Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-02

- seen his name from boyhood upon
the title pages of handbooks on base
ball. cricket. lacrosse, Professionalism,
Yachting, curling, billiards, chess, Bea-
dies Dime Ball Player of 1850 Spalding S
Base Ball Guide for the last twenty -four
years, Dewitt's Base Ball Umpire's
Guide" of 1876, 1.-The Art of Batting and
Base Running of the early eighties, The
American Boys Book of Sports, and
Scores of others, the majority on base ball.
Sometimes the name has been prefixed by
the phrase Edited by" more frequently 1t
mas stood with only the word by be-
fore it.
Who is this man who, judging from the
intimate and constant association of his
name with the literature of American
sports from the time of their inception, has
played such a large part in molding them
Let the legend contained in a great gilt
frame, hanging over the mans desk in his
den answer the question:
THE National League and American AS
ISOLATION OF Professional Base Ball Clubs
of the United States, to Henry Chadwick
of Brooklyn, n. Y, November 10, 1894, hon
orary member.
In comforting this membership this or
ganization pays the highest tribute in its
power to one who, during number of
years almost as great as is usually allotted
to man to live, has unselfishly devoted his
time, talents and energies. by voice and
pen, to establish base ball as the national
game of America. At all times and in all
places he has diligently worked for its de-
velopment and battled for it's integrity, it's
honesty and the purity of it's methods
He has ever been the untinching foe
of those within the ranks who permitted
any stigma to attach to it, and a gallant
defender against any attack from without
touching its good name and fame AL
player, he has been a never-failing ad-
vocate of the rights of and the respect due
the umpire
His advice and good offices most fire.
quently sought, have ever been readily
given, and to the benefit and advantage Of
ALL
I'VE pay this tribute with pleasure and
Difference to Henry Chadwick. the Father
of Base Ball. who now in the fullness OF
his years and after a long life of useful
ness to his fellow-man, still lives to see the
fruition of his fondest hopes. and base ball,
which he fostered and upheld, plead for
and battled for, now established forever
more as our national game"
Making the Game Popular.
But Mr.. Chadwick, still sturdy of frame
and sharp of eye In spite OF his eighty-one
years, Is not so sure that he can rightfulIy
be called the father of the national game
II hold" he said the other day in his
home in Brooklyn, where he has lived ever
since he stepped off ship from England
ball never had father. Like Topsy, it just
growed. But l suppose they call me its
father. because in the days when 1t was at
tracing little or no attention, except among
a mere handful, became interested in it
and did what / could to make il popular"
And how did you happen to become In
terested in the gamer"
Well one day, in 1856, l went over to
the Elysian Fields, Hoboken, to witness
game of cricket. That day | saw my first
1ar tah Of hoe I,aII
once the thought struck me that here was
the game that should be the national game
of America, as cricket then was and still is
the national game of the land of my birth.
1t struck me that the new game was pecu-
liarly suited to the American temperament
and then and there L decided to do all in
my power to make 1t the national game in
word and in truth.
AT that time the only newspaper In
America which paid any attention to base
ball was the New York Sunday Mercury.
Its editor. Mr.. William Cauldwell. regular
ly reported such games as were played in
the metropolis. Knowing that publicity
would do a great deal in promoting. the
game, l went to the various city editors of
the daily papers and endeavored to get
them to publish reports of match games.
Not even when had offered to send in the
reports free of charge would the majority
of the editors listen to me- They said no
one was interested in the game, and 1T
wouldn't interest the public, no matter If
pages were given over to II. Finally, how
ever, l got the New York Times to publish
the reports. That was in 1857, and so it
may be said that l was the first base ball
editor to be employed by a daily paper
anywhere.
After that other papers gradually fell
into line, people began generally to show
decided interest in the game. numerous
clubs were formed, and the match game be-
came a regular amusement feature not
only of the metropolis, but of other cities
and towns throughout the country. BY the
time the New York Herald was induced by
me. in 1862, to publish reports of match
games. base ball was in fair way of be-
coming all / had hoped; and it was not
many years after that it's right to the title
of the national game was beyond dispute
Mr. Chawick chuckled.
"Since the day the Herald surrendered
I have had no anxiety over the publicity
of the game"
Organizer Of Associations.
And is that the whole reason why they
call you the father of base ball?'
well, l have done what / could from
time to time to develop more perfect
game from the old amateur method of
playing ball which prevailed when 1 be-