The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-04-19
THE KANGAROOS
CAN'T PLAY BALL
They Try Hard, but Are
Smothered by the
Olympics.
Team Work and the Fine Points
of the Game Unknown
to Them.
A Great Crowd, However, Witnessed
the Debut at Central Park Of the
Lads From the Colonies.

well, blind me if that wasn't the
queerest blooming trick 1 ever saw
played"
1t was one Of the Australian baseball
players. He occupied seat on his clubs
bench on the Central Park diamond, and
lie sat there in open-mouthed and pop
eyed establishment at what he had just
witnessed.
Never in my life did I see anything
like that in the colonies, did you, old
chapg'
Old chap, who was also 8 wondering
occupant of the bench. vouchsafed that he
had not either.
1t was simply little incident OF the
seventh inning when the visitors from the
kangaroo country were at the bat-an
amusing and pretty little play as the spec
tators saw it, but a veritable staggerer for
tho Australians.
1t appears that Weldon, the Olympic
the man at the bat, Carter, and tossed
him what is known as "coaxer." Car
ter's stick swished through the air and
connected with the sphere. He glanced
heavenward to see how far he had
knocked the ball, but not catching a
Gliul pSc VI IL udSucu Oll lOE lTSI Ddsc dlly
how-only to find it there ahead of him.
The ball had gone straight back from the
bat into Weldon's right hand as neatly
and accurately as ball ever moved on
baseball field. Weldon for several Sec
onds deliberately turned it over and over
in his hand as if it were an apple and he
was picking out the choicest place for
bite. Then he lazily turned on his heel
and rolled the ball down to the first base
man amply in time to head off the i'm
ported runner.
There were many other things that the
Olympics did during the game that caused
the visiting players to sputter with ejac-
ulations of astonishment. In fact the
Olympics had all the time an opportunity
they needed in which to cut UP all sorts OF
monkey shines, so easy" were their op-
ponents.
The Australians cannot play baseball.
They are willing and jolly set of fellows
and no doubt did the best they could in
yesterdays contest. but they really don't
know much more than the rudiments of
Americas National game. And as mat
ter of fact, with the exception Of about
two of the players they have scarcely got
that far along.
The Olympics will never set the world
afire with their own playing, but they
were so far the superior OF the men from
the Colonies that yesterdays game was
like watching the Baltimores play the Mil
pitas nine.
But with all that it was m interesting
and enjoyable game and it was witnessed
bv an immense throng. The occupants of
the bleachers and grand stands were over
flowing with good nature and seemed to
hoy the seriousness with which the kan
garoos essayed to play ball about as much
as they would a real three-ringed circus.
1t was paying game even If 1t was dis
appointment from baseball point o:
view.
The Australians go in to bat as if they
were PLAYING cricket. The balls that We'll
don pitched yesterday hoated up to the
plate as big as balloons and schoolboy
could not help hitting them. Weldon
meant that they should be struck for he
had good field behind him and knew
that it would be comparatively easy 10
catch the Australians on the bases. But
the cricket idea will have to be abandoned
if the visitors really intend to tour the
continent as baseball players. They are
all fairly good throwers and are MIN bic
and quick, but are buttsr-fingered and
can't catch little BIT.
The fumbling and juggling they 60
through when essaying to field ball are
comical to behold. Then again they do
not seem to know what team work is.
Each player seems to think that he has
all he can attend to in looking after his
own particular position on the field. and
he is about right. Kemp, the pitcher, and
LAYER, the first baseman, are the best
players in the team. Kemp's distinguish
ing quality is his sIeadiness. He throws
fairly fast left his nded bail, wi h narrow
curves, and puts it over the plate right
along--toat is, as often as he can, and he
always tries. The fact that his opponents
find the ball without difficulty does not
bother him at all. That seems to be one
of the requisites Of the game to his mind.
LAYER, the guardian of the initial bag, is