The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-04
tCopyright. 1851

." '"esc uays, Whea almost everybody
goes In for some sort OF athletic exer.
else. many novel games have been i'm.
vented by Ingenious people. Their ef.
forts have especially been directed to-
ward evolving forms of amusement as
wen as exercise that are available in
covered halls or buildings, so that they
can be played In the winter, when most
outdoor sports are necessarily sus-
pended.
Basket ball was one OF these. and in
docr baseball Is another game that has
been very successful in covering the
heid Tor which 1t was intended
indoor baseball was invented In Chi
eago in 1887 and rapidly grew from an
amateur pastime into one OF the most
scientific of winter sports. with regular
rules and a national organization that
plays schedule of match games for
the championship
It's invention came about by accident
through frolic among the members of
the farragut club. who in n spirit of
iun on, Thanksgiving evening of that
year began throwing an ordinary box.
ing glove around the hall. which was
STRUCK at by one of the members with a
broom 1t was crude sort of amuse. |
Ineht' out there was great fun. After
the members had enjoyed themselves
LOT some time George ID. Hancock. a
Wen known board of trade MAJ gath
ereu them about him and unfolded
pan "hich had occurred to him while
the game was IN progress This was
nothing less than the working nm ~
nj In i,,.t !
should possess all the scientific elements
OF baseball
After the feasibility Of the p,an bad
been discussed for SOME timn NJ. IA.
cock suggested that those nresen,
should assemble in the hall the follow,
ing Saturday evening. by which tlr,.
he promised to have formulated a SO,
OF rules and to have on hand a hail ora
Dat which would suit the purnoses .,
the game and do no damage TO tho sur-
ne men were all on hand. and Nr
iiancock was likewise present with
o"t ana pau he had prepared for the
OCCASION The bat was too small ia
'tiIhe dow hard enough 10 do anv
image ana the ball was largo ana
olt. The rules of the game of baseball
we're changed 10 suit the new surround
ngs and conditions under which II wa.
o he played.
Thus it was that AIR. Hancock pa,,ad
he tltle or Father OF Indoor Baseball"
L which he is very proud, as vo, ba
Iay pe, Tor the sport is a very popular
ne ana Well calculated Ia afford splen-
10 pastime on winter night.
Two nines were made up from among
'c ,neHioers assembled. ana the first
IN, N.
lace. The newness of the game and
ie inexperience of the playcrs caueoa
lie first few games To be rather unsci-
ltific. but the fun that entered int
'e efforts to gain n victory easily com
snsated for the absence OF skin Tbe
ore or the first game was II TO 40. The
ayers however soon gained n degree 4
pfohciency that reduced the figures II
point that gave the play a moro I
OCCASIONAL aspect. -
There was large audience proson,
cry time the game was plaved ana
were delighted with the new acoui-
ion to the limited number of indoor
nter athletic sports. The game SOON
came so popular that leagues were
rmed I'm various cities, and II attained
growth never dreamed OF by its oriei-
tors.
ia"| VI tHc Cnlcago clubs which took
the game made trips throughout the
lghooring states and played indoor
u nefore large crowds, who were tbus
rouuced 10 the sport and subsequent
became extremely interested.
he game may be played i'm snv bou
ich Is sufficiently light and roor,,,
the diamond and the 6eIdipc
z composition Of the foo. is jmma-
Ial. as the rubber soled shoes worn
the players make even the waxod
" OF h dancing hall suitable.
bout the smallest sized rooc, a.,
ch tne game can be played is one
measures 80 by so feet The larger
space provided. however. the ereat.
ne freedom in fielding and running -
spectators should be in galleries n =. =,
sible. TO "
roinary baseball costumes are worn -
ept that the spiked shoes are re- -
eq- py rubber ones. as already mon. -
eu' AT the knees and hips the trou- ,r,.
should be thickly padded. !"
d'herent style OF play is necessary ~ ~
idoor baseball from that sdop,sd an "no
rcsuiar game. la sliding "a bases o. -,
ec' abandon r. necessary. As tho -,
allotted fof play is generally roe
'"hai confined. spectators and play. toc,
ile ~ no great distance from zach io,,',,
T. ana the rapid action OF the game ,be 4
~ excising for the onlookers. III,
" snort Stops usually play uuite boolsi
10 INC natter. for In indoor base tho =
the right fielder comes into the ala. OF "