The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-21

undeveloped, w!.h fly called out when caught on the bound2
 MT. Spalding. who named these base ball commissioners, asserts that base ball originated in the old game of ''one- old-cat" or in the New England and Philadelphia game of town ball. MT. Chadwick, who came from merry Eng land many. many years ago, is sure that base ball originated from the Eng fish game of ''rounders." Philadelphia says that her Olympic Club played what was practically base ball from 1883 to 1853; New York contends that the Washington Club, organized in 1S43, first played the real game of base ball; and the assertion is made that the knickerbocker Club, of New York. which played on the Elysian Fields. where now HobOken stands, was cer- tainly the first to establish q code of rules. The hnickerDockers We're un- questionabIy the first club to play un- der the present rule of calling the bats man out on a fair catch only when the ball is caught on the fly. This game was played at Hoboken June thirtieth, lS0S, and was won by the EXcelslorS by the score of tWenty-six to twenty two. The fly rule, which did away with the practice of calling the batter out when the ball was caught on the first bound, was adopted through the efforts of Henry Chadwick some six years later. Base ball became a nat ional game with the union of the clubs in New York and vicinity into the Ma tional Association of Base Ball Players in 1S5S.
 In the introduction to rare and in- teresting book, The Game of Base Ball; How to Learn It, How to Play 1t and How to Teach 1t" by Henry Chad wick, published in 1868, its author trac- es the game back to 1S40, about the time that it was known in New Eng land as the New York game" in dis tinction from the Massachusetts game" in which the variation from town ball' consisted mostly in the fact that the ball was changed in size and weight and was thrown to the bat instead of being pitched or tossed. For several years this game prevented the introduction into New England of the New York game" or what was then base ball. MT Chadwick stoutly maintained even in 1868, that base ball came from "rounders," in which hole was dug in the ground for the home position, four stones were set in cir cle and the players chose sides. When the ball tosser, or feeder" as he was called, sent a ball to the bat and It was hit into the field the player run ming the bases became the target or the fieldcrs, who endeavored by hitting him with the ball to put him out. Fail ing to do this, they tried to toss the ball into the hole at home" provided there was no one to take the bat, and if they were successful the side at bat had to retire. When all of the players on one side were out, each man retiring from play as he was put out the field side took the bat, and so the game went on until a certain number of runs, mu- tually agreed upon. had been reached the party first scoring that number winning the game. Town ball had more regularity in it's rules, but was the same in principle as "rounders.' posts being used as bases and regular positions being appointed in the field. The Massachusetts game" was a ma teriaI Improvement on town ball.
 It is most interesting controversy with much to be said on either side and with much justice in both argyS ments But what task the commH sion has before it