The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-07-25
THB BIRTH OF BASE BALL.
FIRST MATCH GAME PLAYED FORTY
FIVE YEARS AGO.

Isto Prefsssaonai Gaas Throukh
Intsnss RivaiPy-Histery Of Base Hall
IN BrisE-OlA Tans Atsenaanes.
June 10 was the forty nfth anniversary
OF the first match gama Of base ball ever
played. The contest took place ct
Hoboken, n. j., June 10, 1915. The game
had originated nearly nine months be-
fore. Il had gradually grown out Of the
old English schoolboy game Of rounders
Founders gradually "evoiuted into
townball." In the latter sport, instead
OF bases, there were "cornsrs." These
were unattended, and runners were put
out by being hit with the ball, which was
thrown by the feldeRs. The ball used
was necessarily, therefore, much softer
and smaller than the base bail Of to-day
and made entirely OF rubber.
In the days OF which write, number
Of New York gentlemen were in the habit
OF assembling on vacant lot, then long
way out OF town, and now covered by the
Madison Square Garden, every Wednes-
DAY and Saturday afternoon to play town
bali. At length some Of them began to
think that certain notifications would
greatly improve the sport. Numerous
informal discussions took place, and 1t
was finally decided to adopt the changes
proposed. Among these was the 50 bsti-
tuition OF bases for "corners," the adop-
tion Of hard ball with q rubber center
woand with yarn and covered with
leather, the placing OF men to guard the
bases and having the ball thrown to them
instead Of directly at the base runners.
II was also decided 70 change the name Of
the sport from townball to base ball on
account OF the bases forming 20 important
Q feature OF 1t.
On September q, 1Sl6, the gentlemen
who had decided upon these changes
formed themselves into an. association to
whieh they gave the name Of the Knick-
eghocksR Base Ball club. There our national
0Azns was born, and on the lard Of next
September II will be forty-six years OF
ago. Soon there were Q number OF these
Organisations In and around New York,
and the Arst match game was on June 10,
1874, between the Kniekerbocker and
New York clubs. II consisted OF only
four innings, the rule then being that
tbs club erst making twenty-ons runs In
saaA innings was the winner.
II b remarkable that base ball was not
Introduced In Philadelphia, only ninety
m2ss from New York, until 1850, fifteen
yeass after lbs birth. In that year the
Olympic Club, Of the Quaker City, which
had been organised in i1a2 30 play town
bah and had done 80 ever since, decided
tharsafter TO play base ball. The first
match game Of base bail In Philadelphia
did not take place till June II, 1880, and
was between the Equity and Winona
clubs. The first match game Of the ma
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- ~, - Ns y. soclstion q
49, nsA Iiayos, = Incn ny cup was
sleu 70 nle DsIsP: ne Playing
49, s suop.ou sns oreanisasion.
AA1ost me nIss rus aoopteo was one
noss POsisiseiy ueparring SEom inemDe
snip 10 renoees nsDie 70 expulsion
any cruz ~ Wnlcn tnere was man VINO
piayeo Dase Dali ior nire OF emolument OF
I. .no ING result " snis was that
Oase pan nourisned between tine years OF
looo ana Ioh 70 an extent tnat mas never
49, Known sln me nunDer OF inc
'lups was Hteraiiy legion, ana IN every
aIGe cty gfesG NUMBER OF matcnes
Fefe piayeo oaily' lne srounas were lree
y All. AZ consequence tne CROWDS az
'nese contests were enormous from lo,oOo
% Zo,Wo people oeing'oy no means an I'M
asuat attenoanee:
ny Is1l professional CLUBS hao attained
non mum oers ana influence tnat In New
1orx, on Marcn II OF That year, conven-
ion OF Delegates rom those organiza-
ions openly avoweo themselves PROBES
lonais, ana cut ioose Irom tine National