it is much more difficult to hold even when it strikes the hand squarely. No, Ion't attempt to aid batting with more rub­ ber, but simply fix matters so that the bats­ man may have time to see and gauge the present ball and enable him to bring his bat in contact with it. Then when he pushes Lhe bat the fielders will try and do the rest, ind we will thereby have a revival of the old popular game and a hie enough crowd for company in assisting to the enjoyment of it.

ALUKRT Morr.

LATEST HEWSJI WIRE.WASHINGTON ITEMS.

False Report About Richardson Dowel For St Louis.

Sperlal tn ProRTiNa l.irrWASIHKGTOX, D. C., Dec. 1. With the

advent oT8nm Wise to cover second base for the Washington Club, there will be no leccssity for the services of Tommy Dowd

on the team, but he will not be permitted to remain idle. President Von der Ahe, of the St. Louis Club, wanted Dowd last season, but Mr. Wagner would not release him at that time, not wanting to be left in the lurch. Now, however, they have consented to waive any claim to that player, and he has been sighed by St. Louis to replace Jack Crooks at second base. This deal was consummated to-day.

OH, MY! »H, MY!It has also been, settled that Danny Rich­

ardson will again don the uniform of a "Giant," having been exchanged for Doyle and O'Uourke, of the New York Club, both of whom will be Senators next year. Wash­ ington has always been weak behind the bat, and Doyle is deemed just the man to fill a long-felt want. Shorty Fuller will also be among the Washington aggregation.

[There is not n word of truth in the above so far as it relates to any exchange of Danny Richardson. No deal whatever has been made for that great player, although a num­ ber of clubs would like to have him without giving eood men in exchange. From present appearances Danny will again lead the short stops of the League at Washington's short field. ED.) _____

J'OUTUNE "FAVORS REIL.LY."Long: John" One of the Hcir« of a

Rich Californlaa.Special to SPOBTISO LirB.

CINCINNATI. Dec. 1. Fortune lias smiled upon "Long John" Ueilly, so many seasons the Red Stockings' first baseman.' His grandfather, John Good, left Cincinnati many years ago to seek his fortune and settled in California. Recently he died at ^anta Rosa nnd he left a valuable estate. "Long John" will come in for hi°s share as one of the heirs. Since his voluntary retire­ ment from the ball field, Reilly has pur­ sued his profession as an artist, employed hy a local firm of lithographers. Reilly has re­ ceived the news of his good luck, but it has not turned his head.

Condensed Dispatches.6p»ctnt to SPORTING hire.

The contracts of Jack Stcnzel with Pitts- burgand W. A. Lange with Chicago have been approved.

Harris B. Haskell, of West Falmouth, Mo., has been elected captain of the foot ball eleven for the next season.

Alex Greggains has posted $1000 in support of a challenge of a claim to the middle-weight championship. Hie challenge is directed at Bob Fitrsimmons.

Ted Sullivan acting as manager of the Chattanooga Club released from reservation the following players: Maker, Keeuau, Phillips, McCann, Ijyau and Burke.

The Baltimore Club has accepted the ser­ vices of Big liill BVown, the noted catcher, formerly of the New York and Philadelphia clubs, now with the Oakland, Cal., Club.

Kugene Ilornbacher, of New York, and Billy Forsvthe fought fifteen rounds to n draw in Bridgeport, Ct., Nov. 30. The mill was witnessed by several hundred sports. This is the second time they have fought to a draw.

The Crescent City Athletic Club, of New Orleans, has purchased from D. Danzgier, for $6000, a plot of ground for their club house and arena. ' It is a piece of ground a little over 300 feet square, bounded by Canal, Custom House and Pierce streets and Carrol - ton avenue.

NO CHANCE FOR UNION.

Base Ball and Pool Rooms Must Re­ main Antagonistic.

