The Portland daily press., 1867-01-17
Base Ball on si,e lee.

The weather does not interfere with our
national amrsements. Yachting in Decem-
Der and base ball in January are extremely
American. The New York papers are Just
now full OF the details of the first base bal,
match OF the season, played ON the ice in
Brooklyn last Saturday by the EeEiord and
Fulton clubs. As the game ON the ice difers
in some respects from the game on terra
tirma, we copy the following EXPLANATION
from the Tribune:
Playing base ball on the ice is in soma ,.-
spects different from the field game, there be-
ing no bases ON the Ice, lines only forming the
bases The bound game, too, is the one pener-
ally adopted, the bound catch from the Ice be-
ing generally difficult, the ball coming sharp
and reboundlng with great force. The base
hines are marked on the ice in form of the let
ter L, the lines being six feet long and four
inches wide. The first line, at first base. cross
es the foul ball line at right angles and extends
three feet on each side OF it. All a base runner
has to do when making the first base is to cross
this line; the moment he does so he makes his
base, and he may either stop or continue on
turning to the right, however, as he gradually
returns and occupies the base. Should he skate
outside the range OF the line OF six feet placed
on the ice at right angles with the line from
first to second base, this line touching the end
Vi lhr oeher udSe line, he Is Gil his base and can
be put out III returning just as if he had his
foot OF the base in the tield. The rule in max
ing the other bases Is the same; after CROSSING
the line OF the base, the base runner must turn
To the right and return to his base as soon as he
well can do without suddenly stopping, which
he ID not obliged to do do. In running two or
more bases, he must cross both lines at the base
as the second line must be crossed before he
can make the next base. In games ON the ice
the umpire ought to have an assistant stand
ing near the second base, whose sole duty
would be to decide on disputed points rs re-
CARDS the bases, but only when appealed TO by
the umpire, he having no other duty to per-
torm and no authority beyond that derived
from the umpire. The distances are the same
ON the ice as in the field, viz: 127 feet inches
from home to second base, and 80 feet from
base to base. The home base and pitchers
points are marked with circular spots about a
foot IN diameter. All the rules Apply as in the
neld game, with the exception of those appli-
cable to the peculiar formation of the bases on
the ice as above referred to.
y In the selection of players in the nine, always
take the most expert skaters in the club with
out regard to their skill as bali players, and as
good skaters they should be well up in all the
movements which are the result OF familiarity
with the outside edge OF the skates The abii-
lty to turn quickly, stop suddenly, and to be
prepared to stand steadSy to catch q ball are
all important requisites, which many a man
who can skate well is not always able to do
There is no sport on the ice more lively or more
interesting than game of base-bali between
he mines OF fhrst-class skaters.