Baseball

the American game of ball. It may have been developed from the English game of "rounders" to which, however, it bears little similarity. The game first took shape in New England and in the vicinity of New York and Philadelphia. The Knickerbocker Club of New York, considered the parent ball club of the United States, was formed in 1845. Crowds of New Yorkers used to cross by the huge ferries to Hoboken to attend games between the Knickerbockers and rival organizations.

During the Civil War baseball was a favorite form of amusement in camp. On the breaking up of the army, returning soldiers carried the game to every town and hamlet, and baseball seemed to spring up spontaneously everywhere. From 1865 onward it has been recognized as a national game. Rivalry between amateur clubs led to the employment of salaried players. Then came the organization of clubs into circles, in which each club goes around the circuit playing a series of games with its associate clubs. The National League, formed in 1876, now includes Brooklyn, Pittsburg, Philadelphia, Boston, St. Louis, Chicago, Cincinnati, and New York. The American League, a rival organization dating from a reorganization in 1900, includes Boston, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Detroit, New York, Chicago, St. Louis, and Washington. The American Association is made up of St. Paul, Louisville, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Columbus, Minneapolis, and Toledo. The Western League embraces Des Moines, Sioux City, Omaha, Topeka, Wichita, Lincoln, Denver, and Pueblo. There are many other leagues as the Eastern, Central, Northern, Pacific, Southern. Indeed it is safe to say there are more ball clubs today than there are postoffices. The expenses of the large clubs are met by gate receipts, that is to say, charges for admission to the games. Enormous crowds attend these games. The National League club of New York gave out an official record of attendance at a home game for 1903 of 32,240 people.

The various leagues are brought into conformity by the National Association of Leagues, under whose rules all games of prominence are now played.

The Base Ball Guide compiled by Mr. Henry Chadwick, "the father of baseball," now resident in Brookline, may be had of any dealer for a dime. A few important rules and suggestions are given here for use at school.

The field or diamond is ninety feet square but a smaller square will answer every purpose. A heavy block or plate of wood about a foot square should be sunk at the first corner even with the ground for a home base. Small sacks of sand may be dropped at the three other corners for first, second, and third bases. A league ball must come within 5 and 5 1/4 ounces in weight, and a bat is not to exceed 2 3/4 inches in diameter at the largest end nor be more than 42 inches long; but boys can have quite as good a time without expensive league outfits. The home team furnishes balls. Each club furnishes its own bats. Nine players, no more, no less, one of them to serve as captain, are allowed on each side; but in case of necessity boys get on very well with "base ball nines" of half a dozen members. Catching gloves are allowed, and are desirable to avoid broken fingers. Uniforms or at least caps or sashes are desirable in order to avoid mistakes.

The team that is "in" bats and runs while the other team, called the "outs," pitches, catches, and fields. When each team has had a turn at bat and a turn in the field the first inning is complete. Nine innings make a game. A run is made by touching first, second, third, and home bases in the order named, without being put out. Runs are all that count. The team scoring the greatest number of runs in the nine innings wins the game. Additional innings may be played to determine a tied game. The pitcher's box is a plate about two feet long and a foot wide at or near the center of the field. The pitcher must face the home plate with one foot in the box and pitch the ball, without any false motions, over the home plate at a height between the batsman's knee and shoulder. The catcher, who should always wear a wire mask, stands behind the batsman at any distance he may choose, so long as it is beyond the swing of the bat, and returns the ball to the pitcher. An umpire agreed upon by both sides stands behind the batsman a little at one side. His eye should never leave the ball.

The territory, or angle, included between a line running from the home plate straight out through first base to any distance and a line similarly extended from home through third base, is fair ground. It includes, of course, the entire space within the four bases and an indefinite extent of ground in the direction beyond the field from home. All territory outside of this angle is foul ground. A fair hit is a batted ball that settles on fair ground and a foul hit is a batted ball that settles on foul ground. A ball that is even ticked by the bat so as to be heard is a foul hit. A bunt is an easy hit that drops the ball on fair ground near the feet of the batter. A grounder is a ball that clips along the ground by reason of a low hit. A fly is a ball batted to a great height. A fly is always watched with breathless interest lest it be caught by one of the fielders.

When a game is called the outs distribute themselves as follows: One catcher behind the bat; one pitcher in the box; one man at first base; one at second; one at third; a right fielder beyond first base; a center fielder beyond second; a left fielder beyond third; and a short stop, who is often the captain, anywhere he may choose between the pitcher and the three outer bases. Of the ins, one stands at the home plate with a bat. The rest keep out of the way ready to bat in turn.

Under strict rules every ball pitched is either a ball, a strike, a fair hit, or a foul hit. A ball pitched too high, too low, or not over the home plate is a "ball." A ball properly pitched, but missed or not struck at by the batsman, is a "strike." Fair hits and foul hits have been explained.

The umpire announces the result of each throw. A batter is out (1) in case a foul hit, including a tick, be caught by a fielder, pitcher and catcher being also fielders; (2) in case a fair fly be caught by a fielder; (3) in case of three strikes and the ball be caught by a fielder presumably the catcher; (4) in case of three strikes or a fair hit and he be touched by the ball in the hand of a fielder before he can run to first; (5) in case of a fair hit on three strikes and the ball be thrown to first baseman and be secured by him with one foot on first base before the batsman can touch first base with hand or foot. A batsman becomes a runner the moment he bats the ball or allows a third strike to go past him. A runner is out if he be touched by the ball in the hand of a fielder when the runner is not touching a base.

To illustrate the application of the rules, we will suppose the blues to be in and the reds to be fielding. The red pitcher pitches the ball and the blue batsman strikes at the ball and misses it; the umpire calls out, "one strike." Again the ball passes fairly over the plate. The batsman grown cautious does not try to hit it; "two strikes," calls the umpire. Again the ball passes and the batsman makes a fair hit which is caught by the shortstop before the batsman has run far. "One out," calls the umpire. A second blue makes a fair hit and gains first base before the fielders can get the ball to the first baseman. A third blue now goes to bat. "One strike," "one ball," "two strikes," are heard, while in the meantime the blue runner has seized an opportunity to run from first base to second. Again the pitcher throws, a faint tick is heard, the catcher holds the ball; "two out," sings the umpire. A fourth blue seizes the bat, makes a fair hit, and runs to first base. The man on second base reaches third base safely, but is touched by the ball as he tries to reach home. "Side out," calls the umpire,--three outs causing a side to lose the ball and the reds go to bat for their half of the inning.

A skillful pitcher has a knack of twirling his balls so that the resistance of the air causes them to curve sideways or up and down, in a fashion likely to deceive the batter. No matter how deceive the batter. No matter how deceptively a ball may curve, if it pass over the home plate at the right height, it is a strike; and at three strikes the batsman must run as though he had tried to hit the ball.

There is no better outdoor game for boys, and none better calculated to give strength, health, and activity, and none which furnishes more enjoyment to spectators.