In commenting upon the vain attempt of certain Western people to again link base ball and pool rooms, a New York writersays:

"Tho pool rooms or "commission rooms" of New York and Brooklyn are bound to hurt biipe call in this district next season. Within the year these rooms havo doubled in Dumber. That is, there arc two now where there was one a year ago. The reisnn is plain. Their pat­ ronage has grown until it has doubled. They are all full from 2 o'clock till a every afternoon. Their clientele will remain and grow in size until next spring and summer. Hundreds of the hangers-on around these rooms are former biise ball patrons. The gatno hero suffered from this oause last summer. It will suffer tvrice as much next summer. It wi>3 this growing dan­ ger which persuaded some thoughtless news­ paper in the West to advocate the connection of base ball with the pool rooms aziun."

The financial hurt to base hall from pool­ room opposition will be only temporary. Base ball and pool rooms must never again have anything in common. The pool rooms will not handle base ball games so long as they are honesilv played. The public knows this and the pool-room people do not deny it. The result is that so soon as the poolrooms should take up base ball as a betting means they will advertise it as a once more dis­ honest sport. May that time never cotae1

An Ex-Player's Crime.CHICAGO, III., Nov. 29. Lawrence Fnrley,

an ex-member of the Washington Base Ball Club, on Thursday Instihot and instantly

killed Michael Minnangh, a saloon-keeper at Second and Cherry streets, Alton. III. The men were brothers-in-law and business part­ ners, and differences growing out ot the part­ nership led to the tragedy.

Eastern League Meeting Called.NF.W YOUK, Nov. 23. Kditor SPOKTINQ

LiFK: The annual meeting of the Eastern League will be held at Kcnmore Hotel, Al­ bany, Wednesday, Dec. 7,1!j!j2, at 12 o'clock noon. Very respectfully,

C. D. WUIIH.

Jones" Excellent Record."Bunipus" Jones made a remarkable rec­

ord in the Illinois-Iowa League. He pitched for Joliet the winners of the first champion­ ship scries and was put in the box jtist 11 times, lie won 14 ^MIIU'S. striu-k out 72 men, gave 'JO bases on ball^. Only four runs were earned oil' hiui.

J. A. CHUCK,whose picture is above given, is the well-known baseball promoter an j SPORTING LIFE correspondent in New South Wales. He is a native of Victoria and born of American parents in 1855. At an early age he was taken to New Zealand, where he quickly developed athletic tendencies, and proved himself one of theT)est all-round men of his day. Early in life he joined the New Xeuland Volunteers, gaining a lieiitenantcy, with a captain's certifi­ cate. He is the holder of a large number of trophies, and one ot the best riflemen of that colony. In 1888 the claims of base bail attracted his attention. After studying the rules he became quite an enthusiast, and devoted much of his time promoting, organizing and de­ veloping clubs. Some twelve months aeo Mr. Chuck took command of nflairs in Sydney, and on account of his untiring cflbrts and genial disposition the game has greatly advanced, and he obtained a great popularity and the honored sobriquet of Baso Ball King.

FORGING AHEAD.ANOTHER SECTION OF THE AUSTRA­

LIAN CONTINENT HEARD FROM.

A Base Ball League Organized in Southiastralia-Eager For Base Ball

News and Instruction.Below will be found a copy of a letter

just received hy Mr. A. G. Spalding from Mr. Fred T. Leane, the honorable secretary of the Pirie United Base Ball Clubs, of Port Pirie,' South Australia. This shows that America's national game is making steady headway in all parts of Australia, as a result of the Spalding tour around the world. It is a fair sample of the letters that Mr. Spald- ing is almost continually receiving from dif­ ferent parts of Australia, New Zealand, and other points that he and his tourists visited:

POUT I'ntiE, S. A., Sept. 28. A. (1. Spaldiug, £Vy.; I have much pleasure in informing you that the American game of base ball baa at last caught on in Port Pirie. I have been trying for gouifl considerable time -to introduce tho game, and now I think I have succeeded. We bare live senior clubs in the Port Pine League and six or seven junior clubs. With a popula­ tion of about five thousand that is not bad. Of course, in Adelaide the game tins been estab­ lished for some time, but we are 230 uii es north of the city end the people are slow to get a grip cf anything new.

