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TIIE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1907. SPORTING PAGE SPORTING MILL GRINDS ON—RESULT IS MOSTLY CHAFF NOT NEWS, BUT VIEWS By PERCY H. WHITING. “Three balls, take your base.” Wouldn’t it tickle your tympanum to hear an umpire get that off nest season f , And yet it is a reasonable possibility. They are talking about cutting down the number of balls which a pitcher is al lowed to perpetrate from four to three. VANDY MAY PLAYST. L.U. If Commodores Don’t Oet a Game in East, Will Take Them On. THIS BOY RIDES. This is revolutionary, all right. As long ns this generation of fans can rentember a batter ha* taken his base' on four balls. The average fan would nbt think any more of a change in the number of balls allowed than he would in the number of bases. But ih<f mighty moguls, up around tho source of the great white light, are talking it. The need for the change came when the foul strike rule wns adopted. We forget for the moment just why it was put into effect, but certainly it was not for tho purpose of cutting down batting averages. But it did knock them, good nnd plenty. The foul strike rule had its good effects, and was a desir able piece of legislation. It cast n gloom over those batters who used to worry the pitchers by fouling off a dozen or so balls be fore ever trying to hit, and it shortened games. The foul strike rule, tho, knocked batting averages galley west (wherever that may be). The rule tinkers probably lived in the hope that the batters would eventually improve enough to even things up, and may be they did improve some, but the pitchers have improved even faster. The result has been that bntting has slumped. This year two men in the major leagues batted .350. • They were the .two phenomenons—Ty Cobb and linns Wagner. • , Something MUST be done to improve batting. It is not a question of what the batters want, nor the pitch ers, nor the rule-makers. It all hinges on what the fans want and they want batting. The averago fan is slightly inclined—though maybe he does not suspect it—to believe whnt is told him. They have been tell ing him for years that tho games with little batting are the scien tific games. And he prides himself on liking to see the thing well done. So when he comes away from one of these “scientific” games he says, “Great game today. Zeller let ’em down with two hits and we got three off Wilhelm.” But the next day he doesn’t go. back. And he keeps right on not goirtg back until ho reads in the papers: “Ycsterdny’s game was a slugfest proper. The clatter of base hits could be heard thirteen city blocks nnd both tenms ran themselves into a coma from exhaustion,” or bosh to that effect. Then he goes out to see the next game, just on tho hope that ■ it will be something lie likes. A gamo full of hits and runs is like a comic opera. It isn’t art and it isn’t elovating, nnd we’re a bit ashamed that we like it better than Shakespeare, but wo do, and we keep on going to see that kind. The hitless games arc the “hi’ art,” tho tragedies, tho prob lem plays of baseball. * But well lot the other fellows go to soe ’em. Cutting down tho number of “wido uns” a pitcher is al lowed will improve batting noticeably. The twirlers will have to “put ’em over the pan,” and if they don’t tho batter can get away to first just one ball sooner than he has in the past. The passage of the rule will mean more bases on balls and more hits. Also it will mean more men on bases, more runs, more ! excitement and more fun. The baseball historians tell us that tho rules used to allow the batter seven balls. It wns n desirnble change to reduce the number to four. Maybe it would be still more desirnble to cut it to three. Wo don’t protend to say, but it wouldn’t hurt our feel ings a bit if they gave it a try. St. Louis, Dec. 19.—St. Louis Uni versity may get a game with Vander bilt next fall. St. Louis has wanted to take on the Nashville eleven for a couple of sea sons, but has been unable to get a game booked. In a letter Coach Dan McQugln or the Vanderbilt eleven states that he would like to play Cochem's team next fall, and while he had nothing to do In arranging the schedule, he would talk to the board of the NaahvUle school on the matter. Vanderbilt has not completed a schedule for next year os yet, and much depends on the outcome of arrange ments for an Eastern game. It that falls thru St. Louis might get a chance. In his letter McQugln says: "Vanderbilt now has a big game with the North, probably one with the East and a very hard one for Thanksgiving lo Sewanec, and this Is about all that can be done well In one season. It will not be long, In my Judgment, how ever, before Vanderbilt and St. Louie will play, tho I don’t know for sure if It will be arranged this year. But I think, as far as Vanderbilt Is con cerned, It will depend upon the out come of negotiations at present In the East." Catcher Heydon May Be With Sox Chicago, Dec. 19.