Clipping:The League revokes the new pitching delivery rules
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| Date | Wednesday, June 17, 1885 |
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| Text | Change seems to be the order of the day, and in accordance the new League pitching rule has gone the way of all flesh. On Saturday, June 5, President Soden and Directors Billings and Conant, of the Boston Association, voluntarily sought an interview with Director Allen, of the Providence Club, and the former having admitted that his amendment to the pitching rule had proven a failure in not having accomplished the increased batting and scoring sought for, and in materially injured the Boston Club, requested him to notify President Young that he desired to have the pitching rules of 1884 restored. Mr. Allen, after listening to their suggestions, coupled with those of Mr. Stevens, of the Boston Herald, decided to communicate with President Young by telegraph, and did so at six o'clock in the evening before starting for Providence. He was governed in this action by sympathy with the Boston Club, which found itself in a most discouraging condition in being deprived of the services of Hornung and both pitchers showing up poorly under the new style of delivery, and because he believed that it was for the best interest of the game that the rule should be restored, as many of the best pitchers have been seriously handicapped, and the players generally, as well as the public, seem to be in favor of a return to the over-hand style. President Young, upon receipt of the telegram from the Boston and Providence clubs, at once issued an order to his staff of umpires to change rule 27 so as to conform to the rule of last year. The order took effect June 9. Appended is a letter from Mr. Young which explains matters fully: Washington, June 8, 1885.--Editor Sporting Life:--At the special League meeting held in New York, April 18, five clubs declared in favor of changing rule 27 of the playing rules to conform to the rule of 1884. After a full and free discussion it was finally unanimously agreed that the amended rule should be given one month's trial, and if at the expiration of that time it was found to be working a positive injury to any one club, the change should be made. I have this day received communications from two League clubs stating that the amended rule is working a positive injury to their respective clubs. In view of this information and the above agreement, I will instruct League umpires accordingly. Yours truly, N.E. Young, Secretary. The Sporting Life June 17, 1885 The public does not like the return of the League to the old pitching. No better games have been seen than those played under the new rule. They were full of life and dash; now they will degenerate again into those monotonous and tiresome strike-out-three-or-four-hits-to-a-game contests. The change is to be regretted. The Sporting Life June 17, 1885 [from an interview of Harry Wright] ...as far as the interests and the enjoyment of base ball were concerned the restrictive pitching rule was preferable. There was prettier pitching and more real science than before, as a pitcher could not depend upon speed merely. The change will result in the knocking out of the catchers, and the club without a good supply will be handicapped. There will be more broken fingers and bruised hands, more passed balls and wild pitches, and the game will not be as steady or as interesting. There will not be that chance for headwork and variation in the pitcher's delivery; there will be less batting, and, therefore, more strike-outs, fewer men on bases, fewer chances for brilliant plays and less base-running. I am of the opinion that a change will be made next season by which the pitcher will be compelled to keep the right foot on the ground. The Sporting Life June 17, 1885 The return to the League rule of pitching of 1884 has proved costly to the club catchers, while it is not apparent that it has been of any advantage to any club. The change made in introducing the new rule was designed to relieve the catchers and to add to the batting by lessening the pace of the pitching. That its repeal was a mistake is becoming daily more apparent. The Sporting Life July 15, 1885 |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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