Show The TIle Dangerous Spike i. i U Used sed in Baseball BY L. L J. J F. F ROONEY The equipment used by baseball players play play- ers cis has undergone changes from time to time which havo o not kept pace with the changes in the rules of ot the game There is of CO course couro e a good reason for this in the fact that experiments necessary sary ar to uri arrive at sound results arc are expensive cx ex pc pensive c lon out drawn and most frequently frequently fre fre- i Qu prove pro a source of loss instead of gain ain to tho the investigator lator whereas the tho adoption of n a simple rule may benefit 5 tho the game wonderfully r A man may be a fine fino no player and vet yet have ha little ori originality even in in rt relation laHon to those objects which he must continually contin contin- t l nally use and ind which ho feels should beI be bo I improved or done done- away 3 with altogether rt t. t Bresnahan of New York lork must be he credited cred credo with the tho latest addition to baseball C- C I paraphernalia It took independence S and foresight to lead tho way and wear his shin in and knee guard While this appliance appliance ap ape ap- ap interferes slightly with tho the speed of tho catcher in his pursuit of foul flies it adds to the catchers catcher's con con- in every other r emergency ency and thereby really results on the whole in in quickening and strengthening the thc position tion back baek of the plate The field for the thu inventive in mind will wm always bo be oj pen en as lon long as as the gamer game is is played but it should be borne in mind that as the patent office phrase goes the pro prospective e inventor should I be bo ono one skilled in the tho art of baseball playing play play- in lag ing before he can hope to fill some Ion long felt want SIt It is not necess-iry necess to go into ancient history in in order to explain the chan changes that havo taken place from the tho da daj of tho the flims flimsy canvas and leather shoe without without with with- out an any spike or plato plate to this of 1008 lOOS when the high class player is equipped with a low light lightweight lightweight weight shoe made of the tho finest strongest strong strong- est imported leather fitted with hand haud handmade handmade made mado H spikes spikes fi five eighths of an inch long Icing with knifelike ed edges es and angles and co constituting tho most dangerous element clement of tho the national game of the period When the spikes or points of these plates become dulled the fib file filo is is frequently frequently fre free brought into use by bj the thc player and the original dan danger or increased b by carelessness or intention Player after player is injured often injured often several in one ono game Many Ian a valuable man sits on the bench or remains at home for w eks and sometimes months at a time as a result of spiking bees Talk lalk about unproductive capital What about tho the investment investment in in- vestment tied hed up un in this wa way all aU over o tho country That's tho the professional I sido side of it How do the thc reckless dashing young younA college o players and fast amateurs fare I We Well the they simply slaughter lau each I other at times Through a fierce desire re to win WiD win at an any cost they take chances I that the professional can cant can't t afford to take or knows mows too much to take You ask I I what hat is is to bo be dono dona about it Let public opinion let the players themselves force the necessary legislation through the bi big leagues ues Can a practical comparatively eh sale safe spike be designed esi cd 9 I answer most emphatically yes Experiments which have hR been conducted for th the past six six mouths months by the writer havo ha demonstrated demonstrated demon demon- that something much safer than the present design is quite possible I will go so far as to say sar that at least 75 per cent of the dan danger er arising from the use of today's spikes can be bo eliminated with little or no loss of the runners runners runner's run run- ners ner's speed or surefootedness Dan Danger er will always s lurk to some somo ex cx- tent teut in these steel projections but it is neither good sense nor or good management manage manage- ment and moreover it reflects but little credit on tho the leaders of the sport to sit idle and take for granted anted that nothing more can n be accomplished in the direction tion tiou of safet safety Do you want to see more base sliding faster foot work in in ever every department of the game gamel Do you want cleaner sport on tho the diamond diamonds t Then urge with persistency persistency per per- er and enthusiasm that this departure de de- de be made and be assured in advance ad vance vanco that many thinking and influential influential people are with yon you and will wiB welcome wel come the passing of this most notable crudity of tho the game Jame Let no one oue hoodwink hoodwink hood hood- wink you by preaching the doctrine it cant can't be done In the bloody Roman arena tho the sword gave savo way to the cestus I in the gladiatorial contests Let the modern ball player profit by the exam exam- pIe Give Ghe the umpire authority to examine a shoe when he cuts an opponent nent neat and if hi his spikes arc are not of the adopted standard and in proper order or or- der let him be fined or punished in some other wa way as are offenders against an any other of the rules roJos Tho presence of the shutter tho the stretcher and tho the am am- as necessary concomitants of the great reat clean national sport should be cut out |