Of course, we do not intend to remain satisfied with having the game in Port Pirie alone, but mean to try and introduce It in the surrounding tonus. Our League matches were started on Saturday last and will be continued until Dec. 20. In that short time we havo arranged to play three matches a week fur the champion­ ship.

My object in writing to you is to get the latest information on the rules of the game, etc., and to find out the leading American papers devoted to the game. I shall he very much obliged for any information that will tend to improve the gauie in South Australia. Tho latest rules wo have arc those pu'uliahed by yourself in 188!), and I have no doubt there have been alterations aud amendments since then, and, of course, we wish to be in posses-lion of the latest.

Yours truly, Fnro T. LEASB, Hon. Seo'y Pirie United B. C.

,———————————————^_______________

DO NOT CONFLICT.

Base Ball and Foot Bull Will Never Crowd Each Other.

The armored knights of the gridiron field have had their day. The reign of the base ballist stretches over half the year, but one- sixth is all that the foot ball kickers ask. With Thanksgiving the last of the great col­ lege battles ended, but there are enthusiasts who keep up the sport all winter long, de­ spite the fact that the mercury hugs the bulb in vain efforts to get down out of the cold. There have been some screeds written in which the assertion has been thoughtlessly made that foot ball was supplanting base hail and was likely to become the national game. The truth is the sports do not conflict. One is essentially a sport that thrives in sunshine and warm weather, while the other is the chief of autumn and winter pastimes. It would be misery to play foot ball with the temperature at summer heat. The exertion might indeed, prove dangerous to the play­ ers. If a kind Providence bars out the scourge next year, the pessimists who have been shedding crocodile tears over the decay of the diamond blind to Ihe truth and re­ fusing to see the natural causes forthetrouble will be permitted to hang their harps on the willow trees and ceaec their mournful dirges, which cause only the ignorant to wou- der at the whylbre of their sad, sad lay.

SCHMELK FIXED.

The Able'Manager to Keturn to the South.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.. Nov. 28. Theprospects of it good base ball season in theSouthern League next summer are bright.The Chattanooga Club lias been put iu ex-

, cellcnt financial condition. Gus H.Sehmelz,j of Columbus, O., has been engaged as mana-] ger of the team. He won the pennant for

Atlanta in 1885 in the Southern League, andfur Columbus during the past year in theWestern League. He will arrive here iu at«u dayti uud begin signing playcri.

A CENTRAL LEAGUE.THE PROPER LINES DPOH WHICH TO

BUILD SUCH AN ORGANIZATION.

Jl Twelye-club Clrcait Urged as tlie Cor­ rect Thing Good Reasons For

the Proposition, Etc.PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 28. Editor SPOTCT-

INC; LIFE: I see there is a movement in favor ot organi/ing a Central League for the coming year out of the remains of the Eastern and Western League of '!'2. It seems to me that this is a proper movement and deserving of encouragement as it would make one strong organization out of two weak ones and boom base ball all along the line.

Instead of making the proposed Central League an eight-club organization I would suggest that it be made up of twelve clubs six in the East and six in the West. This would take in about all of the available clubs, thus obviating soreness over being left and possible counter-movement for sectional leagues.

Twelve-club leagues are all the go now as witness the National League and Southern League. It is true that the same objections that are urged against those leagues could be urged against a twelve-club Central League, but the advantage of ulnrtiug with twelve clubs would outweigh all disadvantages by leaving a margin for tlie usual disbandments. With twelve clubs as a starter there is every probability that at least eight clubs would finish the season, thus guaranteeing a good finish.

