Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-18
BEFORE BASE
BALL DAYS

"Of course, yes said the veteran, there
was plenty of ball playing before the great
game of base ball came upon earth to de-
light mankind. but the games were all play
ed by boys In this city I can remember
the games We played had some very curl
Gus names. There was one we called
round cat in which the batter was his
own pitcher. He held a fat paddle in one
hand, tossed the ball with the other and
struck it, struck at it, as the case might
De-. The boy in the crowd of outfielders
who caught it then had his turn at the bat.
Then We had call ball. This was game
where the fellow would toss the ball
against the side of a house or brick wall
and then sing out the name of the fellow
who was to catch it. If he caught it. well
and good he had his turn. Over at George
town College the boys had a wall built for
Playing the game. 1t was frst-cass ex-
ercise If nothing else can be said about it.
about the meanest sort OF a game. in
my estimation. was called crack and
crack By this great many of US fellows
frequently underwent very severe tortures
and went home pretty well covered up with
welts+ and bruises This also had of
the features Of call ball.. inasmuch as IL
the party designated to catch it failed to
do so every otner player had a chance to
throw the ball at him he stood face to
the wall with his arms spread out in
spread-eagle fashion The balls then were.
solid and Were manufactured of rubber;
out of old gum shoes. such we term
rubbers. When a fellow got hit with one
of those balls it hurt. l recollect on one
occasion when we fellows were playing
crack and crack in front of the old Central
Academy, on the corner of 10th and Il
streets, l was a victim to the requirements
of the game. I missed my catch and had
to stand face to the wall and take my
medicine The first shot was fired
at me by an athletic chap named
Ben Stevens. Well, I never got such
a shock in all my life. 1 was hit
by a spent bullet during the war and II
did not hurt half as much that solid
ball that Ben Stevens struck me with on
very tender part of my anatomy. l know
I howled like demon and made for home
amid the derisive shouts of the others. L
have never forgotten the blow, but | have
forgiven the administrator of 1t long ago.
And we played foot ball, of course. This
was played with a big, thick-coated round
sphere: nothing at all like the oblong ar
engagements now in vogue. There was no
ouch thing as wedges or half backs or quar-
ter backs heard of in those days. The two
fellows who were agreed upon as leaders
chose their players in alternate pckings,
the ball was laid at certain point and the
work began. AT the old Union Academy
which was on the northwest corner of New
York avenue and 14th street. one day the
boys belonging to that institution were
having Il Saturday game The police didn't
interfere with playing ball In the street.
We had good kickers on both sides, and the
respective goals 18th and 18th streets.
1t was very interesting occasion, and
remember when our side had nearly reach
ed its goal on 18th street man came along
whose name none OF US knew, but he was
called Dummy This fellow didn't seem
to be anything but legs. He had the long
est legs ever saw. They seemed to reach
all the way from his neck to the ground,
and they were strong and nimble legs at
that Well. Dummy interfered. He
couldn't resist the temptation of kicking
that ball. and he gave il a hoist that sent
it from the place in front of where the
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church
stands nearly all the way to the old State
Department His long legs saved him from
being mobbed. for the boys went for him
in fine style, but he was Splinter well
as kicker, and got beyond the reach of
very angry crowd l expect there is more
than one of the old fellows yet living in
this town who will be reminded of this
little occurrence.
mo, 1 don't know anything about crick-
ct, said the veteran ITO my knowledge
1t never took root in this part of the coun-
try. 1t is the national game of England,
but there are some places this side OF
he water where ii has its devetees Phiia-
delphla possessed the crack cricket club of
America There were good clubs also in
some parts OF New York, notably IN Ho-
boksn and Staten Island, and Canada hal
some famous clubs. and believe all these
be an acquired TASTE I think. for one
on first acquaintance learns to cricket.
Some noted base ball men. however. have
graduated from the cricket plays. George
and Harry Wright were at one time crick-
eters They have their bowiers and wicket
keepers ard a long stop and all that sort
of thing. but don't fancy cricket. Never
saw but one game in my life. and that was
In the 'a0s. and was played ON the monu-
nent lot Z think one of the clubs was
from England. / know that the game was
henored by the presence of Lord Napier.
who was then the British minister to WASH
sngten And then the game lasts two or
three days to play. No. no cricket for me.
It's too much like Chinese stage drama"