Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-10-01

In these davr. when almost everybody
goes IN TOT aumc fort of athletic cxef.
else. many novel rnmeu have bcrn In
vented by Ingenious people Their cf-
forts have especially been directed to-
ward evolving farmn Of Amusement a.
well ne exercise that are available IN
covered halls or buildings. an that they
can be- played IN the winter when most I
outdoor sports are necessarily aus.
pended.
Basket ball was one Of these. and In
door baseball Il another game that has
been very sucrcnufui in covering the
FIELD Tor which Il was Intended.
Indoor baseball was invented la Chi
cage In iSSi and rapidly grow from an
amateur rnatlmc Into one OF the most
scientific ~ winter sports. with regular
rules and n national organization that
plays a schedule of match games Tor
the championship.
Ita invention came about by accident
through n ffoiic among tho mcmhefu o
the Farrnrut club. who In spirit
fun on Thanksgiving evening OF thl
yOfr began throwing an ordinary boa
ing glove around the hall. which W..
struck at by one OF the members with
broom. Il was a crude scot OF amusc-
ment. but there waa great fun. After
thu members had enjoyed themselves
for aome time George ID. Hancock. a
well known board Of trade mHa. gath.
cred them about him and unfoldcd a
plan which had occurred TO him while
tho game was In progress. This was
nothing less than the working up n
the pantime into an indoor rport which
should poasesa all the scientific elements
Of baseball.
After the feasibility OF the plan had
been discussed for some time Mr. Han
cock suggested that those present
should nr-emb q In the hall the follow
ing Saturday evening. by which time
he promised 10 have formulated set
Of rules and 20 have on hand ball and
bat which would suit the purposes Of
the Eamc and do no damage to the sur
roundinra.
Tho men were all on hand. and STR.
Hancock was likewise present with a
bat aud bah he had prepared FOR the
occasion, The bat was too small 10
strike q blow hard enough 20 do any
damage. and tho hall was large and
SOFT The rules OF the game OF baseball
were changed TO suit the now surrounds
inga and conditions under which u was
60 be played.
Thus Il was TINT Mr. Hancock gained
the title OF Father OF Indoor baseball"
OF which he Il very proud. as well he
may be, for the sport II a very popular
one aud well calculated 10 AFFORD Hplcn.
did panumr ON a winter night.
Two mines were made up from among
the members assembled, aud the nrat
regular contest IN the new sport took
place. The nownenn Of tho game aud
the inexpcrlence 81 the players caused
the nrft Few games 10 be rather unset
entihc. but the Fun that entered into
the Efforts 20 gain a victory easily CONT
pentatcd for the absence Of skin. The
ucorc of the FIRST game was ~ 10 90 The
players, however, soon gained degree
OF proficiency that reduced the figures
to point that gave the play more
professional aspect.
There was n large audience proaen,
every time the game was played. and
all were delighted with the new hoaul.
nitlon 20 the limited number OF indoor
winter athletic sports, The game soon
became 30 popular that leagues were
formed In various cities. and II attained
grow,h never dreamed OF by ita origl.
natorH.
Many Of the Chicago clubs which tool
up the game made trips throughout N,
neighboring states and played ind0ol
ball before large crowds. who were thu
introduced 20 the sport and subsequent,
~ became extremely Interested.
The game may be played In any hal
which n sufficiently light ana room,
for tho diamond and tho fielding
The composition ~ the floor IL imma
terlnl, rs the rubber aoled shoes worr
by the players make even tho wake.
floor OF a dancing han suitable.
About the smallest sized room In
which the rame can be- played H. on,
that measures 90 by % feet. The larrri
the space provided. however, tho great.
er the freedom In fielding aud running
The spectators should be In gallorles 4
possible.
Ordinary baseball costumes are worn.
except that the spiked shoes are fe.
placed by rubber ones. as already men.
toned, A. the knees and hips the trou.
sers should be thiokly padded.
n different style ~ play D. necessary
In Indoor baseball from that adopted Ia
the regular game. IN sliding 90 basel
perfect abandon o. necessary. A. thi
space allotted for play IN rrneraii,
somewhat confined spectators ana play
ers are al no great distance from eaol
other. ana the rarld action " the gam
10 very exciting Tor tho onluoktra.
The short stops usually play quit
close ~ the batter, for IN Indoor base
ball the right heider comes Into the dia