An excellent twelve-club League could be organized with these cities -Kansas City, In­ dianapolis, Toledo, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Detroit or Columbus in the West; Rochester, Troy, Buffalo, Albany, Providence, Syra­ cuse, New Haven or Binghamton in the East. I know some of the Western cities stand ready to join an organization of that kind, and there is no doubt in my mind that there are some cities in the East that are prepared to do the same. For the good of base ball such an organization should by all means be favored. WILLIAM SHAUSK;.

MII/WAUKKK PLANS

To Have League Bull Frequently Next Season.

MILWAUKEE, Nov. 28. Editor SI-OUTING LIKIC: I noticed mention made in your valu­ able paper last week of a new Central League, to comprise four of tho best Eastern towns of last year's Eastern League and To­ ledo, Columbus, Milwaukee and Detroit in the West.

As far as Milwaukee is concerned regard­ ing joining this movement, Harry Quin, of the firm of Maguire & Quin, proprietors of Athletic Ball Park, will have nothing to do with the movement; nor will they lease their park to any minor league organization. Qiiin states he will have Li-uyue hall or none at all, as minor league clubs cannot pay the proprietors enough rent for exclusive use of the ball park. Besides, the people of Mil­ waukee, after the ball playing they saw under the Maguire-Quin regime, will have nothing inferior, and should the Chieagosnot draw good crowds against the World's Fair at­ tractions Quiii will make it worth while for James Hart to tranfer oae or tica (fd/mfs <i week to Milwaukee, where they will be as­ sured of good crowds.

By this arrangement the League magnates would not only benefit financially, but also find out what kind of a town this "burg" would be in League company, thus providing for any contingency should the League find one of the twelve cities prove a burden too heavy to carry.

Both the League and the Milwaukee pub­ lic would prove gainers by this arrangement, as Milwaukeeans would see all the slurs in the base ball fraternity, and the magnates of the League in a remunerative sense.

At the last election we registered 71,000 votes in Milwaukee county. How is that for size and growth? In five years, at this rate, we will press both Nt. Louis and Cincinnati. This is a net gain of 23,000 rotrs in four years.

A. C. Ans'in, who everyone knows and ad­ mires, was here last week in a shooting meet. He, as usual, held bis own.

Place the pitcher baek. That will he change enough.

Charley Hart, the new president of the Southern League, made many friends hero when he visited bis brother Jim, who at that

time managed the Milwaukee Club. I wish him success in his new vocation.

R. W. Moguire, president ot the Milwau­ kee Ball Club in '88 and '89, when the Mil­ waukee Club was a success and paid all its bills promptly, is now treasurer of the Wis­ consin, Kansas and Texas Railway Company, with headquarters at Parsons, Kansas. Mr. Maguire still retains his one-half interest in the athletic park here, and writes his part­ ner, Quin, is delighted with Parsons, but that there are few places better than Milwaukee.

Dahlen has not yet paid the local club the &00 which they sued him for, and which suit the first named lost. It is dollars to douch- nuts the local club will never see it. This is not very honorable in Mr. Dahlen. Ceo. Da vies and Dahlen both gave the Milwaukee Club the ' ;ga(V" in good shape. Some day it may come home to them. WM. E. SMITH.

HOWK'S HONOK.

Copy of tho Letter Not ifyins Him of His Honorary Membership.

The following is a copy of the letter that president Young, of the National League, wrote to Mr George W. Howe, of Cleveland, announcing the election of the latter as an honorary member of the League:

