Litchfield enquirer., 1867-08-15
INNOVATIONS-BASE BALL,

INNOVATIONS-B BALL. i 10 THE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER: i Innovations are not necessarily improve nents-wiether the subject is church mu- sic or secular amusements.
 Some years ago, the ten-pins players at tempted to introduce a new system for the game; the main point Of which was, hooc fe~ pins could be stricken down by a given number of balls; it being requisite, how ever, that each ball should strike down one. or more; but one was better than two, and so on. According to this method, the low est number of pins with the highest num- Der of balls-misses excluded-won the game. It is easy to see, that this method of playing was more difficult than the ori= ginal method: because ball delivered against mass of pins is more likely to knock down several than one, if it knocks down any.
 1 In the same spirit of '' improvement" the pockets of a billiard table have been reduced from six to four in number: a pro- ceeding which, by reducing the chances for pocketing, reduces the opportunities for counting; and therefore increases the diff culties of making the hundred in given time. And, if the innovators should re- duce the pockets still further say to two or one; no doubt they would still further increase the difficulties of the game It is true, that if the pockets were taken away altogether, the game would be reduced to caroms altogether: and on some accounts. the carom game is the better of the two. But that is another matter The carom game should be confined to a carom table; because, on another table, the carom play CT is liable to loss which has no correspon- ding advantage; namely the pocketing of his own ball.
 In each of these instances. there may be some reason for the innovations 0s detueen professional players: who, having attained extraordinary skill on the old method, are able to make ''good time" even with the new obstacles of innovation; but it is a sll- ly ambition on the part of amateur players to initiate the professors; Nei1 game is s,,re to be slow enough, without impedimental novelties lNe'n. Not having a Dictionary at hand, 1 am not sure about the last adiec- tive
 And thus, of the Base Ball The object. or argument of Base Ball may be thus sta ted One player throws the ball. Anoth- CT, who for the time being is in," strikes it, or strikes M it with his club A third, behind him, catches, or tries to catch the ball if tho second fails to hit it, or only grages it with his club. If the striker hits the ball, he sends it off on . journey, lon- ger or shorter as the case may be. If one of the outlying members of the opposite ' side" catches the ball, he, the striker, is tout" But if the ball is not caught, and travels along undisturbed for the moment, the striker runs for one or more of certain designated spots until he gets Shome;" and that completed run is so much, or so naany, i'll the score of his '' side''
 In former days, the striker was dealt with on equitable principles. The ball was thrown to him fairly easily, and over C the tick" and he might strike it in any way that he could hit it--forward, back, right or left; and the moment that the ball was at, for him, safe distance, he would start for his first point OF base. This method of playing gave each player an equal chance, and gave him also an oppor- tunity to display his skill and show of his batting or striking, to the best advantage. There was no trick; no sharp practice; no taking advantage of q player; and the game, so played, had no drawbacks, dis appointments or annoyances to spectators.
 But, in later days, innovation has inter- meddled here, also. The theory of the present game is, not to give every player every chance for his skill; but to put ob- stacles in his way The ball is not thrown to him so that he may easily hit it; but the object of the thrower is, rather, to throw 1t swiftly, and on the wrong level, so that he can barely hit it at all; the immediat result of which IS, that not one ball in twenty is ; made, by the striker to describe that hand some, brilliant para6ola, which was one of the beauties of the old game. In short, the object of the thrower of the ball is, to 'sput out the striker and to give him no chance for play; an object inconsistent with the general tone of game whose theory is, friendly strife. Then the striker may hit the ball only by forward, rectan. , gular, stroke-at least, he cannot run for 6
 ''base, if his ball goes in the rear, or eth CT side, of the first ''base," which is forty degrees, more or less, forward of his owr base line. His striking is limited to aho,11