Show f fj- fj SPORT JO S- S K i Ir TAL TA ER ERIn n Ju What ot ol By Lon I THE NEW APPLE RULES Were We're a long long way ivay west of the big show but w we could almost hear the smack of the willow against horsehide today as the UlC major leagues started their 1931 baseball cam cain Alt All of which brings a flock of questions to our minds Can the tIle Athletics make it three world championships in arow a n I row Or will the great Walter Valter Johnson kick through with witha I a pennant aggregation And how will Babe Ruths Ruth's legs hold lold un up 1 Those are a few ever popular pop pop- ular questions but theres there's a n couple of new ones of unusual interest this year car What will willbe be th tIle the effect of the new ball with raised stitches and the thicker looser cover coer And what will the effect of or the new sacrifice rule be on the swatting averages a The National league you know has adopted d the ball ban with the raised stitches hes and the thicker looser cover er The American circuit will use the same ball as last year except that I the thc stitches are raised The rite baseball experts believe that I the new apple will prove proe a big aid to pitchers There has been much ar- ar I Did You Know That That That- There arc six sets of oC brothers broth broth- ers no less in the major 0 leagues three new sets arc I coming up this year the I Walker Valker brothers are to stick sUck 0 with Detroit though Bucky BuckyS I S Harris HarTis doesn't think the they arc are I 0 quite ready for the main show I another rookie is b Bob Johnson John John- 0 son who will be kept as an outS outfield outfield out out- S field reserve with the As A's he heIs Is a 3 brother of oC Ro Roy Johnson of I 0 0 the Tigers another set is the 0 Jim and Jerry 0 with the Red Sox though Jerry may be sin given n a years year's ears ear's schooling I before breaking in then 0 there arc the Waiters Paul and Lloyd LIard with the pirates tho the thoS S 0 pitching for the Rick catching catching- for forthe 0 the Drowns Browns the Sewells arc aro 0 separated this year Joe going I 0 to the Yankees while Luke re reIns reins re- re 0 ins with the Indians I 0 both pro and con however Under the new sa sacrifice rule batters batters batters bat bat- will be credited with a sacrifice only when they bunt a ball which enables a runner to advance a base Previously batters were credited with witha a sacrifice when they hit hita a fly which enabled runners to advance a base Theres There's no d doubt f hat the new newball newball ball ban and ud sacrifice will lessen batting averages But how bow much Can anyone anyone any any- one oni possibly equal the percentage e of Bill Terry of or New York with the new onion as a mark Only time will tell Meanwhile we can expect a a. couple of humdinger title chases |