TIIK NATIONAL LEAGUE or PROFESSIONAL BASE BALL CLUBS. OFFICE OF THE StcaETAitY, WASHINGTON, D. C., Nov. 22. Gtor</e II'. //.not, A'«?., Cleveland, 0. My Dear Friend: Dur- i g my long and continuous servico of twenty- two years ns secretary of the National Leagud ani its successor, I can truthfully" aiy that I have never had a uinre pleasant duty to per­ form thnn that which devolves upoa me u.1 this lime. At tho annual meeting of the National League and American Association of Profes­ sional Base Ball Clubs held in Chicago the 17th inst. you were unanimously elected an honorary member of our organization. Every eiugle member felt that in casting his vote to honor you he was honoring himself. You may imag­ ine that strong personal friendship has Ie4 me astray that I am using too strong language. The simple truth is, lam incapable of using language sufficiently strong to properly express the genuine good feeling and unlimited confi­ dence shown towarJ you when the vote wag taken and announced, us well as the feeling of regret that you were DO longer one of us. With rav best und purest wishes for your future heilth, happiness and prosperity, I will cloae by expressing tho wish that in your case history will repeat itself, and some day you will come back. Very sincerely yours,

N. E. YOIRC, Secre'ary.Mr. Ilowe treasures the letter greatly, as

well he may.

LUCKY BROOKLYN.

The Financial Skies Cleared Off Beau­ tiful ly.

NEW YORK, Nov. 28.-The Brooklyn Club has gotten out of its financial ruins neatly and expeditiously. The lirooklyn players have all been notified by Director Abell that cheeks for the full amounts of salaries d\ie them were mailed on the 25th inst. This hapuy turn of aftairs was brought about at a recent conference between Mr. Abell and Mr. Goodwill. The former, it is said, drew a figu­ rative chalk Hue and requested Mr. Good- win as representative of the 40 per ceut. of stock on his side to toe the aforesaid Unc. The .31 per cent, represented by Mr. Abell did not propose to put up a dollar of the club's indebtedness beyond its share. Mr. Abell proposed on thc25th,if the late 1'laycrs' league share was not forthcoming, to person- I'Jiy send to each player a check for 5! per cent, of what is still owing. Then he said the clDh would withdraw from> its present location to go elsewhere to look for a home.

Outside of the club itself 5Lr. Abell is not interested to the extfnt of a dollar in Brook­ lyn base ball. On the contrary, the parties owning the 49 per cent, ot stock are interested in the elevated road which runs to the ground, and that means at least §10,000 of revenue a year. They own the grounds them­ selves, which bring in $7.".00 rent. Hesides, much of the real estate in the vicinity of Kastern Park is owned by the 49 per centers, and the ball park booms prices there con­ siderably. It didn't take the 49 percent, party long to fee that their interests lay in the line of the liquidation of the club's obli­ gations and the money will be forthcoming

TEXASJTIP8.

Dave Orr AVintoring in Dallas News of Players.

DALLAS, Tex., Nov. 20. The base ball sea­ son is over and dead,and the outlook for next season's Texas League is very gloomy, al­ though there are many cranks who will en­ deavor to restore the national game.

Lee Dawkins, the clever little third base- man of last year's Jacksonville, 111., team, in the Illinois-Iowa League, is wintering at his home here. Dawkins would be a very valu­ able man for some fast league, such as the Southern League. He is an excellent hitter and clever base-runner, and his fielding is wonderful.

Henry Fabian, the famous left fielder of the last year's Dallas team, in the Texas League, is working here. Fabian is a good hitter,fast base-runner and his fielding is far above the average.

Dave Orr, the bijr and reliable first base­ man of the last year's famous Dallas League team, is wintering here, and his services would prove very valuable for some fast minor league. He is an excellent hard hitter and his fielding and couching are a feature

Tub Welch, the noted catcher of the Hous­ ton (Texas League) team, passed through here en route to his home in St. Louis, Mo.

8AM12 OLD STORY.

Jack Crooks Says He Will Quit the Diamond.

ST. LOUIS, Mo., Nov. 28. It is about settled that Jack Glasscock will play at short for the lirowus next season, jack Crooks announces emphatically that he will not play Ball again. He says he has secured a position as right of way a<rcnt for a North­ western railroad, and intends to take tip his residence in St. Paul. He has notified Mr. You der Ahe of his intention, and Chris has instructed Manager \Valkins to hunt up a star second baseman to take Crooks' place.

