Clipping:Playing for a release

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19C Clippings
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Date Saturday, January 4, 1879
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Another thing which characterized the professional season of 1878 was the system of releasing players, which was so grossly abused. It was tantamount to regular revolving. We tell you, gentlemen of the professional club directors and stockholders, that just so long as you allow the rule of engaging players during an existing season to prevail, just so long will you find it costly to retain a good nine in the positions they first contracted for early in the season. For instance, the A club engages a first rate pitcher and catcher in April, and secure a good field to support them. In June the B club, finding that the A nine is stronger, set to work to induce A plyers to “get a release” and then to join them, offering tempting baits for secession. As the rule admits of release and new engagements, of course it does not take long for the tempted players to work things to suit them so as to obtain the required release; and thus is the A nine broken up early in the season, because the B nine was not strong enough to cope with the C or D nine. Engagements for players should be made for the entire season, and no player should be allowed to engage himself to another club until the close of the season. There are certain exceptions to this rule, as in everything else; but, while the present system prevails, you cannot retain a nine in position except at a heavy pecuniary outlay in extra salaries. New York Clipper January 4, 1879

objections to rules that might lengthen the game; a proposal for flat bats

[from the Providence correspondent] The new rule regarding foul bounds and the idea of Harry Wright’s of introducing flattened bats do not meet with much favor, simply from the fact that the games will be prolonged to such an extent as to become decidedly tedious, and thus public interest begin to wane. Some will be found who will advocate it strongly because they desire to see more batting, and, consequently, more work done in the out-field. Boston Herald January 10, 1879

Source New York Clipper
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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