Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-07-30
Massachusetts Predecessor of
Present National Game.
FAMOUS FOUR-DAY CONTEST
Fourteen Players Took Part and
Bases Were Set at Corners of
Square Instead of Points Of a
Diamond. M
(New York SUM

Until about 1850 the ball game play, !,
ell in Massachusetts was called Mas. 4.
sachusctts roundball" No game CALI
CT town BALI was known in Massa
chusctts. n.
We did not know that in England
game called FOUNDERS was played. We A
believed that roundball was distinct
lively an American game. Four cid
cat and three old cat we regarded as
derivatives of roundbal. They were
the resource when there we're not
enough players on the field for round. &
ball.
In match game of roundball theIe
were II players on side. The game
was quite us active as baseball Is, and
exciting. Bases were called goals.
There were four goals set in Il square,
not in diamond. At each goal stouS&
stake four feet high and about two
inches in diameter was driven into the
ground. The runner going ut full
speed would seize this stake, Frequent.
ly swinging around it two or three
times before he could stop himself. 4
There was no running beyond first
OH hit. Unless some part Of the run
ncr's body touched the goal he could
be put out by being hit by d thrown
ball. pitched out" we called it.Ejil
The batter stood III circle four
feet in diameter. midway between first
goal and home. The thrower stood
In the center OF the square made by (
the goals, 30 feet from the batter.
Many teams had what was called a I
"dip-thrower," that is, one who could A
throw swift ball. starting low and &
shooting up. There were no fouls, ep-g
crything went Back handed Latting
was common. The batter swinging
| round with the ball us 1t came to him,
would drive it sideways or backward
| for long hit. A few were sldllfal#
at what was called slide batting
Grasping tho bnt near the middle with I
the thumb and fingers of one hand.
and being careful that tho finger ends
were below the top surface, they held 3
it horizontally, the end pointed toward
the thrower. In this position tho bat
] ter would catch tho ball on the top of;
the bat and in fraction of n second; =
as it slid along the surface and by a &
quick dcilection OF tho bat shoot the 8
ball backward to- tho right or to til I, &
left al q lss HAL yf8s555
Let Mr. Keller digest that! l;fs
Hundreds Of men now living In Gems
trail Massachusetts have seen 1t Done
There were three catchers in line be-
hind the batter. Tho first catcher
played close. He casually lcrouclle,lss
and took the only low throws. tTheisec-*
ond and third catchers stood erect
alert for tho high and wild throws
There were Two back tlellers, one ut
the right and one at the left Of Sthc; /,
third catcher. They were there for
the bacllland and slide hits, ThcERS
was player, ut each goal, a player
between SECOND goal aud home &an.l i
two outllclds Tho ball was rnad,, Of
| WOODEN yarn. firmly wound. with1a
few shot in the center 1t was Gov
cred with leather and was somewhat
smaller than the regulation baseball
| IL Wdo ilOl IluSlly. e IA LICK. anu u NC0lCn Z
was out One out. the side was CUT
10 avoid being put out by 10 bali
thrown at him and properly. coach.
cd, runner would now Jump In. tho,
air, now fall flat on the ground. and
up and away again In a tWinlsling.
Runs We're called TALES, The big
matches were generally decided by
the priority in getting 100 ,tillies. Each
team chose it's own referee, z, and the,
two referees" chose ""judge, who
was solemn and important person.
silent, except whepSthcS referc Al could
not agree His decision was final. # ss:
Just before the beginning OF tho
Civi War we began to hear of th.ss
New York game OF hail F THAT was
baseball One. Of the most celebrated
games of roundball was played on. the
Agricultural Grounds in, Worcester
Mass, in5f1 s5S. 1t was between the
Medways Of MelWay R and the Union
Excelsiors. 4 was for $1,000 a side
II took four days to play the game
The Attendance 8as more thanSl0, 900
at each days play In the neighbour
ing towns the factories gave their en-
| Il "A SS * 81 ----- as "a f,S As,