The morning call., 1894-01-02

be interesting to lovers of the snort. but
the outdoor sport.
One Thanksgiving night at the Farragut
Athletic Club in Chicago one Of the mem
berS in frO!ic threw an ordinary boxing
glove around the hall which was struck
at by one of the boys. George W. Han
cock entered with party of friends and
said:
Boys. let's play baseball" With the
glove for ball they took positions, and
without rule or wisdom began what
proved to be fine evenings sport Before
the next morning Hancock had thought
out a suitable ball and bat, formulated
Tules. and on the following Saturday the
first regular match was played between
TWO mines selected from members of the
clubs. Thus Hancock became the father
of the game.
The first match was one of the funniest
performances ever seen, owing 10 the
newneSs OF the game and ineXperience of
the players, the score being Al o 30. Since
then in match between the Cyclings and
CarletOns, of Chicago. the score was TO 0.
Rules governing The game are exactly
the same as in the outdoor sport. with
three exceptions, namely: Curved pitching
is barr ed, a baSe-runDer cannot start 10
make the next bag until the ball is in the
catcheT's hands, and foul tip is out.
The ball used is nearly three times the
size OF a baseball, being seventeen inches
in circumference, weighing 81 ounces,
stuffed with horsehair and a little rubber
and very lively.
The bat is thirty-three inches long and
one and half inches in diameter az the
largest part-just about the size of the butt
end OF a billiard cue or a broom stick. At
the small end there ia pneumatic tip of
rubber to keep the bat from flying out of
the batman's hands.
The field is laid out exactly like an out
door diamond, except that the bases are
not fastened To the floor The dis lance
between bases is q feet (in the regular
game the distance is 80 feei, and the closest
line Of the pitchers box is 90 feet from
the home-plate. From second base 10 the
home-plate the distance is 3SL feet.
There is quite n change in tielders' posi-
tions. Instead of one shortStop there are
two, one at the left and the other at right
short field, and they stand not more than
fifteen feet from the batter, and in the
up as close as six feet away. The second
haseman covers cent field. except when
there is n runner on first. iii which case ne
stands astride of second base, and center
field must be protected by the right and
left long fielders.
The game requires two Umpires, one for
the bases and one at the home plate. AS
can readily be imagined from the short
distance between bases. the duties are
more trying than in the outdoor game, be-
cause close decisions are the rule. AS
Long described 1t: ITS a hit. hon. step,
jump and a slide and you're there
Agility, not strength. makes good indoor
players, and amateurs do quite as we'll as
professionals. On hit to the infed
there is never time for n man TO pick up
the ball and throw it. He has 10 SCOOP it
up and toss it To the baseman with the
same movement of arms and body.
For the spectator this sharp infield play
is more interesting than outdoor work of
the same kind. There is no tedious delay
from the pitcher trying to catch a man
stealing too far off first. Under the rules
the runner cannot start until The ball has
reached the catcher. just as when he now
runs after fly has been caught.
The pitching is brought
below-the- waist style. the same as twenty
years ago in the national game. Changing
the pace from fast 20 slow and vice versa
is tho only means q pitcher has of deceiv-
ing the batsman.
a hall 40x6O feet is large enough for a
field. The Mechanics Pavilion, where the
match Will probably be played, is large
enough for two games at the same time.
Any of the armories would make fine
fields, while dozeus of dancing halls in the
ely are amply large.
To avoid slipping the players wear ten
mis- shoes with corrugated sOleS, which are
dampened by stepping on n wet towel
every inning. TO prevent Injury when
sliding to bases the breaches are heavily
padded at the knees and hips. Some
players wear adjustable kneepads.
1t may be expected that in San Fran
cisco. as in Chicago, indoor baseball will
soon be craze among athletic clubs and
companies. These contests draw
immense crowds from friends of the organi-
Zation and the excitement and enthusiasm
mount as high as in college football.
The present purpose is to have a pro-
fessional game every Saturday night dur
ing the winter season.
Copies OF Picturesque California &c can be
secured at the following places: San Fran
cisco 40 Market street. Oakland - 1910
Broadway. Alameda-Sc!neider's bookstore
1885 Park street. Berkeiey-E. e. Bancroft
Center street. East Berkeley. Woodland e
y. Huston. Santa Cruz-Cooper Brothers
Napa-D. L. Haas Company. Only one coupon
and one dime. For the former see page nine
The most astonishing results i'll healing wounds