A PIKXPKR _MOVE.

The Way to Revive Interest in the Na­ tional Game.

The statement made by President Vouder­ horst, of tbe Baltimore Club, who is on the Playing Rules Committee, that Ihe League will surely make a change by putting the pi tcher hack, is very satisfactory to the patrons of the sport. It has been manifest for a long while that something was needed to improve the baiting, and thereby revive the interest in the national game, and placing the pitcher further away from the plate is a step in the proper direction. Washington font.

Ohio's Base Ball Ijeagnc.PIQUA, O., Nov. 26. The prospects for a

Western Ohio llnse Hall League are very bright. Lima, Findlay, Troy and I'icjua have agreed to enter. Captain Leopold Kiefer states he will call a meeting for or­ ganization about Dec. 10. By that time it is expected .Sidney, Wapakoiicta, Cclina and Greenville will be iu it.

Who Does This Apply to?From tL« St. Louis Sp.Ttiug News.

Some of the scribes are out for the shift' and will kiil the game to get it.

We know of a few Kit-tern writers who go so far as to hurt the game iu older to spite a few phncrs.

CHADWICKJN LINE.THE "FATHER OF THE GAME" 03

THE SiDE OF PROGRESS.

The Idea ot Placing t&a Pitcher in tnaCentre of tie Diamond Fully

Endorsed By Him.BROOKLYN. Nov. 26. Editor SFORTIKO

LIFE: On rending your ofti<:i;il report of the proceedings at the recent Chicago Conven­ tion in your issue of tlie 26th iiist., I was very much pleased to note the fact that tlie re­ vision of tlie playing code of rules had been placed in the competent bauds of a special committee, composed of Messrs. Brush, Byrncmid Vouderhorst, thereby removing tile important work from the contact of the clnss of obstructionists who bad formed a majority of previous committees magnates, who, for years past, have been content to "leave the rules alone.'* From the new committee, aided hy President Young who is ex offieio member I look for n more perfect code for IS!).'! than the fraternity have ever hud on the statute hooks.

NEED OF RKVrSlOS.We are in the midst of an era in the his­

tory of field sports in America in which our national game of base ball a*'far as its pro­ fessional exemplars are concerned is placed in a rather peculiar position. l : p to 1SS9 professional hall playing, under the rule of the National League, held a h:;nd of trumps in popular favor; but .within the past two or three years not only have costly errors of judgment marred itsbusinefs prospects, hut rival sport attractions have worked' against its previous financial prosperity. During the two years of our recent base hall civil war the interests ot'the g,:ine itself fiiiU'ercd to a considerable extent from the neglect of a proper revision of the playing rules, as called for by the experiences of each yearly campaign. The time has now arrived when this important matter can no longer be neg­ lected; and the position now is. that the com­ mittee on rules never before had so import­ ant a duty to discharge as they have this year in revising the rules, so as to bring about a rehabilitation of the game in public favor.

THE MUX rniN'T.The point to he sought for in revising the

rules of play is, of course, the equali:i>ig tif the. i>/>ii:crt of the farces of attack and defence, these forces being illustrated in the pitching and fielding on the one side, and the batting and the base-running on the other. Wchava had periods in the history of the same when the hatting bus ruled the game to ihe weari­ some extent of scores of a hundred and over in alive-inning contest. Then there was at one time a short period during which the other extreme prevailed, with the equally tiresome result of twenty-four innings bein;; played without a single run being scored. Ot late vears we have been gradually ap­ proaching towards the existing period, in which "cyclone" pitching rules supreme, the result being the dull, uninteresting "pitchers' games," with the accompaniment of really dangerous work for the batsman tw attend to.

