The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-09-26
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
"NIGGER" BASEBALL IN THE SOUTH
BATEsBURq, S, G., September p. 1903.

BATEsBURG, S. c., September %, 1903
MeSSTS. Editors In this letter it will be my
endeavor to write something entirely new to
nearly all those who live north of the Potomac
river. My subject will be 1.-THE Niger Baseball
Came"
To begin with the teams have eleven players
as they consider that two substitutes are posi-
lively essential-one catcher and one fielder ex-
ira. These men are to fill the places of those
who are disabled or knocked out in case of
scrap or cutting match, which almost invariably
occurs.
Saturday afternoon is the time of meeting,
anywhere between 2 and O'Clock, for the hotter
the sun the better they like it, it tests their
endurance. They have no regular diamond, so
any old place suits them just as well. At this
season a cornfield is the most popular place and
later they prefer the cotton patches. as the
Here on Saturday afternoons but little work
OF any kind is done, especially by the Ethiopian.
The time is generally given them without pay
nearest town, as they buy from week to week.
Nearly every small town has its baseball team
and the meetings are arranged by courier and
not by correspondence, as Uncle Sam gets very
little income from that source down here. Few
of them buy stamps, as they consider it an ex-
travagance, and as to the art of Singing ink they
are very deficient. The next question they have
to contend with is the mode of travel. Car fare
Is too expensive and the schedules are not al
ways suitable; so after passing the hat around
several times they generally succeed in making
up enough cash to charter two-horse wagon
for the occasion.
The uniform at the beginning of each season
is very serious matter and concerns them NOT
IL llIIle. LOT I0ey IllQK 10 play Dali without a
uniform of some description is a disgrace and
visible sign of "good-for nothingness.' The rigs
or costumes, after completion, have as many
colors as Joseph's coat. They all wear knee
breeches-some without shoes, some with shoes
without stockings, some wear one stocking, some
one black and one red stocking the latter gen
orally borrowed from a lady friend on the
ground) and some only shirt and pants, but to
be distinct from their opponents they always
have caps of the same color.
AS to rules governing the game they have none
From nine to sixteen innings are played, the
length of the game being determined by the 60
ing down of the-sun or by darkness.
The slang used by both players, and rooters
corner waif or "Bowery Bum" and even make
the author of 'John Henry" or BACK to the
Woods" die of envy. The ear piercing shouts
and shrieks in applause of victory won or lost
as the case may be, would rival any negro camne
meeting ever held in the State of Maryland.
Each player has his woman to root for him.
and at times when the contest is close | have
seen as many as three women wOrshipers dang
ling from the neck of the hero of the day to the
chagrin and envy of his unfortunate brother
These women dress for game of ball as near MS
possible to the society leader who is arranged
for german, but alas how far she falls short.
For instance, one will see some in low neck
dresses and short sleeves minus shoes or stock
ings and hat. In fact they get themselves up
for baseball game as if for camp-meeting
revival, cake-walk or funeral, for to them they
are all of about the same importance and require
the same attention to dress.
The bats and balls are both homemade, the
former being made from hickory or poplar and
the latter by wrapping of cotton Irvine around
a piece of wood and covered with leather
Between the "acts'' or innings they drink per-
simmon beer and discuss the merits of each
player as one would horse at New York horse
show. should have said before any one PLAYER
can bat as often as he pleases and can bat for
any other player, so in some games one man does
all the batting for the eleven.
The empire" as he is always called, strange
to say, can never be induced under any circun-
stances, no matter what the price, to sell game
away from his own town, and if he cannot de-
eide in favor of his home team fairly his con-
science does not in the least worry him when he
makes fouls out of fair plays and vice versa.
After the game is over the visiting team is gen
orally invited to break down." that is if q
scrap has not interfered to sever the brotherly
or sisterly love.
If cotton conditions do not improve immense
ly from now on the crop will not exceed one
half. The weather still continues warm
This State is about to rigidly enforce the va
grant law and put all the loafng negroes (Which
are at least twO-thirds) to work on the roads,
1t is to be hoped that help then will be better
and easier to secure.
This week the case of ex-Lieut.- Governor Till
man for the alleged killing of N. G.. Gonzales,
editor of The State, takes place at Lexington,
this State. N. ROGERS BAYLY.