View source for Clipping:Lobbying for the ten-men ten-inning rule

{{Clipping
|Type of Date=Day
|Date=12/20/1873
|Title=lobbying for the ten-men ten-inning rule
|Text=<p>...an analysis of the play shows that sharp fielding is preventing runs has more to do with the success of a club than skillful batting in obtaining them.  Given two nines of equal batting strength and fielding skill, and the best base-running ten will bear off the most trophies of victory, as a matter of course.  But given a first-class batting ten, with one of only moderate skill as fielders and base-runners, and oppose these with a first-class fielding ten who are but comparatively weak batsmen, and the result will be that the best fielding ten will win in the long run.  This rule experience shows to be correct.  Besides this, the best fielding games are invariably the most attractive. ... it is games of this class which attract most, and which are really the most exciting and interesting.  The main object, therefore, in making any important changes in the rules, should be to bring the game up to the highest fielding standard, for one thing, and to make the point of excellence that which most combines mental and physical ability as requisites in all the departments.  It is these objects which have guided us for the past ten years in all the amendments we have introduced in the rules of the game, and this well-known fact has been the cause of our success in having our suggestions so fully endorsed by the fraternity as they have been.</p>
<p>The past season’s play has shown pretty plainly that something new would lead to a material increase of interest; and this it is which suggests the coming season as an appropriate time to test the experiment of the ten men and ten innings rules.  Thus far, the batting in baseball has had the advantage over the fielding, and it is to bring them more on an equality that it is proposed to introduce the extra fielder. ...</p>
|Source=New York Clipper
|Submitted by=Richard Hershberger
|Origin=Initial Hershberger Clippings
}}