Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-12-28
SPORTING WORLD.
IN DOOR Ease BALL EAS STRUCK NEW
Y0RK CITY.
The Poso.,,s are That il VIII Become a C.azt
IL the MeroP'hs-Notss Ab.at Players.
Turf Topics and General Sport
ing News.

NEw YoEK. December Indoor
base ball is something of novelty to
New Workers. but the few who have
watched the three games already played
have no hesitation in saying that its
success is assured. The game IS de-
cidedly fascinating when played aS 1t
should be. This has been proven in
other cities.
The first game played which attract
ed any attention was in Chicago, in the
armories. Ii has developed there rap
.idN until now there are four leagues.
fully equipped, with several teams each.
Besides. several teams are In the field
which have no connection with the
leagues. Tho game, i'm that city, is a
uoricct craze. II attracts good class
of people. Each league game draws
from 900 90 5000 people. The interest
is not confined Co the male sex, a the
ladies show as muca, if not more. ell
ltlu>ia,m than tAe men.
New lUr6crS have nol really had a
taste ot indoor base ball as yet. Three
lcamcs have been played. il is true. but
circumstances have worked against the
| public knowing that there was q game
lol this kind and besides they did not
know whoa q game was 10 bee played
until last Saturday night. At that
game were nearly one thousand persons.
| While the contest was Oue-Sided and not
laltogctLcr Interesting, yet those who
saw IL were of one voice in saying that
lii properly managed indoor base ball
81 should have decided hold on the New
I York public as a winter sport.
The opening contest was played 20 d
handful OF spectators. They pronounce
ed il Il success. The players had near
| liz the space they have on the field. The
harmony was wide enough, so that the
distance between the bases did not haV,
o. be shortened. The layout was per
- feet. OF course. q regulation base bal
could not be used, so one weighing ,
. ounces. out as large in size Us Il regular
ball. was played with. Special rule
governed the game, the most importan
being that fly ball, striking any par
of the ceiling or gallery, and caught be
fore reaching the floor, should be called
out: also. ball hit 50 hard that i
should 20 into corner, where it coul,
not Dc reached. would yield but three
bases TO the batter.
The TWO companies played with al
the vigOr al their command. Severa
marvellous plays were made which wer,
lcLtirely unlocked for. One of then
was the throwing out OF batter from
the right6cldcr Ia the first baseman OF
an apparently safe hit. Ii was eyiden
that many OF the difficult plays as per
formed on the field could be made in
doors as we'll Rooney, one Of the catch
crS. used q bat which was especially
made fer indoor games, being light o.
weight but OF the regulation size o.
professional bats. The difference be
tween the two was that Rooney'S bat
was made principally OF cork.
| Whenever q player made short hit
and had 70 run hard to reach first base
in simc he came to i sudden stop. land
ing in net after passing the base few
feet.
Other parties think well Of the game,
and have made arrangements to see
now the public will take TO it, This at
tempt will be made by base ball mag
mates and professional players. They
will not play the game upon a board
floor, but ON regular covering of
earth. Madison Square Garden has
been engaged Tor that purpose. PreSi-
dent Day, of the New York club, and
Manager Mutrie are the promoters of
the enterprise. II they make 4 success
of il on the opening night there will be
little else but professional indoor base
ball for the rest Of the season. This is
the first attempt TO play the game by
professionals, and the first time the
game has been played on solid ground
enclosed in 3 building.