Clipping:High overhand pitching delivery; helping the offense
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| Date | Sunday, March 30, 1884 |
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| Text | [from an interview of Tim Keefe] “What do you think of the new six-ball rule adopted by the league?” “It will undeniably help the batter, and at the same time tell upon the pitcher. The higher the ball is thrown, the harder it is upon the arm. No pitcher can stand the strain, and the result will be that the arm must be kept down. Whitney, Radbourn and Galvin kept their arms up as high as they cared to last season, which is the best reason in the world for the fact that they won't throw any higher this season. They would not be able to stand the strain if they ever tried it. Then a high thrown ball is not so deceptive nor so hard to hit as a ball delivered from below the shoulder. The pitcher delivering the ball high above his shoulder will probably deliver it straight, as the curve entails too much of a strain upon the arm. In the main, therefore, this rule will gratify the public, for it will help batting and make the game more popular. The people have been crying for some time for legislation to aid the batter, and this rule is the result. It will undoubtedly make the pitcher's position harder than ever to fill, and old, cool and experienced hands will be found more effective and desirable than was the case last season.” “Have you gave any thought to the suggestion of placing the pitcher's position two yards farther back?” “Such a rule, if adopted, would destroy all the science there is in pitching. It will destroy the curve, and at once enable any one to fill the position, for the essential requirement would then be surely to be able to deliver a swift, straight ball. Even at the present distance between the pitcher's box and the plate, the strain upon the pitcher is much greater than any one would imagine. No curve pitcher could stand such an innovation. Besides, it is a sufficiently difficult task today for a catcher to throw a runner out at second, without adding a greater handicap to his work.” “Do you consider the rule of the league removing all restrictions from the delivery of the pitcher advisable?” “Indeed, I do, as the game is played today. It will make no difference in any of the league pitchers, and, as far as our association is concerned, the rule is already a dead letter. Why, last season McGinnis, Mullane and Mountain, the pitchers of the St. Louis and Columbus clubs, elevated their arms far above the lawful heights, and no umpire ever thought of enforcing the rule, and refused so to do when appealed to. … I would prefer to see the rule keeping the arm down strictly enforced, for it would give the batter a better chance. |
| Source | Boston Herald |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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