—Catcher Edward Heydon, who' last season null the Washington American League Club, saying he would play there no more, Is expected to be a member of the Chica go White Sox In 1908. Owner Charles Comlskey, of the Chicago team. Is en deavoring to make a deal for Heydon, and the Indications are that he will be successful. JOCKEY ENGLANDER. He Is one of the best of the pig skin brigade these days. “AIN’T THIS JUST_AWFULf Tad Jones Has Synovitis of the Sacroiliac Syn- chrondrosis. New York, Dec. 19.—Tad Jones, Yale’s quarterback, Is getting along nicely In St. Vincent* Hospital, where he ha* been for two week* undergoing treatment for synovitl* of the sacroiliac synchondrosis. To get nearer to the layman’* under standing, t^o ailment U an Inflamma* tlon In the neighborhood of the base of the spine, a trouble in the Joint, caused 1 robably by a sprain. Stone Mountain Plays Y. M. C. A. The V. M. q. A. basket ball team and the Stone' Mountain aggregation clash Thurday night In the Y. M. C. A. gymnasium. edited BY I i P. H. WHITINd BILL SMITH SCHEDULES EXHIBITION CONTESTS Bill Smith has scheduled the follow ing games for Atlanta next spring: New York Americans, March 12, 13, Macon (perhaps). March 16, 17, 18. New York Americans. March 19. 20. 21. Cleveland Americans, March 23, Cincinnati Nationals, March 23, New York Americans, March 2: Chicago Nationals. March 28 SO' New York Americans. April 2 j , Brooklyn Nationals, April 6, 7.' ' ’■ HOT FIGHT FOR JOBS ON A. A. C. AGGREGATION The'competltlon for team positions on the Atlanta Athletic Club basket ball aggregation, which meet* Columbia Saturday night, is decidedly fierce. Coach Fred Hoyt has nearly a score of men to pick from, and will doubtless CHARLEY COX WILL PLAY WITH FORSYTH’S BUNCH Hpeclnl to The Georgia a. 0 Athens, Ga., Dec. 19.—Charley Cox, of Atlanta, who Is. a member of the senior law class*, has accepted an ofTer from Forsyth, the old All-Southern Clemson guard, to play on a football team which the latter Is getting up and which will meet the Savannah team Christmas and New Year's day. Forsyth’* team will be an all-star aggregation, and will be composed of men like Sadler, Barks, Ketron, Fur- tick, Forsyth himself and others of a similar Ilk. / Last year Forsyth collected a pow erful bunch and contested for honors with the Savannah team. Two games were played, in both of which the For est City representatives were victo rious. This time the big football player and promoter is anxious to get revenge, and Is making every effort to gather to gether an eleven which will prove ab solutely unconquerable. It Is understood that Brooch Bocock, who coached Georgia after Whitney’s departure, will alro be on# of Forsyth's men. Cox has been requested to report for practice In Jacksonville on December 21 - \ GEORGIA STUDENT BODY APPROVES OF NEW RULES PRINCETON BASKET BALL TEAM IS DISQUALIFIED BY A. A. U. Athena, Ga., Dec. 19.—The student body of the University of Georgia Is highly pleased with the measures adopted at the S. I. A. A. meeting In Clemson. The passage of a one-year rule and the regulation of the card system are thought to be great steps In the right direction. It Is regretted that a straight, unweakened and unconditional one-year rule was riot agreed upon. But even as It now Is, much good, It Is believed, will be effected. The election of Professor A. H. Pat terson to one of tho vice presidencies of the association Is regarded as being equivalent to h declaration that Im plicit conddence Is placed In the fac ulty and student body at Georgia to employ every effort to keep athletics cienn and unadulterated. The university was doubtless In jured by the widespread criticism and unjust abuse which followed In the wake of the Georgia-Tech game. The choice of Professor Patterson to be district vice .president by the S. I. A. A. Is a deserved compliment. It Is to be hoped that the people of the slate will realize that the action of the association cornea In the nature of a vindication not of the playing of ring ers. but of the good name nnd reputa tion of the students and authorities at tho University of Georgia. New York, Dec. 19.—The reglstra- 'tion committee of the Metropolitan As sociation of the Amateur Athletic Un ion has disqualified the I*rlnceton Uni versity basketball team and declared Watkins. Thompson. Warner and Clough Ineligible to play with regis tered teams. j The Princeton team Is scheduled to Police Using Two-Wheelers To Chase Auto Scorchers This la an age of speed, to which the au tomobile ndda the flnlablng touch, yet It la through the modest bicycle and the motor cycle thnt speed maniacs are now controlled nnd taught due respect for the law. That wheel-mounted officers furnleh the aolutUm momentoua problem waa alowly grasp- ed by the police authorities, lint the lesson hna been learned very thoroughly. Wheel FORE! NOW IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A HIT WITH YOUR Golfer Friend SEND HIM (OR HER) A BOX OF Golf Balls Or a caddy bag. of trouble with). Maybe he needs a NIBLIC (to get out Call On Us for anything the Golfer needs. Athletic Department KING HARDWARE CO. 55 Peachtree Street. F. G. BYRD, Manager. * atxe of auch detnlla an rapidly as aiiunda, which were dying out a few yeara ago, nre being formed nil over tho country, nnd thoae already organised nre held Ir Uth crenne the Inquiries made nt police headquarters In the one hundred largest cities of the United Ntntes show that more than half of them have or will have wheel sqtinds nt once, and the following tabulation furnishes soiua Interesting comparisons: IHeveles. Motorcycles. New York t 1K> 15 St. Isiuls. ....... o Huston 5 Haltlinore. ....... 