Ban johnson

Detroit Tigers President Frank Navin blames the length of the games on the coaches’ boxes

ByThis Day in Baseball

1913 – In a story in the New York Times, Detroit Tigers President Frank Navin blames the length of the games on the coaches’ boxes. Navin, reacting to American League President Ban Johnson’s complaint that too many games the previous season had taken two hours to play, says the boxes should be moved back so that the catcher can give the pitcher his signals more quickly. From where they are now, he said, the coaching players can detect the catcher’s signals unless he takes a lot of time to hide them. Navin said this slow signalling is the reason for the longer games.

Members of the so-called “Reduction Committee” discuss contracting as many as four franchises

ByThis Day in Baseball

On January 24, 1900, officials from the National League hold a secret meeting in Cleveland. Members of the so-called “Reduction Committee” discuss contracting as many as four franchises – Baltimore, Cleveland, Louisville and Washington – from the league.

The A.J. Reach Company is granted a patent for protective headgear known as the “Reach Pneumatic Head Protector.” It won’t gain acceptance, though a few players, notably Roger Bresnahan, will occasionally wear it.

ByTom

The A.J. Reach Company is granted a patent for protective headgear known as the “Reach Pneumatic Head Protector.” It won’t gain acceptance, though a few players, notably Roger Bresnahan, will occasionally wear it.