Clipping:Chadwick on the three strike rule and moving the pitcher back

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Date Wednesday, August 29, 1888
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[from Chadwick's column][following a discussion of reduced offense under the three-strike rule] The question to be considered, in providing a remedy, is, what would be the best plan to pursue—readopt the four-strike rule, or place the pitcher's box further back? These are the only practical methods likely to afford the batsman any relief, and of the two I favor the adoption of the rule which would place the pitcher further from the home base than he now stands. I would like to see the four-strike rule readopted, but for one thing, and that is the tendency of batsmen to wait for called balls under that rule. In placing the pitchers' box further back I favor the plan of putting it in the centre of the diamond, which would make the front line of the pitcher's box distant about sixty feet from the home base. This would give the batsman a better chance to judge the ball than he now has, and the speed of the ball would not be so intimidating as it now is. It would make the pitcher, too, a better watcher of bases than is now possible, and give him a greater chance to throw successfully to the bases. I see nothing against such a rule and everything to favor it. It would certainly help the catcher and enable him to throw to bases better. In fact it would lead to livelier batting and to more work in the field, especially in the outfield. Now is the proper time to discuss this matter while the examples are presented to us daily for consideration.

Source Sporting Life
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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