1 Cleveland. 11 Huffalo 7 San Francisco 2 rifsbtirg. Detroit 0 Milwaukee 0 Washington ft) Newark....,, 14 Isoutavllle. Ky. . . . . 3.1 Minneapolis. ...... 5 Providence. ........ H It.K*henter. * S Toledo. 0 Columbus, Ohio. , ... 2 Worcester, Mnaa. ... 4 New 1 In von. Conn. . . 3 Cambridge, Maas. ... 4 Atlanta 40 Hlehtnond. Vn. ..... 10 Hartford. Conn 7 Wilmington, Del. . . . . 0 Trenton, N. J. PAPKE IN TRAINING. Kewanee, III., Dec, 19.—Bill Papke began active training here today frir his match with Hugo Kelly at Mil waukee, December 80. Paddy Lavln, of Buffalo, arrived today to act as Papke's sparring partner. Hugo Kelly I, working hard In his big camp at Harlem. Yale men never thought there would be another line-plunger like Perry Hale. Coy looks to be his equal. Then, too, the "Kid” Is not through yet. play Columbia tonight In the intercol legiate series and the Columbia team will be rendered Ineligible If the game Is played as will all the college teams which are members of the Intercolle giate association. These teams In turn play a> number of amateur teams out side the college ranks, eo that the whole fabric of basketball is likely to be af fected by the action. George Kennedy, 1908, left end, will captain the 1908 Dartmouth eleven. He prepared at Roxbury Latin school. "Hurry Up" Yost says the West will never have a chance with the East ns long as Its schedulo remains so lim ited. Although Andover was not represent ed on this season’s Yale team, five members of Its team are to go to New Haven. When Inches relieved Kish for Hnr- turn out nn aggregate nthat will mak. It Interesting for the New Yorkers The forwards will probably he nicked from Doonnn, Thornton and Hollld,, Rappole Is rcasonbaly certain o( a do.' sltlon. But the exact line-up Is unier- Moran Best Thing Imported Recently New York, Dec. 19.—Owen Moran, the only English fighter who has been on these ehoros for the past ten year, and made a great name for himself, is now the biggest card In the West. ■■ London has not sent us a boy win the class of Moran since Ben Jordan came over nlno years ago and took a decision from George Dixon. He Is now matched to fight Abe At. tell for the featherweight champluiuhl, of the world, and, In a letter to Char- ley Harvey, hie manager, he say, h« was never more confident of wlnnln, In hts life. Did the Kaiser See Burns Fight? Detroit, Dec. 19.—According to Ti my Burns, from whom a letter ha, Just been received by Detroit friends, Emperor William, of Germany, Is a right good sport, and, furthermore, he likes to see a combat between two masters of nature’s weapons. Kaiser Wilhelm wns on hand. Incognito, at (he ringside the night Tommy Dumi knocked out Gunner Molr In London, and. enjoyed the mill Immensely. vard In the Yale game, a wit remarked: "Harvard doesn't want Inches: what she wants Is yards.” Bqrr and Fish are the only regular. Harvard will retain. Gil Browne and Sam Hoar, who got In tho last half against Yale, will also return. Hist to this from The Boston Her ald: "The future of the forward pasi worrying Western experts much more than It Is those In the East." When Wife Wants a Set*of Furs. ■Medford. Mats. Jtprtugfleld, Mass. . . Kvausvtlle, Ind. . . . Erie, i’ll Kllxnbetb, .N. J. . . . Ilolvok*. Mil KM, . . . Hagluaw, Mlr!». . . • Lincoln. Nebr. . . .. Binghamton, N. Y. . Augusta, Hit 10 .viiiiustii, »*n. . . Birmingham, Ain. Tin* first surprise In the tntde Is the Ab sence of any figures frotu ('himgo. While New York let as nil the other cities, sud « ’ommissloner Bfnghsm’s offlci the number of motorcycles metropolitan police, was the first the United Ktntes to establish n wheel squad. Ksch of the sixty officers performs two hours of duty t day, nnd tlielr bicycle* are fitted with speedometers which nre reg ularly tested nnu which ate accepted as ev idence In court. t’hlef K. V. Creecy. of St. Isouls: Is an enthusiast on the value of motorcycles to prevent s<*orehlng. • He aiysf “The motor cycle has tieen 1u urn* here for the pant six inbiithn. and tnb department would feel greatly handicapped if deprived of their val- . liable services, I nut sure that I voice the scut I incut of ail members of the depart ment in saying that they surpass by far the automobile In point <6f police sendee, and are far less liable to break down or Injury lu the pursuit of a scorcher. In actual line of duty n machine hna made 46 miles an hour on one of the city’s streets.” Superintendent of Police Began, of Buf falo, keeps his tricycle squads on duty from Msy to November, and he considers them n most Important auxiliary to the force. ••My motorcycle men,” be says, “ore posted on the outskirts of the city, covering the city, enforcing the traffic _ _ • general, such at looking after peddlers and hucksters operating without license, cor ner loungers, etc.