Clipping:Team errors abolished; scoring sacrifice hits; stolen bases; error column
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| Date | Wednesday, November 28, 1888 |
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| Text | [reporting on the joint rules committee meeting 11/19/1888]The unaccepted chance rule was abolished, and it was also agreed to put the stolen bases in the summary, replacing it in the tabulated score with a sacrifice hit column. Such hits were to be scored for any kind of a hit ball, other than a safe hit, that moved a player up one or more bases, no matter if an error was made by a fielder on the hit. A fly out that moves a player up a base, counts for a sacrifice and a stolen base as well. The error column was done away with altogether... In the morning, however, when the results were given to the newspaper men, there was a general howl over the elimination of the error column, and while the League was in session, members of the Scorers' Association held a meeting and sent in the following communication, signed by a score of singers, protesting against the proposed elimination of the error column from the tabulated score... … This protest had considerable weight and when the consideration of the rules was reached in the League meeting it was deemed best to reconsider the report. Accordingly the joint committee met again on Tuesday. Messrs. Byrne, Rogers, Day and [Walter] Spalding being present, and in a few moments the required change was made, the committee unanimously voting to restore the error column to its original place in the tabulated score.... and to place stolen bases in the summary. The Sporting Life November 28, 1888 [from George Stackhouse's column] [discussing the brief elimination of the error column] This absurd rule was brought about in rather a peculiar way. Most of the scorers, especially the local delegates, had left the room when this error fraud was brought up. A few scorers were in the room writing their “copy” for the morning papers instead of listening to the suggestions offered. The result was that two or three nincompoops were enabled to run this ridiculous rule through before its real significance was recognized. I was very much surprised to learn the next day that my good brothers Brunell and Mulford had assisted in having the errors thrown out. I was quite sure, however, they have seen the error of their ways by this time and have repented. They are generally quite sensible in base ball matters. The gentlemen were probably half asleep or they never would have allowed such a ridiculous thing to be carried out. It is all very well to encourage team work. It is a most commendable thing to do. It can be done, however, in a more sensible way than by taking out the base hit and error columns. The public at large that so nobly supports base ball look upon these two features with special interest in the reports of base ball games. By throwing them out you deprive the public of one of its pleasures. Neither can base ball men afford to antagonize the supporters of our great game. One verdant Western journalist, trying to excuse his action in voting for this change, remarked that the public had to be educated. Any scorer who imagines for an instant that he can foo the public on base ball had better get out of the business. The sport is watched too closely at present to allow of any educational schemes. The Sporting Life November 28, 1888 [from Ren Mulford's column] When the possibility of such a thing [eliminating the error column] was broached at the conference by both Col. Rogers and Mr. Byrne and endorsed by Mr. Schmelz, there were not a dozen words spoken against the proposition by visiting newspaper men, but when the morning dawned a protest as long as a man[s leg was drawn up and loaded into a howitzer, which was fired directly at Mr. John B. Day—a member of the committee who, when the new rule was passed, was sleeping the sleep of the tired, for he had made an early escape. The players would hail such an innovation with delight, and looking upon the reform in the light of one that would materially decrease record playing and give courage to the far too many men who are foolishly afraid of errors, and instill in them a spirit heretofore foreign to their natures. I said that if such a radical departure could be successfully made it might be a good thing for the game. Frank Brunell followed in the same strain. So did Will Rankin. It would have been inconsistent for us to sign the protest that was presented to the committee. I had not idea that the error would be abolished. It was restored, however, and the first grounder that is fumbled in '89 will be charged up “as usual.” The Sporting Life November 28, 1888 |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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