Clipping:Harry Wright proposes simplified balls and strikes rules

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Date Sunday, December 27, 1874
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Harry Wright advances the following able amendments to the rule: First, to call wides only, adding, that rule can be improved in other respects; also, thusly: The first ball to count–that about the first ball pitched not counting being unnecessary–should it be where the striker called for it, “one strike;” then allow two balls to be pitched–not more–if not where the striker called for them, the third to be called “wide,” if not struck or a striker called, or in other words, if not fair for the striker. The rule so altered would work this way. The pitcher would know that after a strike, a wide or a foul, he could pitch two balls before the umpire could call “wide ball” again, making nine balls pitched, provided they were all wide, before a batter could be sent to his base.

Each and every fair ball, if high or low, as called for, by to be called “strikes.” I think, by so altering it as above, the umpiring would be more even and systematic. The umpire would be allowed no discretion as to the number of balls he should allow to pass before calling. The pitcher would know the number of balls he could pitch without being punished by having “wides” called. The batter would have to be ready for any and every ball pitched over the plate, and either high or low, as called for, should he not strike. The spectators would know just what to expect from the umpire, and there would be no calling out to him to “wake up,” “call something,” &c., &c.

Source Philadelphia Sunday Mercury
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Submitted by Richard Hershberger
Origin Initial Hershberger Clippings

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