Clipping:A proposal to shrink the diamond
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| Date | Wednesday, October 30, 1889 |
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| Text | [from a letter from Joe Battin] My plan (and I claim it as original, never having heard of it before) would be to make the distance from base to base 88 feet instead of 90. It would compel infielders to be more lively in handling balls hit to them, especially those that come to them slow, and sharp hits towards third and first bases would be more apt to go fair. Two feet between each base or eight feet around the bases does not seem to be a great distance, but it will make a big different to the base-runner and at the same time give him no big advantage over the fielder. The Sporting Life October 30, 1889 players holding out; the League exercises its option; the reserve clause; Blackhurst switches sides Monday, Oct. 21, was the day upon which contracts for next season could be legally signed. As was expted, no Brotherhood players appended their signatures to contracts. They were met, however, by a new move by some of the League clubs, adopted by the latter at the suggestion of the Brotherhood's ex-counsel, Mr. F. C. Blackhurst, who is now Mr. Day's private counsel. On Monday morning, each League player was served by his club officials with a short but pertinent printed notice worded as follows... October 30, 1889 [from a letter by John Ward] The following document was handed me during the past week, and I understand a similar paper has been delivered to every League player: “New York, Oct. 21.-- To Mr. John M. Ward—Sir: You will please take notice that the New York Ball Club hereby exercises its option for the employment of your services under and pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 18 of a certain contract heretorfore made with you and bearing date on or about April 23, 1889, and does hereby now employ you under the provisions of said contract, and retain your serves for the season of 1890, and is now ready and offers to execute the agreement therefore. New York Ball Club.” Under the guidance of some brilliant legal adviser the “magnates” have taken this method to intimidate the players and confuse public opinion as to the actual relation existing between the latter and themselves. In order that the preposterous nature of this claim may be clearly understood a word of review is necessary. [a history of the reserve follows, concluding that it only applies to National Agreement leagues.] The Sporting Life October 30, 1889 |
| Source | Sporting Life |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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