The Red Cloud chief., 1896-08-14

IL has often been said OF New lorKs
Giants that they played like blind
men," and the expression has been TAX
EN- simply on the ecstatic figure OF
speech OF some frenZicd "rootcr,' II
tn mean that they did not play ball at
all. Now the comparison may be gra-
phic enough, and truthful. perhaps, on
occasion. II the idea to be conveyed Is
simply that Of loose and ragged play
ing. for as a matter OF very strange
fact. blind men can and do play base
ball, and derive n very considerable
amount of pleasure. as well as physical
benefit out of the national game.
In the Kentucky institute there are
two regularly organized mines. between
which there is the fiercest rivalry. and
the institute pennant Is rs highly priced
and will be as bitterly contested for as
that gaudy strip Of bunting which,
whatever happens will not wave
next year over the Polo grounds.
Prof. X. Il. Huntoon Of the Kentucky
school. describing baseball among the
blind. makes the astounding statement
by way Of preface that among the boys
and young men who must so through
life in darkness there Is n iondness FOR
athletic exercises and an ambition to
excel In feats of physical power al
most az deep founded az among the
students Of the universities.
The gymnasium is well patronized
and field sports are In high favor, nota-
bly, sprinting. longer races up to a mile,
running jump, hopskip-and-jump and
putting weights. Intense excitement
prevails during these contests, the re-
suits Of which must BIZ reported by
word OF mouth to both contestants and
spectators"
The baseball game differs, OF course,
in many OF its details from the reg
ular games played by the youth OF
America. The diamond Is not Of reg
ulation size but is of regulation form.
The distance between bases Is Lut
forty feet. instead Of ninety. The in
fielders are stationed the same AS In n
National league game. with the excep-
ton that there Is a right shortstop,
thus making ten men to a side, an ar
rangement once seriously considered
by professional ball managers. In the
outfeld, on public games. there IL an
unlimited number of players. each taxi
ing a turn at the bat. first moving up
one position whenever a batsman Is
put out.
The catcher sits or the ground, well
back from the home plate, and. to guard
against injury. he wears n mask and a
chest protector. His position is such
that uhnn tho nttohar daiiunra n hall
1t strikes the ground just between his
knees and is taken OF the short bound.
The batsman takes MS position at
the plate, with a heavy fat bat, m
what like those used in cricket. The
umpire, who must be a man OF unim-
paired vision, calls upon the pitcher
to get ready and then clearly sings out
"One, two, three!" At the word three
the pitcher must Loyalty deliver the
ball. He pitches In the slow, under
hand way peculiar to the game twenty
five or thirty years ago, the idea being
to deliver a ball that can be hit by the
batsman, who. standing there In the
darkness, with q sharpened sense OF
hearing and a wonderful conception
OF the time that must elapse before
the ball reaches him, Is prepared to
strike.
Baseball writer's often refer to 1.-THE
whish Of the ball as. like an arrow. II
fairly split the space over the home
plate" To the quickened senss OF tho
blind this "whish Of the ball" Is q
reality, and it Is astonishing, guided b,
this refined development OF the hearing
faculty, how often the ball Is struck by
the batsman.
. II the batsman should miss the bal
bounces into the catcher's lap and II
at nee returned to the pitcher by Q
! single toss with a precision that IL
wonderful. When the ball Is battet
the umpire calls out quickly to the
fielder. in whose direction 1t is travel
! ing, and he, guided by a sense Of hear,
I ing, either catches the ball or follow.
It In Its course through the grass. 81,
strikes are an out. In fielding any mum
Der OF bounds are permitted. II the
batted ball Is a "hot-liner" and travel
ing straight for an infelder's head, tn,
umpire shouts a warning, and In such
, cases the endange ed player ducks OF
falls to the turf.
: 1t Is possible, In fact, the ball Is fire.
Y queptly fielded to first In time to pu'
|, out the runner. When throwing to frs
the assisting player, who Is guided b,
, the voice Of the batsman, calculate!
the distance with nicely and throws
; the ball so that II strikes the grount
a few yards In front OF the batsman
The latter hears 1t coming and usual,
gets it without further assistance
: Running bases was formerly a difficult
! thing. There were then three trees OF
! the diamond. toward which the runner
|, ran with outstretched hands. Bag
! have since been substituted for bases
> and the runner Is guided by the voice
Of the batsman, who Is required Il
shout First, first, first" In like man
ner the other bags are won Once or