POINTS TO UK CONSIDERED.In accomplishing this revisory work, threa

things should be considered in the light of essentials in improving the. game up to tho point of a perfected code of playing rules; and the-e three essentials involve the most at­ tractive features ot'the gametothciutclligrnt class of patrons. The first of these is r/titrp fielding, as displayed in fi.,>c pirk-iijm of hard- hit ground halls; the catching of hat Hn<: balls, ami in swift and accurate th rowing to tfic bust's by the infieldcrs; together with the catching of well-judged fly balls on the run by the out- iichlers. The second is nkillju.1 batf-ntsiuiitg, ns exhibited in quick runs to first base on short hits and on the good judgement, keea perception, ami great activity required iu stealing bases. Lastly comes hfudmnrk in batting, as shown in the placinij of the balls hy short, har.l hit ground balls between th« iniielders; rafe tups of the ball to short out­ field; skilli'ul "bunting" the most difficult ot all the hits, nnd lastly A;/ sarritiec hits.

TIIK HEAL ARTICLE.Just here I want to say a few words about

sacrifice, liittituj and bunting, twovery import­ ant features ot te;;m work at the bat, both of which seem to he greatly misunderstood alike by the fraternity at large and the patrons of the game. The batsman is simply a fool for hi* pains who goes to the hat purposely to make a hit which will insure his being put out, no matter if the out in question shmihl forward a run. Such batting is not charac­ teristic of genuine sacrifice-hitting. Tho point aimed at by-many intelligent batsmen is to make a btiechit; next to that comes the eflort to make that hit in such a way that if it fails to yield a base hit it will at least re- suit in foi'trardi'ng the runner on the base, even at the cost of r.n out. To reach this point of successful sacrifice-hitting the hats- man should invariably face far a right jiflil hit, and he does this by so standing at the hat as to insure his l,«t striking the ball r,t tho right angle to send the ball to right field, for to hit it to third, short or second is to insure a double play.

THE BUNT HIT.As to the "bunt" hit. the utter nonsense

that lias been written ab*at this most difficult hit in batting is reitllylaughable to me. The aim of the batsman in a skillfnl handling of the ash against strategic pitching should be to make a base hit icit/i the. least cfpnuUiuri: ufjihysie.nl strnxjth. Another point to bear- rived at is the forwarding of the base-runner hy his hit. Now he can do this forwarding either by a skillfnl "bunt" at the ball; by a safe tap of tlie ball to short outfield a skill­ fully placed ball or by a home run hit, hut the latter involves the severe ordeal of a 120 vards sprint run. an effort which culls for a half-hour's rest at the hands of the trained sprint-runner in pedestrian races. rl bis im­ portant point, of economizing strength is not thought of in the matter of judging she bats- man'ssVill; especially in view of the lael that home runs, from balls in on the fly over thti heads of the ontliehlers, are not only chance hits from weak pitching, but cost thesacrilice of all of the attractive points of play in sharp fielding and skillfnl stealing ot bases.

PUT THE PITCHF.R IN THE CENTRIC.But I did not intend writing a chapter on

the subject when 1 began this article, but only to call attention to the fact that the time is ripe for reform in the matter of put­ ting a stop to the further control of the game by the dangerous "cyclone" pitchers of the 1 eriod, and to give greater facilities for skill- lul place hitting hy the batsman by properly equalizing the forces of attack and defence. This consummation can best he readied, I think, by simply placing the pitcher in the centre of the diamond and by 'making the calling of strikes and balls equal, four caclu

HKXKY CHAWVICK.

I,OVEIA* IN BROOKIiY\.

The Piayers All Settled With in Full.

The members of the Brooklyn base bail team were played o(V in lull last Saturday. Burns, Con l>ailey, Griffin, Joyce, O'ririen and Foutz called on Paymaster Kbbets at Eastern 1'ark during the afternoon und got their little envelopes. Tom Haiiy got his Monday und Ward came in-from Say villa Tuesday to draw what was coming to him Checks were mailed to Haddock, Kennedy, Stein, Brouthers, Cvrcoruu and Kinbiow.