Warren sheaf., 1905-07-06

-, -----.- subjects Of tn 6
o4A4 = mikado have mas
tered the intricacies of our national
sport, and play good game "The de-
parture of the Waseda team for America
marked the beginning of new era in
the athletics of Japan" says Fred Merri-
field ex-captain of the Chicago uni
versity baseball team, who is at present
coaching the Waseda nine Hitherto
the Japanese players have measured
themselves with the pickup teams Of
the ports from the foreign warships, or
at best by themselves. Of late years,
the local players have usually been easy:
victOrs over their American and Eng.
lish opponents, who, have had. little or
no opportunity for practice. There:
seems to be nothing that these people
cannot do1if they set their minds to it,.
The Japanese students ordinarily wear
white uniforms in their play, with blue
socks or 'tabi' for footwear. No doubt.
such dress is much cooler in the hot
weather, with no stockings or stiff
shoes, but there is a corresponding loss,
of speed and quickness of start which
spikes would at once make possible.
Nor does the player feel at all backward.
about exposing his shins. and calves to,
the sun and crowd, for it is the custom
in this stockingless land to: leave brief,
space between the tabi and the loose.
robes. The native baseballs. are, a. .trifla.
smaller than our own, and do not keep,
their shape and hardness as,well. Tho
American balls, bats, etc., are not.
strangers, however, to these children. of
progress. All this apparatus may not
be understood at once, but it. is here:
and is used until it is mastered. Per-
haps the breast protector, will not hold!
air and is considered worthless. But
when once that little screw at the side.
is understood no further; questions. are.
asked, and the rubber, is always in good
order. One day l was coaching a new
pitcher on drops, placing ETC., and;
was acting as batter.to help his eye At
suitable stage in the process 1 turned
to instruct the catcher on some point; or
other. The point was understood, and
we were about to resume our positions.
when zip! came the ball past my ear,
and caught the unfortunate catcher
square on the cheekbones Two more
points are illustrated; the catcher
scarcely moved a.: muscle and: never a
sound came from his lips. he quietly
walked away to- battle his swollen face.
That is bit of Japanese stoicism for
we all know how a straight ball stings.
Again, the pitcher had been working so
hard to master that new finger move
ment and locate his batter that: he al!
but did the opposite to his fellow player.
That is Japanese persistence and eager
ness. just bit of it.. There is another
good point in the Japanese style of play
ing They may not be good hitters yet
and may not know much about curves.
but they listen to, the umpire and know
how to accept decisions without a ques-
tlou, and the financial question has
nothing to do with the matter. either,
I have seen ball after ball skim the bat
ter's eyes and Striker from the umpire
would not affect his temperament in the
least The pitcher might put several
telling drops over the outer corner. and
It the sEOw-eyed umpire said 'Ball!' it re-
manned without e murmury although one
acquainted with the situation knew of
the disappointment suppressed because
the game was in the balance, and these
drops should have: saveds it.. Give the
Japanese as little: moree training in tho
hne points OF the? gamea and prophesv
he will hit your curves. field, and slide
with the zesr, and make his; shave of the
:f1n. And then, after bowling politely
to- the umpire, he, will go home and
teach his gnunger brother to, 90 still bet
ter at the great game of baseball" Has
lido is captain of the, Wasedo team.
|, THe university. of Michigan has re-
Gently developed the best freshman dis