August 01, 2006
Major League Baseball clicking right along with the National League making some rule changes and baseball coming into being a real sport for fans to enjoy.
To start the 1888 season the National League had gone back to the three-strikes-and-you're-out rule. Whiffs skyrocketed and walks, which stilltook five balls, dipped.
By 1888 nearly all catchers were using mitts;the 1884 ruling allowed pitchers to throw overhand made the mitt a necessity.
Wahington became the first team to do its spring training in Florida. The warm sunny climate might have helped rookie outfielder Dummy Hoy loosen up--he led the NL in stolen bases during the 1888 season. (Dummy Hoy was deaf--He is the driving force behind all the hand signals used in the game of baseball).