Clipping:Proposed rules amendments; wide balls, as in cricket
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| Date | Sunday, November 8, 1863 |
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| Text | ...In the first place, it is proposed to change the working of the rules that refers to pitching, so as to make the definition of a balk clear to the plainest understanding. It is also proposed that the same rule shall include the definition of a jerk, and we think it about time something is inserted in the rule in question whereby we might distinctly know what constitutes a jerk; for, if we mistake not, jerking the ball without touching the side of the body, has lately come into vogue to a very great extent. Another thing required in the way of an amendment, is, the re-wording of those rules that refer to running the bases, so as to make every player touch all the bases in making his runs. The bad habit of the general class of batsmen have got into of not standing on the line of the home bases when about to strike, requires to be remedied by the enforcement of some penalty, a good one proposed being that of calling all balls fair that touch the ground perpendicularly from the bat, when the striker has not one foot on the line of his base. By standing back of the base, every poor hit he makes, whereby the ball goes from the bat perpendicularly to the ground, saves him from being out at first base–as he would be otherwise likely to be, owing to the ball being called foul. But, if the rule is changed as above suggests, a hit of the kind will put him out, unless he stands fairly on the line of the base. Is it also proposed to change the wording of Rule 37, so as to admit of an umpire considering balls struck at for the purpose of hastening the close of an inning as not fair strikes. The necessity of this change was made apparent in the last innings of the match between the Hoboken and New York clubs, played Oct. 23. Rule 16 might also be improved by the insertion of words which would require the player returning to his base on a foul ball, to remain on the base until the ball was settled in the hands of the pitcher. This is practically agreed out how; but it should be plainly laid down as the actual rule. Many of the best players in the community are of the opinion that changing outs from bound-catches to fly-balls only would greatly improve the fielding department of the game. We are of the opinion that it would not; but, nevertheless, we should like to see the rule in force for one season, in order to see how it would work. The few games that have been played have afforded no criterion as to whether the fly-game would be an improvement or not, and, therefore, we should like to see it adopted for next season. An effort to have the fly-game adopted at the next Convention will undoubtedly be made, and the friends of both styles of play would do well to muster in force on the occasion. There is one alteration in the rules of the game that is likely to be proposed, which merits particular consideration at the hands of the Committee on Rules, and that is, a proposed amendment of Rule 5, by which every ball pitched over the head of the striker, or outside the line of the home base, shall be called a wide ball, and shall count against the side on the filed the same as runs made from the bat. This is an important change, and one, we think that the present wild pitching in vogue fully calls for. It is about time that the style of pitching which aims to pitch the ball at the striker, and anywhere but where he can hit is, was done away with, and that fair balls were pitched, as in the early period the game. There are so many would-be Creightons in the various clubs, and pitchers generally appear to be so very anxious to excel more in speed than anything else, that true and legitimate pitching is something rarely to be seen. What should be the first desideratum in pitching, vis., accuracy of aim in delivery, is the last thing thought of; the only idea entertained being the one which makes speed alone the criterion of excellence. The proposed rule in reference to wide balls would undoubtedly lessen wild pitching, if it did not stop it altogether, and we hope to see it adopted at the next Convention. New York Sunday Mercury November 8, 1863 The Committee on Rules and Regulations have now under consideration a host of suggestions in regard to the wording of this and that rule, and the introduction of new ones, which they will bring to the notice of the convention embodied in their regular report. The most important improvement suggested is that of the introduction of wide balls, as in cricket, with a view to do away with the wild pitching in vogue. New York Clipper November 28, 1863 |
| Source | New York Sunday Mercury |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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