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Show NEW RULES TO CURB BQXMEN ONTRIAL Outcome of 1920 Season to Demonstrate if Regulations Will Hamper Pitchers The New Pitching Code. Here are the main things the pitcher pitch-er cannot do under the 1920 amendments amend-ments to the rules. Rub tho ball on the soil or on his uniform to roughen it. Discolor the ball with licorice or any foreign substance. Roughen the surface of the ball with sand or emery paper. Bounce the ball to another player in order that its surface may bo roughened. ' Pitch a ball that has been "doctored" "doc-tored" by another player under penalty pen-alty of arbietrary suspension for ten days. Drop tho ball in the act of delivering deliv-ering it tu the batter, which now constitutes a balk in both major leagues. Expectorate on th ball. (This does noe -anply to pitchers nominated to use the spitball this year). By JACK VEIOCK. International Sporting News Editor NEW YORK, May 7 "The pitching staff constitutes at least 60 per cent of the strength of a ball club!" The speaker was-John McGraw, who has always shown a strong preference for the "old army game" plenty of lusty slugging is significant It proves thaht although McGraw I ha ever considered consistent and timely batting one of the greatest factors fac-tors in the molding of a winning team.1 he has not failed to appreciate the great defensive advanlave of a strong staff of twirlers. It may be said of the average well-balanced well-balanced ball club that it is as strong as its pitchers. A majority of students of baseball agree to this, and because i of the Jinnlwaic9fpi,U:hing-J.he-ncw cddeunder Avmch" t M' hurlers started to work this season and the styles of modern pitching is a timely topic for discussion. What the pitchers cannot do under the amendments to the pitching rules this year makes interesting food for the studious fan. In the accompanying accompany-ing table we have set forth the new amendments briefly and without comment, com-ment, for the results of their enforcement enforce-ment can only be conjectured until the pitchers have worked under them for at least one season. The purpose of the amendments to the pitching rules is to curb the slab-men slab-men who have always held tho upper hand; to put an end to the use of freaks and to increase batting. Thati the purpose will succeed seems certain, cer-tain, but no one can say to what extent, ex-tent, for the pitcher, as a -rule, is a wily fellow. "Give me the pitchers and I'll finish up there with the best of them!" Managers in both majors and minors min-ors have made this statement to club owners for years, for a staff of good pitchers is the greatest asset a ball club can have. Many mediocre teams have won laurels laur-els through the medium of crack pitching pitch-ing staffs. The Chicago White Sox of 1906, famous as "the hitless wonders" were able to win a world's series chamionship because of the sterling work of E. Walsh, Nick Altrock, Doc White and Soldier Boy Owens i Tho sensational Boston Braves of 1914 came from last place in July and eventually captured the world's title, thanks to the excellerit slab work of Rudolph. Tyler and James. Alexander pitchced the Phillies into their first National League pennant in 1915 and the following year the work of Brooklyn's Brook-lyn's pitchers enabled tho Dodgers to win the penant. Eddie CIcotte, star heaver of the White Sox, hurled the Chicago team to two American League championships In 1917 and 1919, with tho able assistance assist-ance of two or three teammates who managed to throw just enough victories victor-ies into the balance to put Chicago across. But now the pitchers aro curbed. Now there is a greater premium on batting perhaps. Today the winning pltchcer must acquire fame through natural channels and in his particular division of tho national game a good head, a good curve ball and control mean more than ever before. In looking at the pitchers of the present day, one sometimes wonders just how much they differ from the pltchors of tho past. Modern pitchers are unquestionably more thoroughly steeped in baseball knowledge than tho members of their fraternity wero Bome twenty or thirty years ago, but, after all, the styles they use are not much different with tho exception of the freaks that are now taboo, and even the freaks are not all modern tricks of the pitcher's are, though some of tho present-day hurlers have Improved upon them. (To Be Continued) oo |