Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-07-19
SUPERIORITY OF BASEBALL
TOLD BY THE MAN WHO KNOWS

ever, the other side succeeded in knock
ing his foundations out, and then they
fell on him and stabbed him in the
back with their knees and elbows.
That may be sport, but | could not
grow enthusiastic nor even hilarious.
Had they killed man could not have
taken off my hat and cheered.
They tell me that running for a
| touchdown is the supreme moment in
a game of football. From the accounts
in the papers next day ! must have
been there when several of these su.
premc moments were fitting through
my life. but did not realize what
was enjoying. II must be because
am too dense.
BasebaIrs Superiority.
But ClimaXes in ball games do not
get away from me, and there are TWEEN.
~ Of them to one in the other sport.
Give me a tie score in the last inn.
ing with two hands out. the bases full
6rd hard hitter at bat That ~ a sit.
ration that makes the spectators get
up and sit in tine air.
You may be stranger in town and
rave no local interest in either team.
hut II you are an enthusiast this is one
Of the times when you will forget to
breathe. Scrimmages. end tackles and
full backs. with broken backs and
lskulls. are not in the game at all
in the touch down all the interest
centers in one mantle one with the
ball-and II somebody breaks his neck
the spell is broken. but take this
baseball situation with the sacks full
and two men out.
AS the batsman steps up to the
plate he knows that the eyes OF the
multitude are upon him. and his uni.
form grows tight across the chest. II
he has been in the habit Of hitting
home runs or three.baggers, the popu.
lace cheer him. to which he modestly
responds by lifting his cap with one
hand and wiping his nose with the
back OF the other.
I'm selecting a bat he takes up one.
two. three four in turn from the pile
ines the handle OF each, and taps the
big end on the ground to see that 1t is
not broken. Great interest is conferred
In him while doing this act, after which
he takes up his own private bat. 1t is
the one he has used for years, and he
would handle no other. He could pick
1t from the pile with his eyes shut, but
he wants time to collect his thoughts.
ARRIVING at the plate he holds the
bat between his knees while he moist.
ems his palms with spittle. Next he
stoops over and pats his hands in the
dust. the moisture causing the dirt TO
adhere until he can rub II of on his
clothes. Then he grasps the bat firm.
Ily, digs ,footholds for himself with his
spiked shoes, wriggles his legs back
and forth few times and glances at
the pitcher. who holds the ball in his
armpit while he bitches up his trous.
ers.
Critical Moments In Baseball.
rat this critical juncture the infield.
ers all draw little closer, eXpectorate
on their hands and place them on
their knees. while the outfielders shift
about in obedience to mysterious mods
from the man in the box.
While this is going on the catcher
takes few steps to the left. removes
his mask and puts it on again. expec
torates some dark brown juice into his
big glove and hits it with his fist, after
which he tightens up his air package.
Then he circles round into position
behind the batsman, squats down,