Clipping:Experimenting with pitching rules
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| Date | Sunday, September 15, 1878 |
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| Text | [Boston vs. Indianapolis 9/14/1878] In accordance with arrangements of managers Clapp and Wright the present rules regulating the pitcher were laid aside and the game was played under the following conditions: Every ball pitched was to count either a strike or a ball, and six unfair balls delivered entitled the batsman to a base on balls. As the rule regarding this sort of pitching is contemplated for next season, it was an experimental game, and the rule in today's game worked admirably. This change compels balls to be delivered over the plate. Boston Herald September 15, 1878 [Boston vs. Chicago 9/17/1878] The champions and the Chicagos played a game today to test the proposed scheme of putting the pitcher six feet farther back than now. The result was very free hitting on both sides, but Bond appeared to get the worst of it as compared with Larkin. The general expression of opinion was that the scheme would not work satisfactorily, because it lengthened the game too much. Boston Herald September 18, 1878 [Providence vs. Boston 10/26/1878] The game yesterday was, by mutual agreement, played according to the proposed new rule, viz., to have every ball pitched called either a “strike” or “called” ball, doing away with the “fair” ball, allowing the pitcher six “called” balls before giving the batsman his base, and all batted balls must be taken on the fly to ensure an out. Boston Herald October 27, 1878 [Boston vs. Providence 11/1/1878] The game was played under the proposed six-ball pitching and fly-catch regulations,... Boston Herald November 2, 1878 experimenting with the number of balls and strikes; calling every pitch; moving the pitcher back; an attempt to shorten the game [Boston vs. Indianapolis 9/14/1878] ...a somewhat novel experiment was tried, viz: calling every ball pitched either a ball or a strike, and sending a man to his base at the sixth ball, instead of the ninth as by the old rule. Harry Wright thinks that he has discovered that lovers of the game want to see more runs and harder batting than the scores average now, and thinks that this would have the desired effect, as the pitcher would not have the opportunity to practice strategy on the batter in order to make his strike out. It if doubtful if the scheme is adopted, however. Indianapolis Journal September 16, 1878 To-day and to-morrow the Bostons and Chicagos will play exhibition games at White Stocking Park, at which some changes will be made in the play. In to-day’s game, instead of the usual nine balls, there will be but six pitched, every delivery being counted a “ball” or “strike.” The batter will have but three “strikes” instead of the practically four, as now, by dropping the calling of the fair ball. In this way six balls will give a man his base and three “strikes,” without the customary warning, will put him out. The umpire is to count the balls out loud, “one,” “two,” “three,” etc., up to six. In Tuesday’s game the pitcher’s position will be moved back six feet, and the batter will be allowed to stand six inches nearer the plate. There are experiments with a view to shortening the game and at the same time give the batter a fair chance. Chicago Inter-Ocean September 16, 1878 The Chicagos and Bostons played an exhibition game of ball yesterday afternoon... It was thought that the result would be to shorten the game, but yesterday’s exhibition would hardly warrant such a conclusion. It is extremely doubtful if it ever shortens the time much, for the reason that the batters do more work, the fielders do more work, and as a consequence a larger number of errors and runs are made, and the game kept up to its usual length. The reason that there will be more batting under this plan is obvious. The batter, having no warning, dos not know when a strike is to be called on him, and will make greater efforts to hit the ball. Of course more than the usual hits will be made, as was the case yesterday to a marked degree. The only virtue in the plan seems to be that it will tend to enliven the game and not give the men a chance to grow drowsy by waiting so long for a ball to handle. On the other hand it has serious objections. It will tend to make the pitcher a machine. He must pitch more for the batter, and the natural consequence will be that having to pitch at least half good balls he will cease to attempt to worry the batsman by curves and wide or high balls, and pitch for him to strike it. If the scheme should go into effect the “head work” of the pitcher would pretty nearly be done away with. It s doubtful whether or not the system will come into vogue. Chicago Inter-Ocean September 17, 1878 The Chicago and Boston Base Ball Clubs played another exhibition game yesterday, at which the Whites won by a score of 18 to 10. As announced, the pitcher’s stand was moved back six feet, so as to weaken its effectiveness and favor the batter. The result was that an old-fashioned game was played that reminded the spectator of the times when the score ran up into three figures. The batting was terrific. The longer distance necessary to deliver the ball not only weakened its force but gave the batter a better chance to determine its direction and make a safe hit. The scheme is not a good one, at least without some modifications. It lengthens the game, and so much pounding of the ball becomes monotonous. Possibly combined with the plan of the day before, of delivering only six balls instead of nine it might work better, but not with the old number. Chicago Inter-Ocean September 18, 1878 ...in a game played at Chicago Sept. 16, between the Boston and Chicago nines, there were, instead of the usual nine balls, but six pitched, every delivery being counted a “ball” or “strike,” the batter having but three “strikes” instead of practically four, as now, by dropping the calling of the fair-ball. In this way six balls gave a man his base, and three “strikes,” without the customary warning, put him out. The umpire had to count the balls out loudly “one,” “two,” three,” etc., up to six. This change is not of the least practical advantage. Its only effect is to give the pitcher a greater license in sending in unfair balls than the batsman is allowed in striking at fair balls, by the rule of six to three, instead of, as now, by nine to four. If it be deemed an advantage to increase the batting range, instead of seeking to do so by using a livelier ball do it by giving the batsman the same license to strike at fair balls that the pitcher is allowed in sending in unfair balls. In other words, adopt the rule advocated by The Clipper some years ago, which limits the pitcher’s delivery to six unfair balls by calling every second ball a ball, instead of, as now, every third; and allow the striker to strike at every second fair ball, instead of, as now, every ball. By this means the batsman would have a better chance for base-hits, and livelier hitting would necessarily follow. New York Clipper September 28, 1878 |
| Source | Boston Herald |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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