Diamonds

In Berkeley, one Max Fiedler, catcher for the University of California freshmen, came up to bat in the ninth inning two weeks ago, hit a home run, won a game against St. Mary's. Last week, against Oakland Technical High School, Catcher Fiedler came to bat again in the ninth. Two strikes were called on him. The runner on second base hung his head, looked at the scoreboard that showed the University team one run behind. The bat boy was picking up the bats, the pitcher pitched, Catcher Fiedler swung wildly, hit the ball, knocked it out of the lot. "Another Casey," chortled California freshmen.

Walter Johnson, still 25 pounds underweight from influenza, left St. Augustine to have his kidneys examined. "You may have to take a rest, Walter," said the doctor. Friends, fans, hearing the news, were worried, remembering how Christy Mathewson, the only pitcher as famed, as great as Johnson, died of tuberculosis (TIME, Oct. 19, 1925).

"I suppose you will think me forward for calling you by your first name," wrote a lady to Andy Cohen, Giant's second baseman, "but ... I understand you are Jewish and single ... if you would care to meet a brunette . . . Anyway drop me a little note and maybe I will send you my . . ." "Yeah, I get hundreds of them," said Second-baseman Cohen.

To the training camps came Boss Ernest S. Barnard, president of the American League, ordered umpires to enforce points never before enforced in baseball. Said Boss Barnard:

"1) Allow the pitcher to hold the ball only twenty seconds before delivering it to the batsman.

"2) Forbid the batsman to step out of the batter's box in order to disconcert the pitcher.

"3) Forbid the useless throwing of the ball in order to discolor it or to help the pitcher to recover his poise.

"4) Fine or banish from the field managers or players who 'stall' for time."